Issues Resolution and Milestones Professor Felicity Roddick Associate Dean College of Science, Engineering and Technology

RMIT University© College of Science, Engineering and Technology 2 Issues Resolution You have a problem with your project. How would you resolve it? You have a problem with your senior supervisor. How would you resolve it?

RMIT University© College of Science, Engineering and Technology 3 Research Program agree a topic that truly interests you agree the context of your project, stand alone academic or collaborative, understand resources available and any commitments read sufficient literature to define where your proposed project will make a contribution to new knowledge make a realistic but challenging plan Research Project & Progress Reporting divide work into manageable and reportable sections establish the real priorities, particularly where there is external reliance read the literature and write reports, papers; write in a way that emulates the best publications participate in meaningful Progress Reviews, if a problem – identify it Thesis Writing & Submission plan your thesis early on (chapters) & modify plan, write literature review and experimental section early & modify provide whole sections to supervisors, and agree turn-around time, listen to advice get some independent people (friends etc.) to read as an outsider get all the simple editing error free, check logic & thesis proposed PROGRESS – Important Aspects of Research Candidature

RMIT University© College of Science, Engineering and Technology 4 Milestones Develop a realistic plan and keep to it Initial literature review…written! Divide work into logical, manageable (and preferably reportable) sections Write up sections as complete them…thesis chapter? paper? –Allows review of data, papers elicit external peer review, writing practice Progress Reports…every 6 months Thesis writing…materials and methods (write during candidature?) is easiest chapter to write –Can be easy if have written reports and papers during candidature!