Designing a PhD Using the MIT-Portugal Program Network

Carlos A. Santos Silva

carlosaugusto.santossilva@mitportugal.org

Doing a PhD

PhD in a glance

Definition

Ability to independently discover new scientific knowledge and defend it in a peer-review context

Objectives

Find a solution to a problem

Develop a product/service/method/process

Communicate the solution

Peer-review papers

PhD dissertation

PhD in MIT Portugal Program (1)

Year 1 Goal: Define the PhD Topic Task: Curricular activities Deliverable: Research statement paper

Literature review, Research question statement, Research method proposal

Year 2 Goal: Narrow the PhD Topic Task: Research Deliverable: Research report Discussion with the PhD Committee

PhD in MIT Portugal Program (2)

Year 3 Goal: Work on the PhD Topic Task: Research Deliverable: Dissemination

Conferences, Journal papers, update thesis report

Year 4 Goal: Finalize PhD Topic Task: Write Deliverable: Thesis dissertation Final discussion Journal Papers

Seminar: Designing the PhD

Identify Topic

Define research question and propose a working hypothesis

Choose a research method

Analyze and synthetize the results

Outreach the results and conclusions

1 - Defining a research question

1. I am working in topic X

Describe problem to solve

2. Because I want to find out Y

Define a question

3. So that I can help others to understand Z

Why is the question worth asking

2 Proposing working hypothesis

Propose an hypothesis /hypotheses Plausible answers to your question, no matter

how tentative or speculative

It can be proven wrong! This is a valuable contribution to the topic!

The working hypothesis drives the research Research methodology

If there is not a working hypothesis, the research question may not be important

Exercise

Identify the importance of the following research proposal:

The storage of energy from renewable sources has been a challenge for the large scale deployment of a variety of technologies. Of particular difficulty is energy storage and distribution from energy production technologies that are fundamentally dependent on specific geographic attributes. The following study will determine the best approach for the storage of energy from tidal flux.

Exercise

Identify the importance of the following research proposal:

The storage of energy from renewable sources has been a challenge for the large scale deployment of a variety of technologies. Of particular difficulty is energy storage and distribution from energy production technologies that are fundamentally dependent on specific geographic attributes. The following study will determine the best approach for the storage of energy from tidal flux.

Topic X

Answer Z Question Y

Finding a good research question

Do I know the field and its literature well? What are the important research questions in my field? What areas need further exploration? Could my study fill a gap? Lead to greater understanding? Has a great deal of research already been conducted in this topic

area? Has this study been done before? If so, is there room for

improvement? Is the timing right for this question to be answered? Is it a hot topic,

or is it becoming obsolete? Would funding sources be interested? Most importantly, will my study have a significant impact on the

field?

Does it pass the So What test?

ASSIGNMENT

Assignment

Write a research statement that:

1. Identifies a topic (research community)

2. Describes a question of interest

3. Formulates an hypothesis

4. Identify value

One sentence / 30 seconds pitch

(total between 200-400 words)