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, …..