Download - Designing a PhD
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Designing a PhD Using the MIT-Portugal Program Network
Carlos A. Santos Silva
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Doing a PhD
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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?
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ASSIGNMENT
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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)