1. What it Means to Become a Researcher
Prof Tim Dolin, Dean of Research and Graduate Studies, Faculty of Humanities

2. From student to researcher
You’re not a “postgraduate student” you’re an HDR
Solution of a problem guided by a team of supervisors
Research training: intellectual, technical and personal development
Immersion in a research culture and ‘HDR community’
HDR
Production of a thesis examined by discipline experts

3. What is a researcher? Someone with:
specialized knowledge or expertise;
conceptual and intellectual capacities, such as the ability
to identify and frame key problems,
to think critically and analytically, and
to generate and communicate interesting and original insights.
academic skills
the ability to produce scholarly work (books, research papers) with high-level arguments and the evidence to support them, written in specialist language to be communicated to a specialist audience.

4. What is a researcher? Someone with: research skills
the ability to use sources effectively,
to gather and organize information,
to analyze text, data and theory;
personal attributes
the ability to think and work independently to high standards
to take initiative and responsibility,
to be well organized and balanced in judgment,
to collaborate well with others where appropriate
to take on board and incorporate constructive criticism

5. What is a researcher? Research apprenticeship
You learn these skills and gain these attributes over time, in the research environment and culture
lab
field
library
classroom or supervisor’s office
graduate hub, conference, Facebook, café, etc etc
Academics are researchers, but researchers are not necessarily academics
Academic skills only 1 of the 5 attributes/skills
High demand outside academia for specialized knowledge and expertise, conceptual and intellectual capacities, research skills, and the attributes of a highly motivated, highly trained researcher

6. What is research? The creation of new knowledge and/or
the use of existing knowledge in a new and creative way
to generate new concepts, methodologies, inventions and understandings.
This could include synthesis and analysis of previous research to the extent that it is new and creative. (Australian Research Council)

7. What is higher-degree research?
Graduates will have
A substantial body of knowledge at the frontier of a field of work or learning, including knowledge that constitutes an original contribution
Substantial knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to the field of work or learning

8. From a thesis examination report (2017)
… The thesis submitted for examination is very well written and organised, and clearly demonstrates the candidate’s capacity to identify a viable problem and successfully carry out independent research. The study is original and provides a significant contribution to knowledge. The research was explicitly conceptualised and properly executed and provides valuable insights into … . This topic provides useful and insightful data about … .

9. Developing research skills: cognitive/disciplinary
Develop understanding of theoretical knowledge
Reflect critically on that theory and practice
Evaluate existing knowledge and ideas
Undertake systematic investigation and
Reflect on theory and practice to generate original knowledge

10. Developing research skills: cognitive/disciplinary
Read widely and critically
identify areas of theoretical or methodological debate or disagreement, controversy or inconsistency
read in a targeted way
develop skills of critical appraisal and capacity to
identify the objectives and arguments of those you are reading
and to articulate their strengths and weaknesses
Write early and write regularly
Try out your ideas and your critical skills: give and get feedback

11. Developing research skills: technical
The ‘rules of research’ – Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research
Following appropriate protocols for data collection – ethics procedures
Utilising lab equipment, software etc optimally
Data management
Authorship and publication protocols

12. Developing research skills: finding, organising, note-taking …

13. Developing research skills: training

14. Developing research skills: training

15. Developing research skills: training
Authorship – Who Writes the Papers?
Conflict Resolution for HDR Students
Copyright, Plagiarism and Self-plagiarism
Format My Thesis – The Essentials
Human Research Ethics
IP and Research Commercialisation for HDR students and their Supervisors
Preparing the Candidacy Application and Research Proposal
Publishing Tips and Strategies – Librarian’s Perspective
Research Data Management
Seven Secrets of Highly Successful PhD Students, by Hugh Kearns
Thesis Preparation, Submission and Examination
Turbocharge Your Writing by Hugh Kearns

16. This feels like a long journey… but time flies!
Especially if:
You experience delays:
ethical approval
slow orders/imports
equipment breakdown
gaps between research stages (unsuccessful grant, failed experiments)
You have domestic dramas:
new babies
sick relatives
relationship problems
child care problems
financial problems
visa problems
You let your supervisors slack off
You’re not organised

17. Keeping to your timeline
Work efficiently during busy periods
Use downtime to think, plan, write, publish, learn new skills
Keeping to your timeline
Time management skills
For your research
In your personal life
Financial management skills
Research budget
Open communication with supervisors
Consider extension/LOA
‘Own’ your research
Access support systems

18. Keeping to your timeline
Time management skills
For your research
In your personal life
Financial management skills
Research budget
Open communication with supervisors
Consider extension/LOA
‘Own’ your research
Access support systems

19. Keeping to your timeline
Time management skills
For your research
In your personal life
Financial management skills
Research budget
Open communication with supervisors
Consider extension/LOA
‘Own’ your research
Access support systems

20. Developing as a researcher: opportunities
Funding applications
Early-career researcher awards
Small grants
Competitions
3-Minute Thesis
Innovation awards
Young xxx of the Year awards
Dissemination
Journal publications
Conferences
Industry/research partners

21. Developing as a researcher: opportunities
Funding applications
Early-career researcher awards
Small grants
Competitions
3-Minute Thesis
Innovation awards
Young xxx of the Year awards
Dissemination
Journal publications
Conferences
Industry/research partners

22. Developing as a researcher: opportunities
Funding applications
Early-career researcher awards
Small grants
Competitions
3-Minute Thesis
Innovation/ comercialisation awards
Dissemination
Journal publications
Conferences
Industry/research partners

23. KEEP THE END IN SIGHT