Academic Essentials for Research Students in Maths, Physical and Life Sciences Division & Medical Sciences Divisio

1. Academic Essentialsfor Research Students in Maths, Physical and Life Sciences Division & Medical Sciences Division Dr Sarah Norman Gray Institute

2. Welcome • Introductory session for graduate research students of the Maths, Physical and Life Sciences & Medical Sciences Divisions of the University • University structure and nomenclature • The administrative framework of a graduate degree • Some of the potential opportunities • Some of the potential problems of a graduate course in Oxford • Sources of advice and support available for graduate students

3. Where are you studying?

4. When are you studying? • Michaelmas Term: October – December • Hilary Term: January – April • Trinity Term: May – September • Weeks: Fresher’s week (0th week), Term weeks 1 – 8 (possible 9/10) 1st year 2nd year 3rd year 4th year

5. What do you need to do now and later? • Becoming a registered student with the University: • Complete a self-service online registration form • Attend a matriculation ceremony • How long are you on the register as a graduate student: • Initially on the register as a PRS (Probationary Research Student) • Transfer to DPhil status (in 4th – 6th term) 12 terms total • Transfers to MSc (by Research - MRes) status (in 3rd to 6th term) 6 terms total • 4 year programmes in the Doctoral Training Centre : • Seven terms as PRS before transfer, 12 terms total • The University residence requirement; minimum amount of time to complete a DPhil/MRes; and fee liability: • DPhil is minimum six terms (for MRes three)

6. We like forms:GSO formsttp://www.ox.ac.uk/students/course_guidance_supervision/graduates/forms/

7. Who’s who in the Department/College? • Department: • Supervisor / University Lecturer / Principal Investigator / Group Leader • Co-supervisor? • Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) • College: • Advisor – more pastoral care • Tutor for Graduates • Division: • Graduate Studies Assistants • Graduate Joint Consultative Committee (GJCC) • Administrative changes to your: • course / supervisor / thesis title / status (transfer/suspension/confirmation) / appointment of examiners

8. What to do when you are here? • Study? • Gain professional and transferrable skills • Things to avoid......

9. Undergraduate vs Graduate Study • Undergraduate study is often externally driven & highly structured • 9 – 5 timetable • Different courses • Examinations and assignments • Graduate study is self driven and often unstructured • Work the hours required • No defined start and end points to experiments • No set short-term deadlines • Easy to feel overwhelmed by the task ahead

10. Interaction with your supervisor • Establish the main framework for your work as soon as possible during the first term • Have meetings to discuss progress • Review work plans and establish how much time & help you should expect from your supervisor • Establish who else will be involved in your supervision (post-doc, co-supervisor, external supervisor) and what their role is • Supervisors should: • plan your research and set your milestones • discuss your training needs • report on your progress via GSS

11. Graduate student’s role • training in scientific methods • undertake novel research • create a thesis containing an original contribution to the literature • take part in the life of the department • present your research • publish

12. What to expect day-to-day • working full-time • take holidays, the MSD policy is up to 38 days of holiday leave per annum • sufficient free time to benefit from the wider University and College resources • ten days per annum for transferable skills training

13. Graduate Skills Training • As a research student, you may well be pursuing your studies as an essential step towards realising your career goals • ‘the student must accept his or her obligation to act as a responsible member of the University’s academic community’ • ‘he or she should make appropriate use of the teaching and learning facilities available within the University’ • The Research Councils issued a Joint Statement on what skills a graduate research student should acquire

14. University & Divisional Skills Training Programme • Free to all Graduate Research Students and Postgraduate and Postdoctoral Research Assistants • more effective in your work • to develop and move towards your future aspirations • There are two sources of training available to you • Divisional Courses (face-to-face) • University of Oxford (online) • Professional development, training and skills • Communication/Presentation Skills • Writing Skills • Plagiarism • Ethics

15. University Online Courses Each online course takes between 60 and 90 mins to complete • Publishing in Arts • Publishing in Sciences • Project Management in the Research Context • Good Practice in Citation and the Avoidance of Plagiarism • Intellectual Property in the Research Context • Ethics 1 - Good Research Practice • Ethics 2 - Working with Human Subjects • Career Planning in the Sciences • Career Planning in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences • Managing Your Research Supervisor / Principal Investigator • Selecting a Conference, Presenting & Networking • Entrepreneurship 1: Are you an Entrepreneur? • Entrepreneurship 2: Opportunity Recognition, Creation and Evaluation • Entrepreneurship 3: Resources (People, Teams, Finance)

16. Searchable database of skills training opportunities • Articles on subjects such as project management, teaching and career planning • News of national events and competitions • Careers Case Studies – see what other researchers have gone on to do www.skillsportal.ox.ac.uk

17. Online personal development planning tool • Specific version for researchers • Tools for skills analysis, planning and recording progress • Reports – help compile your CV • Links to development resources • www.aspire.ox.ac.uk

18. Things to avoid........ • Plagiarism • Understand what this means to your study • Take the online course • http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/rso/integrity/ • Procrastination • Facebook • Leaving things to the last minute • Stress, panic and late nights in the lab • Isolation • Please talk to your lab mates and others • Defeat • Research is a long slog, it can be repetitive and unrewarding for long periods • The successes make up for all of the pain

19. Many Sources of Support • Funding issues • College Hardship Funding • http://www.ox.ac.uk/feesandfunding/graduates/sources/ • Scientific problems • Supervisors, DGS, departmental graduate studies committee • University Occupational Health Service • Personal issues • Childcare Services, Counselling Service, Disability Advisory Service, Equality and Diversity, Harassment, Health and Welfare, OUSU Student Advice Service, Nightline  • http://www.ox.ac.uk/students/new/welfaresupport/ • Careers guidance • http://www.careers.ox.ac.uk/

20. Enjoy your time in Oxford Make the most of the opportunities it can provide

21. http://www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/skillstraining Recommended Courses: • for 1st years • for 2nd years • for 3rd years • for Graduate and Postdoctoral research assistants Courses for First Year Courses relevant to first year DPhil students: • Communication/Presentation Skills • Writing Skills • Ethics

23. Transferrable skills University regulations state: • ‘the student must accept his or her obligation to act as a responsible member of the University’s academic community’ • ‘he or she should make appropriate use of the teaching and learning facilities available within the University’ • take up the teaching opportunities available • http://www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/portal/skillstraining/wanttoteach2/ • take up the skills training opportunities available • http://www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/portal/skillstraining • practise your English (if your spoken or written English is poor) • http://www.lang.ox.ac.uk