michael d smith director of graduate studies, sps university of kent september 2014
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Michael D. Smith
Michael D Smith Director of Graduate Studies, SPS
University of Kent
September 2014
SPS Graduate School
SEPnetGradNet acu
FacultyGrad School
PGRProgramme
PGTProgramme
UKCGradSchool
Michael D. Smith
How did you get here?
● It’s a long uncertain story……
● Centuries: idea of swirling, turbulent gas as the origin of
our solar system.
● Descartes, Kant, Laplace: vortices, nebular hypothesis:
importance of angular momentum.
Michael D. Smith
Books
Michael D. Smith
●Organisational Structure
Your SchoolUKGS
University
Graduate School
Faculty
Office
Michael D. Smith
Where are you?
Humanities SocialSciences
Sciences
Michael D. Smith
The Schools
Computing
Pharmacy Engineering&
Digital Arts
MathematicalSciences
Biosciences
PhysicalSciences
SportScience
Michael D. Smith
What are you doing here? Masters? PhD?
What will you get?……………a certificate?……………a little prestige?……………amore interesting job?……………a deeper understanding?……………a challenge?……………satisfaction of contribution to knowledge
……………a Eureka moment
What else? Training Training for what? What skills?
Michael D. Smith
Physical SciencePostgraduate Students are the Key
People in maintaining this School’s reputation and success.
●Our students progress into a wide variety
●of different careers and over the years
have made a profound impact for the
wider benefit of society.
●
Michael D. Smith
The transition year begins..........
Research students :
Your success in graduate school depends on your active interaction with others in the community. The emphasis is as much on asking the right questions and engaging in enlightening discussion as it is on finding the answers.
Although a basic knowledge of physics or chemistry is important, you will need to adopt approaches that are considerably different from those required to solve problem sets from a textbook.
Sceptical thinking
Michael D. Smith
The Ultimate Skills for the employer
……. .more than just numerate and literate ………
You will be able to analyse critically, and use your initiative
You will be teachable, educable
Your vices will be curable
You will be durable, have stamina
You will be supervisable: capable of following advice.
You will be endurable, especially in the face of boredom
You will be able to persist at seemingly pointless tasks
……. What you do may not be relevant, but what you can do is.
Michael D. Smith
Job prospects
• PhDs are needed :-
• Pipeline to lecturers• Sustain University
research• Build careers• Build knowledge
economy• Highly skilled HR to
attract industry
Royal Society: The Scientific Century, 2010100% = all science PhD students
Michael D. Smith
Skills Training: practical skills
Research Training
General Training
Record: Milestones, PDP –
Your Personal Development Plan
This provides details for: CV and for Reference Letters
Michael D. Smith
EBGS & Feedback
Reps: SPS and Faculty?Student representation on Student representation on
committeescommittees
Feedback: Milestone reports…..
Problems encountered Illnesses ………..absences Data loss, equipment breakdown Supervision problem Time management & Demonstrating I am stuck Money Family
Michael D. Smith
HelpHelp● Supervisor.Supervisor.● Research Group.Research Group.● Associate Supervisor.Associate Supervisor.● Director of Graduate Studies.Director of Graduate Studies.● Head of Department.Head of Department.● PG Admin Team ***PG Admin Team ***● Fellow Students *** the ‘cohort’Fellow Students *** the ‘cohort’● SLAS – free advice and guidanceSLAS – free advice and guidance
Michael D. Smith
Action
1. Read Handbook
2. Bother your Supervisor
3. Define your project: Milestone M1
4. Determine your deadlines: Skills, M3, M4
4. See your Associate Supervisor
5. ?????? Courses...teaching...skills training... seminars....research ...THESIS
Michael D. Smith
Questions?
1. When can I take holidays?2. Is my supervisor normal?3. How hard should I work?
4. How do I do research?5. How do I do a literature review? http://astro.kent.ac.uk/mds/Modules/modules.htm
Michael D. Smith
Responsibilities?
1. Milestones2. PDP3. Fast communication
4. https://www.kent.ac.uk/physical-sciences
5. /local/postgrad/index.html6.
Michael D. Smith
Responsibilities
1. Go to SDS
2. Monthly Meeting Forms: Record of Supervisory Interaction
3. Students must complete a form and submit it on the last working day of every month.
4. RDA: attend an RDA workshop
Michael D. Smith
Research Resources
http://astro.kent.ac.uk/SEPNET/gradschool/
Travel funds
Consumables
Equipment
Desk & Chair
Computing
Lab Space
Library: electronic Journal access
Michael D. Smith
Kent
Queen Mary, London
SussexSouthampton
Solar System
RadioStars & Planets
Portsmouth
SEPnet-Astro Synergies
Oxford
Cosmology
Galaxies
25a, 37r, 45s 16a, 8r, 15s
5a, 2r, 12s
10a, 10r, 25s11a, 9r, 22s
11a, 13r, 16s
●RAL/Chilbolton
Michael D. Smith
Key People – Supervisor(s)
• Mentors and guides for your project
• Providing or facilitating access to
● necessary resources
• Providing opportunities for networking
• Giving you general support in many ways
● A professional working relationship!
Michael D. Smith
Key PG People
•
Sarah Saunders (PGR)
Sophie Godfrey (PGR)
Russell Weeks (PGR)
Kim Harty (PGT)
Michael D. Smith
Key PGT info
•
● Contact Programme Director
● Establish/check the Modules
● Relevant Handbooks:●https://www.kent.ac.uk/physical-sciences/handbooks/index.html
●http://www.kent.ac.uk/graduateschool/pgt-landing.html
● Workshops, training, awards, …..
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