1. Survival Guide Professor Liam Marnane Dean of Graduate Studies

2. Starting your research degree: a new start A completely new form of study One to one teaching: student-supervisor, but You are independent You are in control You are responsible for your own progress A class of your own: an exam of your own Also broader education; courses and training

3. What will you get from postgraduate studies? Two general classes of benefits: A. Specific project-related experience: Become specialised in certain area of your field Learn specific research skills etc. B. Project-independent experience: Learn skills of ‘research’ (and beyond) which you would not do at undergraduate level, to create a skills base which is recognised as suitable or essential for certain career opportunities

4. Your key partner: your supervisor(s) Research is generally learned as an apprenticeship, with learning by example, practice, and appropriate feedback Your supervisor may be your: oTeacher oAdvisor oCritic oCollaborator oSupporter oMentor oColleague oCounsellor oFriend?

5. Students who do not get on with their supervisors frequently fail! Develop ground-rules; agree structures that work for you both Make the most of their support but do not lean too heavily on it Relationship will go through many phases over the years (initial dependence, weaning, collaboration at the end) But It’s your thesis oResponsibility ultimately ends with you oIt is your time now and your eventual future oTake ownership and responsibility

6. The problem of focus and priorities Your Supervisor Your project Everything else You Your project Everything else

7. The bad news Research can be – Hard work Slow Disappointing Frustrating Demanding The good news Research is - Exciting Rewarding Satisfying Stimulating Rarely boring The best job in the world! What is research? – some initial thoughts

8. What is research? “Research is the process of going up alleys to see if they are blind” Research adds to the store book of human knowledge Human knowledge is not fixed, it is constantly evolving, changing and being added to Knowledge is not a collection of facts and information….. It is the sum of the results of the efforts of many, many people over hundreds of years Roll of the Supervisor:- Rescue you from the blind Alley

9. Investigation/Experimentation Planning research and reading Doing your research Analysing the results of the research Ensuring the reliability of what you find Communication Communicating locally and informally Communicating globally and formally Research doesn’t exist without communication At the end of the day, you have to write and perhaps defend a thesis Get used to talking about your research (hugely beneficial) and selling it (e.g., at conferences) Secret of communication: CONSIDER YOUR AUDIENCE The two most important elements of research

10. Publications Journal Conference Abstract Presentations Seminars Conference Non-Specialist Audience Boolean Doctoral Showcase Communication

11. Can things go wrong? Things go wrong all the time in research You can really learn from mistakes – vital part of the process There has to be uncertainty as to outcomes and risk in research – otherwise it wouldn’t be research Requirement for originality implies element of risk The greatest rewards can involve the greatest risks Be critical at all times

12. Why and how do I write? Writing transfers your knowledge to the permanent record Write for your degree (thesis) and write to broadcast your findings to a wider audience Publications make getting your degree easier Publications validate your work by peer-review At your Viva the Examiners will be looking to see does your Thesis contain an acceptable amount of original work which is of publishable standard Write early, often and well (probably means practice) Get feedback Be aware and beware of plagiarism

13. Where do you need to get to?