PhD Student Orientation

Welcome !!Research Students in Computing

ScienceYour Rights & ResponsibilitiesProgress Monitoring & ProgressionComputer FacilitiesTeaching/DemonstratingTravel, Health & Safety, Security/Fire ...

Useful Contacts

Tim Norman, Head of CS (Research) Judith Masthoff, Head of CS (Teaching) Kees van Deemter, Res. Training Coord. Geeth de Mel, PG Representative Emily Gardner, School Research

Secretary (FN165) Sheryl Mackay, School Teaching

Secretary (G01)

Your Research Objectives

To get a PhD !!

Become familiar with the literatureIdentify a problem to investigateMake some progress solving the

problemPublicise your researchWrite and submit a PhD thesis

Your PhD Thesis

Your thesis must: “Make a distinct contribution to knowledge and afford evidence of originality as shown by the exercise of independent critical powers.”Oral examination:You will have to defend your thesis to the satisfaction of an external examiner...

Your Supervisor(s)

Your supervisor is your guide & mentor She should: advise, encourage, promote…

You should meet regularly with supervisor … discuss progress & future directions

Eventually, you may become more of an expert than he is in your chosen field !

Changing supervisors is not usually a big problem if there is a suitable alternative.

Second Supervisors

All students are given second supervisors Not necessarily immediately

The role of the second supervisor varies: Providing expertise in a different area Facilitating a connection with an existing

project A different person to whom you can turn for

advice

Progress Monitoring

Complete by ~9 Months: 1st year report + seminar If successful, transferred to PhD

(initially: “MSc with a view to PhD”) Complete by ~21 months:

2nd year report (thesis proposal) + seminar

Your Rights

Regular meetings with your supervisor(s)Prompt feedback on submitted workAdequate equipment to conduct researchAccess to facilities - buildings, Library, etc.Additional training courses, when relevant

Problems/complaints: Supervisor, RTC, HoD (Research) – also maybe use student rep.

Your Responsibilities

Attendance: interact with peers + staff Participation: seminars, research retreatsEffort: for research min 45-50 hours/week Planning: time management, deadlinesRecord keepingRespect towards colleagues & facilities

Developing your Skills

The University offers you many opportunities to develop your skills, to support your PhD study and prepare you for life after the PhD.

Make the most of these!Discuss these with your supervisor,

for example as part of your personal development plan …

Personal Development Plan (PDP)

You do your PhD for a reason, e.g. become an academic? become an industrial researcher? start a company?

You need to ask regularly, together with your supervisors: Am I getting there? How can I improve (e.g. courses)

Teaching & Demonstrating

Demonstrating is good experience!PhD Students can do up to 6 hrs per

weekCurrent rate is around £10 per hourUsually paid at end of termTaxable for UK students, not overseas? Need to have reasonably good English

Demonstrator Choice (?)

We like demonstrators to “volunteer”At start of each term a form is circulated:

Make your preferences clear (max 6 hrs) Choose courses that interest you? Choose courses that offer new challenge?

Often, there will be paid preparation timeConsult your supervisor first

Pro-Active Demonstrating

Please INTERACT with the class: periodically, walk around the lab to observe ask students how the are getting on show an interest in what they are doing try to make useful suggestions

(e.g., to “point them in right direction”)Please DO NOT:

sit in a corner & read e-mail/newspaper/book

Running Practicals

Sometimes, you will be “in charge” of the practical lab. This may involve:

Circulating an Attendance Sheet to signAsking students to make less noise Asking other non-lab students to leave

practical labs are reserved for each course if they refuse, DON’T get into “confrontation”

Any problems: call a member of staff

Travel (Conferences, etc.)

You will be encouraged to attend: Conferences Workshops Meetings Summer Schools / Graduate Schools ?

Submit Travel Authorisation Form to HoD Presenting a Poster/Talk improves

chances!!

Use of ComputersYou will be provided with a PC and

access to a central UNIX server (via H drive)

Be aware of the Conditions of UseBe aware of other users

i.e. don’t hog network, memory, CPU, ...http://www.csd.abdn.ac.uk/information/facili

tiesLast year, PhD students were encouraged to

pilot a system called Skills Forge (for computer-based record keeping) but this is no longer the case

Backup

Your home directory on the UNIX server (H drive) is backed-up nightly, so keep everything important there!

Files in your “My Documents” may be backed up, but this is unreliable

Its up to you to back-up other data (can automate using SyncBack)

Your Home Page at CSD

Tell the world you’re here!Publicise your research &

achievements!

URL: www.csd.abdn.ac.uk/~usernameUnix: ~/public_html/index.htmlWindows: H:\public_html\index.html

DIT Accounts

DIT: Directorate of Information TechnologyYou will also have a DIT accountUseful for:

Using non-CSD teaching labs Using wireless hotspots in the University Modem dial-in from home ATHENS accounts (Web of Science, etc)

For problems, go to DIT Helpdesk, Edward Wright building...

Access to Building

Normal hours: 6am - 6pm6pm - 11pm: keyholders only (sign-in)

You will be supplied with a keyAfter 11pm:

requires a Late Pass from HoD must ask a Porter to let you out! cannot re-enter until normal opening

Weekends: keyholders only

Department Events

Department seminars (including research student presentations) often happen on Wednesdays at 2pm in MT2, sometimes at other times

The various research groups also have meetings and visitors (also “away days”)

Special “training” events for research students are also sometimes organised

Tea and Coffee

People drink coffee/tea etc in the Common Room most days around 11am. Coffee etc is provided in the kitchen – join the club if you are a regular consumer!

On Friday 11am there are biscuits (people take it in turn to provide them)

General Security

Periodically, thefts do occur...

Don’t leave rooms/offices unlockedDon’t leave valuables in jackets/bagsDon’t let people without key into

buildingDo ask strangers “if you can help”Report suspicious behaviour Ext: 3939

Personal Safety

Aberdeen uni/city is relatively crime-free BUT:

Avoid confrontation with thieves/students

If working late, keep door closed...At night, keep to well-lit, busy streets,

etc.

Uni security: 3939, Police: 999

Fire Drills & First Aid

Know where your nearest fire exit is!

Full Fire Drill once each termTest Alarm each Wednesday morning

Miscellaneous Costs

Telephones Approx one per RS room Dial #100 for personal calls, 9 for external

Mail You will be allocated a folder in the

photocopier roomPhotocopying

“free” charged via your Id. cardCan now pay uni bills online…

Web pages for research student information

See:

http://www.csd.abdn.ac.uk/research/researchstudents.php

Other Information Sources

There is a vast amount of information and advice on Health, Accommodation, Sports, Research, Clubs, etc. on university site:

www.abdn.ac.uk… Ask your supervisor or RTC ...

Remember

Most research thrives on groups of like-minded individuals. Others in the department will have ideas about, e.g., what’s an interesting research paper to read

(but you can skip the last 20 pages) where there’s an interesting workshop in your

area (whose deadline is next week) who else works on problems similar to yours

(and whether their work is any good)50 (30 PhD) people know more than one!

Questions?