Welcome to The School of Plant Biology The University of Western Australia

1. Welcome to The School of Plant Biology The University of Western Australia

2. Welcome to UWA • Your first few weeks at UWA will be hectic, exciting and probably a bit daunting. But don’t worry, we are here to help! • Both the University and the School provide a variety of support services that will assist you as you become part of the university community. • We are all here to help, so please don’t be afraid to ask, even about the simplest things! • If you need a Buddy to help you or are located off campus, let the School Manager know (2541). • All UWA phone extensions given here start with 6488!

3. About this presentation • Provide information about the City, University, Faculty and the School • Identify contact details, resources and support available to you from the University and the School • You get this information in the “Welcome to Plant Biology” document • You can access all links and URLs also at http://www.plants.uwa.edu.au/

4. About UWA • UWA is a member of “Group Of Eight” Universities • One Of Australia’s Top Research-intensive Universities • 18,252 Undergraduates • 4,167 Postgraduates • 18% International Students • 3,091Academicand General Staff • Budget of over A$573 million

5. At UWAwe have Nobel Prize Winners!! • Also the Highest Entry Standards for Undergraduate Science Courses in Australia

6. UWA promotes a healthy lifestyle in a culturally diverse environment • Excellent sports, fitness and recreation facilities in a multicultural environment • Medical & religious facilities on campus • LACE: Language & Cultural Exchange • Code of ethics that that advocates equity and justice, respect for people, personal and professional responsibility

7. Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (FNAS) Ranks in top 50 of world agriculture faculties* Research Intensive Faculty More than 300 staff Over 850 students 25% postgraduates Four Schools Several Centres *Evans, D.J. & White, D.W. (2002). Australian Universities classification by research quality: a question of concentration and quality.

8. Institute of Agriculture National Cooperative Research Centre for Future Farm Industries Centre for Land Rehabilitation School of Plant Biology Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management Canola Breeders Western Australia Pty Ltd Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis (CMCA) Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture Western Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative

9. Welcome to the School of Plant Biology • Over 85 staff & 95 postgraduate researchers from all over the world • Annual budget of nearly $14 million, with research income over $8.5 million in 2007 • Over 100 papers in refereed journals annually • Academics among 0.5% on the ISI Highly Cited Researchers list in plant biology worldwide* * Institute for Scientific Information, http://isihighlycited.com/

10. Welcome to the School of Plant Biology (Contd.) Excellence in three key research areas • Conservation Biology • Crop Science • Marine and Estuarine Science

11. University Support & Facilities

12. After enrolment you must • Activate your Student Pheme account • Get your ID from Student Administration • Activate your email account • See the Current Student site for “ipoint” “navigate UWA” & “Student Connect” • Learn about Amenities and services fee • See Student Charter of Rights and Responsibilities

13. UWA Orientation Programmes • Attend the Graduate Research School Welcome (6488 2807) on 10th march 2008 • Attend International Student Orientation (6488 2299) on 25th Feb 2008 • If you need a special or disability orientation then contact 6488 2423. • Attend School Safety Induction on 5th March

14. Graduate Research School Resources • See the Graduate Research School (GRS) site for the latest policies, guidelines and training programmes • Bookmark the Scholarships site for useful information • International students must visit the International Centre’s website • See Events organised by the GRS • Access FAQ to get answers

15. University Support and Facilities • Postgraduate Students Association • Research Resources • Travel Funding and Insurance • Access to FIRST • Student Guild • Counselling Services

16. Support and Facilities (Contd.) • Training in Generic Skills • Paper and Grant Writing Workshops • Help with Statistics • Thesis seminars • Research Writing Skills • Grievance Resolution procedures • Presenting your Research

17. Support and Facilities (Contd.) Need Housing and Loans? • Postgraduate Accommodation • Housing Officer (6488 3547) • Find out about Housing Presentations • University Student Loan (6488 3547) • Student Guild Loans (6488 2295) • Centre link Benefits (6488 2295)

18. GRS Contacts • Dr Sato Juniper Manager GR&S (3034) sato.juniper@uwa.edu.au • Dr Krystyna Haq Graduate Education Officer - Science (3783) krys.haq@uwa.edu.au

19. School Contacts & Support

20. Who can you approach for Information and assistance? Head of School Professor Hans Lambers (7381)hans.lambers@uwa.edu.au Deputy Head of School A/Professor Gary Kendrick (3998) garyk@cyllene.uwa.edu.au School Manager Dr Renu Sharma (2541)sharmar@plants.uwa.edu.au PostgraduateCoordinator Professor Hans Lambers (7381)hlambers@plants.uwa.edu.au Postgraduate Representative Ms. Foteini Hassiotou foteini@cyllene.uwa.edu.au Postgraduate Representative Mr. Ghazi Abu Rumman ghazi@cyllene.uwa.edu.au Botany Honours Coordinator Dr Patrick Finnegan (8546) pfinnega@plants.uwa.edu.au Marine Science Coordinator Assoc/Professor Robert Black (2232)rblack@cyllene.uwa.edu.au

21. Who to contact for Administrative Matters • Dr Renu Sharma • School Manager • (2541)sharmar@cyllene.uwa.edu.au • Mrs. Pandy Du Preez • Administrative Officer (Finance) • plantfin@plants.uwa.edu.au • Mrs. Maja Milosevic • Accounts and Purchasing Officer • pb-purch@plants.uwa.edu.au Ms. Kirsten Frost Administrative Assistant (2206) plant.biology@uwa.edu.au Mrs. Rany Schnell Personal Assistant (1782) plantsci@cyllene.uwa.edu.au

22. Safety and Health School Safety Officer Renu Sharma sharmar@cyllene.uwa.edu.au Safety & Health Representative Greg Cawthray gcawthra@agric.uwa.edu.au Radiation Safety Officer Guijun Yan gyan@plants.uwa.edu.au Dive Officer, Christy Kistner christy.kistner@uwa.edu.au Biological Safety Officer Patrick Finnegan pfinnega@cyllene.uwa.edu.au Field Safety Officer Hai Ngo hai@cyllene.uwa.edu.au Field Safety Officer Greg Cawthray gcawthra@plants.uwa.edu.au Chemical Safety Officer Greg Cawthray, gcawthra@plants.uwa.edu.au PG Safety Representative Need one Now!

23. School Support • Need $$$? The School allocates • $2,500 p.a. for research operations for 3 years if you do not have access to any operating funds • $1500 towards a new computer and a one-off $500 for travel • For budget allocation fill the budget sheet to access funds • You & your supervisor will be responsible to manage your budget • Any over expenditure will be borne by your supervisor & not the School!!

24. School Support (Contd.) • You are encouraged to create your own PG website • You may like to attend School Seminars on Monday afternoons (3700) and marine seminars on Wednesday(2416) • Contact Pandy on 3863 for software • Analytical Instruments: Greg(1789) • Glasshouses: Leon (2549) • Any policies & other information (2541)

25. Contact Kirsten Frost on Ext: 2206 • Entry keys and access to the building • Code for Photocopier/Fax • Allocation of Room/lab and Work Station • Included in School Email List • Basic Stationery and University Map • Information about the internal mail delivery system • Location of School Safety Guidelines • ID Card from the Student Administration

26. Need Glasshouse & Field Station Facilities? Contact: • Mr. Leon Hodgson • Chief Glasshouse Technician • (8549) lhodgson@cyllene.uwa.edu.au • Mr Stephen Mole • Technician (Horticulture) • (2202) snmole@cyllene.uwa.edu.au • Mr. David Gaze • Glasshouse Assistant • dgaze@cyllene.uwa.edu.au • Mr. Michael Blair • Field Station • 9387 3384 mblair@cyllene.uwa.edu.au

27. Computer Support & Computer Labs Ms Davorka Sudac-Rengel (3416)Mr. Sean Grosse (1813) Mr. Alan Mullet (1652), Mr. Crispin Stewart (3416) Computer Support email : support@fnas.uwa.edu.au Undergraduate Computer Laboratories South Lab - located in the Zoology Building (20 machines) East Lab - located alongside Botany Annex I (36 Machines) Central Lab - located in the Agriculture North Wing (36 machines) North Lab – located in the Geography Building (30 machines)

28. Want to Book a Vehicle or Vessel? Contact Mrs. Maja Milosevic Rm. G17 Ext 2542 in Botany Buildingfor: Vehicles, Data Projector, Digital Camera, Satellite Phone and Botany Seminar Room Using the Ezybook system. Maja to set up your account! Contact the School Dive Officer, Ms. Christy Kistner (2205) christy.kistner@uwa.edu.au Before Using the School Boat and Before Diving Make Sure You Read the Dive Safety Policy

29. Your PhD

30. Safety Induction • Complete the Lab Safety Induction Checklist • Register with Greg (1789) for School Specific Safety Induction & for the UWA Four Wheel Drive Course • Make sure your supervisor nominates you for the lab safety course run by UWA Safety Office • If you work with radio isotopes or gene technology then enrol for these courses with Safety Office

31. Good Supervision • You have access to good supervision. See the Good Supervision guidelines • Schedule regular meetings with your supervisor • Discuss your research and logistic requirements • Find our about the reports that you need to provide to Graduate Research school • For further discussions contact PG Research Coordinator hans.lambers@uwa.edu.au • Give Feedback on supervision!

32. Ensure Quality of Your PhD Research Projects • Regular meetings with supervisor • 6-month progress report – thesis proposal • Annual presentation at the Postgraduate Summer School • Annual report to the Dean of the Postgraduate Research School • Supervisory teams (2-3 supervisors) and the PG Coordinator

33. Attend Plant Biology Postgraduate Summer School • Held in February each year • Coordinated by students and hosted by the School and no cost to students • Presentations by all postgraduates • Invited international guest speakers • Lectures about how to write a publication, biometrics, equity and diversity • Important social function and great beaches! • Prize for best post-graduate presentations

34. Social Events • School Friday morning tea at 10.30 AM in Faculty common room every week • Socialise at the Rottnest Postgraduate Summer School in February • International Lunch in June • Postgraduate Barbecue in June and December • Christmas Party in December • Your suggestions are welcome!

35. WISH YOU ALL THE BEST!