Postgraduate Training through International Networking

Carsten P. WelschLearning & Teaching Conference 2010

Liverpool, UK

C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010

Outline

Introduction to DITANET– What are Marie Curie ITNs ?– Who are the partners in this initiative ?

Postgraduate Training within DITANET– At each network node;– Network-wide events;– Secondments

Opportunities and Challenges

C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010

A „typical“ Accelerator Diagnostics

Multi-disciplinary field !

Camera

OTR Light

Material sciences

Thermodynamics

Electro-Magnetism

Optics

Mechanics

Electronics

Nuclear Physics

…

C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010

What is DITANET ?

One of the largest Marie Curie Initial Training

Networks ever funded by European Union !

Funding for 21 fellows (18 ESR and 3 ER)

Gives industry an important role !

Recognition of importance of beam diagnostics at

European level ! (in

physics top 11, 2007 – under extreme competition)

Different understanding of role

C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010

The DITANET Consortium

Network Participants

Associated Partners

C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010

Including Partners From Industry

C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010

Adjunct Partners

Part of a long term strategy – DITANET is growing

C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010

Training – at each Network Node Training through cutting edge research projects

(Compare: Aims of Russell Group)

In accordance with national PhD regulations

Provide trainees with broad skills base

Expose to the other sector

Promote knowledge exchange and collaboration across the network

100% focus on research project

C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010

Example: Janusz Harasimowicz

2006: University of Warsaw, Faculty of Physics Specialization: Medical Physics M.Sc. Thesis title: Derivation of medical accelerator

electron beam energy spectrum using inverse Monte Carlo method

Soltan Institute for Nuclear Studies, Physics Group Leader

MPI-K, Germany, Graduate Researcher Since March 2009: DITANET ESR in Liverpool

Janusz Harasimowicz

C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010

USR – Diagnostics

Janusz Harasimowicz

Position

Profile

Intensity

Harasimowicz, J., et al. Hyperfine Interact. (2009)

C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010

Training – at each Network Node Example: CNA/U Seville, Spain – Ziad A. HaidarWorkshops

- Oct 2008 : Workshop on Electronics for Novel Nuclear Physics Detectors at CNA

- Dec 2009 : Workshop on Hadron therapy at CNA

Doctoral Courses

- Dec 2008 : Nuclear Structure (1 week)

- Jan 2008 : Applied Nuclear Physics (1 week)

- Feb 2008 : Experimental Nuclear Physics (1 week)

- Mar 2009 : Nuclear Reactions (1 week)

- May 2009 : Intermediate Energies (1 week)

Schools, Mini Courses and Conferences

- Mar 2009 : 2 day course on Gas Ionization detectors : principles and recent developments

- July 2009 : International School of La Rabida on Basic concepts in Nuclear Physics: theory, experiments and applications (Poster participation: Development of a Tracking System of Exotic Nuclear Beams for FAIR)

- Sept 09 : Biennial of Physics (Spanish Royal Society of Physics) (Poster participation: Development of a Tracking System of Exotic Nuclear Beams for FAIR)

Other

- Tested and learned about several electronics equipments for detectors and data acquisition systems

- 2 semesters of Spanish courses (level 1 and level 2)

- Participated in a contribution to the GSI Annual Report of 2009 : “Fast timing with DSSSD detectors”

C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010

1st DITANET School, March 2009

Beam Diagnostics, held at RHUL, UK

> 70 participants and lecturers

CERN Indico: 55242March 2011

C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010

2nd DITANET School, March 2010

Complementary Skills, with help from UoL Grad School

C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010

Feedback from Participants (Examples)

Detailed assessment of school being carried out – might help further improving PGR trainings at UoL

1 2 3 4 50

2

4

6

8

10

12

Example Session

Content was well organ-ised

Content was interesting

Aims were clear

Session was helpful to you

Differential Scale: 1 = excellent / 5 = poor

Nu

mb

er o

f T

rain

ees

„The workshop was not only useful, but

exciting !“

„I hadn‘t really thought of myself as a project manager

until today“

“Recording every person was very useful to understand

common mistakes.”

C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010

1st DITANET Topical Workshop

Low Energy, Low Intensity Beam Diagnostics Hirschberg, Germany – Nov 24th/25th 2009 Good mix of DITANET and external researchers Discussion of state-of-the-art and future developments

CERN Indico: 93294

Next workshop: July 12th/13th – option for trainees.

C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010

Secondments

Each trainee realizes a secondment to an industry partner

Improve understanding of how research is done – allow for improved planning of own career

All projects require collaboration between universities and industry partners/research centres

C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010

Trainee Interaction

Trainees created a list of common interest topics:– Similarities in their research projects– Possible support for each other– Exchange of knowledge and past experiences

Informal meetings

Possibility is given to organize mini-workshops, etc.

Online forum and blog

C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010

Trainee Support

Career Development Plans discussed during kick-off

meeting, later finalized with trainees

Mentor for female trainees

Internet Blog (VOCAL)

Facebook group (trainee-triggered)

Arrangements exist for regular contacts via schools,

workshops and additional meetings

C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010

Trainee – Supervisor Relationship

Contact across country borders– Cultural and language barriers– Intervalls between direct contacts

Work within international team– Joint management of resources– Time management– Different expectations

(Open) Feedback highlighted as key to success– Problematic for both sides

„Supervisors should also go to the

(complementary skills) course“

C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010

Advantages of International Collaboration

Status of Marie Curie Fellows– Prestige– Salary– Social security– Pension

Extensive training program in form of schools, workshops, conferences, etc.

Secondments across sectors Daily interaction with experienced researchers Contact to wider field, not only research projects

C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010

Challenges from International Collaboration

Bringing together different education systems

Management is resource and time-consuming

Professional managers required to supervise overall training effort (graduate school)

Make partners „stick to the plan“

Extensive use of new media (video conferencing, internet, etc.) – challenge to tech. infrastructure

C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010

Conclusion

Research and training through joint effort between research centers, universities and the private sector;

See PhD as part of professional career as researcher;

Structured training program across institutional and country borders;

Goal: Improved career perspectives.

Many thanks for your attention !