Questions for PhD training

The wind-up.. EPSRC commit to maintain DTA funding In flat cash Looking for strategic use at University level By 2007 EPSRC were supporting new PhD students per year: ca 1200 DTA ca 120 DTC ca 600 Project PhD students. The 2008 Centres for Doctoral Training call will add from 2009: ca +400 DTC student starts pa 2008 DTC call NOT capacity building. Criteria influencing shortlisting included: built around research capacity with international standing added value in the programme, beyond DTA training with focus and track record coherent vision of the programme across 4 years Next major DTC-like funding call expected with new funding cycle (3 yrs). No assurance that DTA allocations will continue thereafter. WILL YOU BE READY?

What is a PhD for? How is it used? How should it be? Warwick Complexity DTC aims to: train a new generation of complexity scientists at PhD level, teaching knowledge and skills to understand, control and design complex systems do innovative research in complexity science via critical thinking interdisciplinary teamwork end-user interaction.

The leaders of tomorrow Vision Communication Presentation Networking Practical skills Theoretical analysis Teaching Focus

Designing the programme… Benefits from specific training? Learning from everyone… Added value in the programme? How does one maximise the impact? Role of Transferable Skills

Taught MSc modules: 1.Self-organisation and Emergence. 2.Complexity Science in the real world. 3.Complexity in the time domain. 4.Advanced Statistical Methods. 5.Time Series from a Stochastic Viewpoint. 6.Micro to Macro: PDE methods and applications. 7.Quantifying correlation and spatio-temporal complexity 8.Option from MOAC or Systems Biology. Skills training: Teamwork, collaboration, public communication of research, decision making, career advancement Two 10/12 week miniprojects (summer term, summer vac) 3 year PhD projects each having two supervisors (different depts) currently listed research areas –Agent-based modelling –Networks and Emergent Behaviour –Self-Organisation and Assembly –Non-linear Dynamics –Spatio-temporal Complexity –Management & Bounding of Complexity Research Training Warwick Complexity DTC

Who owns a PhD project? Stakeholders include: Student; Supervisor; Research unit; Funding agency How do they relate?

Environment and Events Seminars & Colloquia Structured research fora – e.g. Journal clubs Dedicated research days (tutorial front end?) Joint events/schools with other Centres ‘Retreat’ style events – include the students! Highlight lectures - let students see who staff look up to!

MOAC: DTC conference (16  17 April): 100% organised by 2004 cohort for MOAC, CBC and White Rose. Publicity group: Improving open days, web sites, photos, interviews, podcasts. Industrial mentor group: Ian Nussey (IBM) plus 3 students have established a web-system for mentors and mentees to sign up. 15 ‘marriages’ to date. Already led to IBM giving seminars and arranging problem solving workshops for students. Newsletters Adobe illustrator training course Cake days What can students lead?

Capacity and Critical Mass? Opportunities for discussion & collaboration: within peer group beyond supervisor’s own group across disciplines/areas internationally Near peer role models of post-PhD success: Academic Research employment Professional (non-research) employment UK & international

Some key words … Grounding Specialisation Collaboration Teamwork Presentation Teaching Networking International Role models Inspiration Leadership