1. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 INFORMATION SESSION 16.10.2006 Project Thesis (Fundamental Research Tools)

2. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Objective of Project Thesis Class The overall objective of the class is to equip the student with all the tools and methodological know-how required for the effective planning, execution and reporting of his research. To achieve this objective, we will arm you with fundamental research tools (both tangible and non- tangible) to assist you throughout the duration of your thesis….and beyond! The contents of the class should assist in the preparation of your PhD research work, and the culmination of the class will be a formal presentation of your proposed research project

3. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 At the end of this class you will have identified the novelty and originality of your research and the contribution it will make identified the objectives and sub-objectives of your research carried out a detailed literature search, created a database of this literature (Endnote) and using this database, written a literature review written an abstract summarising your research work carried out a plan of your research, identifying research tasks, resources required, identified deliverables and milestones, carried out a risk analysis and identified a contingency plan, plotted Pert and Gantt charts (MS Project) written an article based on your research and submitted it the Project Thesis Editorial Office written the claims of a patent applications, based on your research drafted a project proposal carried out a detailed patent search and drafted a patent of your research work prepared and video-ed a presentation of your research given a formal presentation of your research work to a mock DEA panel and your colleagues and supervisors Outcomes of Project Thesis Class

4. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Ciara O’ Sullivan x 8740 ckosulli@etse.urv.es Class Prof

5. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Class layout INTRODUCTORY SESSION CLASS 1 Introduction, objectives, lit. review CLASS 2 Efficient writing and workplanning CLASS 3 Article Writing CLASS 4 Proposal writing & Refereeing CLASS 5 Patents, copyrights & licenses PRACTISE PRESENTATION PRESENTATION EVALUATION FORMAL PRESENTATION CLASS 6 Presentation guidelines

6. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Class layout INTRODUCTORY SESSION 16th October, 16:00 PRACTISE PRESENTATION 22nd January 2007 PRESENTATION EVALUATION 1st February 2007 FORMAL PRESENTATION Thursday 8th February 2007 CLASS 1 25th October Aula 116 CLASS 2 30th October Aula 116 CLASS 3 14th November Aula 116 CLASS 4 27th November Aula 116 CLASS 5 11th December Aula 116 CLASS 6 18th December Aula 116

7. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Class Rules The language of the class is ENGLISH. All homeworks and presentations must be done in English. Students must attend at least 80% of the classes in order to pass. Students must attend 75% of Multidisciplinary Seminars as part of the Project Thesis Class. Homework submission dates will be provided, that will be posted on the web with the homework. Homework submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. The class will be graded on the basis of (i) class attendance and interaction (ii) homeworks and (iii) final presentation, in an equivalent manner.

8. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Tutor Groups Each class will be given between 16.00 and 18.00 in Aula 116. The class is to be divided into 2 tutor groups (to be decided in information session) of six students and the tutor group will arrange a time to meet on Friday to review homeworks, discuss themes/problems/concerns etc. The students of the tutor group can meet on an individual or group basis, as is decided between them. Homeworks will be carried out on an individual basis but could be reviewed within a group format.

9. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Website There will be a Project Thesis class web page, that should be consulted frequently for messages/links/downloads etc. The webpage will contain OVERVIEW CLASSES - description, ppt file, links, homework, useful downloads, book references ADDITIONAL RESOURCES - links, downloads, book references STUDENT PRESENTATIONS MESSAGES - homeworks etc. SUGGESTION BOARD - PLEASE use CLASS EVALUATION

10. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Homeworks Throughout the course there will be homeworks that all have one final common objective - preparation and execution of the PhD. Although not obligatory, it is STRONGLY recommended that the theme chosen for all the homeworks will be the research theme of your PhD. It is also HIGHLY recommended that you discuss the homeworks of the class with your supervisor and keep him/her updated of the class.

11. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Class 1 General Introduction, Identification of research objectives and literature review Wednesday 25 th October, 2006

12. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Contents Identification of research theme Identification of objectives Introduction to basic definitions Philosophy, scientific methodology and ethics Literature Review Database searching and management Impact factor, citation index Live ENDNOTE tutorial Live ISI tutorial Identification of novelty of research theme Identification of contribution of literature theme

13. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Homework Identification of research themes Carry out literature review and using trial version of ENDNOTE, create organised database. Using ISI, choose 5 of the articles found and make a table listing journal, impact factor, no. of citations of paper Short summary of literature review Identification of novelty of research to be carried out, contribution that will be made and where results could be published Due date: 3 rd November 2006

14. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Class 2 Efficient writing and workplanning Monday, 30 th October, 2006

15. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Contents Guidelines to writing efficiently Interactive tutorial for improvement of grammar and punctuation skills Outline of abstract and abstract elements Class activity - draft abstract exercise Methodology for planning of research Task timing, deliverables, milestones Resources Risk analysis and contingency planning Pert, Gantt Charts

16. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Homework Abstract of research theme Workplan - identifying research tasks, time required to carry out tasks, identification of deliverables, milestones, their timing as well as a contingency plan. Identification of required resources and Pert and Gantt charts. Due date: 10 th November 2006

17. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Class 3 Article writing Tuesday, 14 th November, 2006

18. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Contents Guidelines to preparation of a technical journal article Initial barrier considerations surrounding article writing will be discussed - defining the story, choosing the journal, impact factor, citation index Questions of execution will be discussed - what is in each section, computer tools, figures, log vs linear plots

19. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Homework Students should prepare a short communication or full article based on their research work for submission to a peer-reviewed scientific journal and will be asked to submit to the Project Thesis Editorial Office Students will be sent three manuscripts to referee and should prepare a referee report and return to the Project Thesis Editorial Office Students will be sent referee reports and should correct and resubmit their corrected article according to correct protocol Due date: 24 th November 2006

20. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Class 4 Proposal writing & the refereeing process Monday, 27 th November, 2006

21. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Contents Preparation of a PhD research proposal, focusing on format, use of illustration, structure, referencing and editing Example proposal will be extrapolated in class and financial planning explained Major sources of research funding (e.g. EU, NSF etc.) will be introduced and this style of research proposal will be outlined and the research proposal review process explained. The submission and refereeing process

22. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Homework Preparation of complete PhD project proposal, complete with Introduction, Identification of novelty and potential contributions, Identification of Overall Objective and Sub-objectives, Task descriptions, Timing, Deliverables, Milestones, Resources, Finances, Risk Analysis, Contingency Planning, Pert and Gantt Charts, Bibliography Due date: 11th December 2006

23. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Class 5 Patents, Copyrights & Licenses Monday, 11 th December, 2006

24. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 IPR, ownership, inventorship, patent application, patent protection, patent databases will be outlined. An interactive patent search will be carried out using Derwent Innovation Office, European Patent Office and the US Patent Office How to write a patent and what claims to include Content

25. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Patent search related to research theme and summary of patent search Draft of patent and claims of PhD research themes Due date: 22 nd December 2006 Homework

26. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Class 6 Presentation Guidelines Monday, 18 th December, 2006

27. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Contents Preparation and delivery of effective presentations Body language, attitude, effective visual aids, equipment, content & timing, structure, importance of introduction, visual aids dos and donts Guide to preparation outlined and voice exercises to highlight correct stressing will be carried out Tips to giving presentations in English Guidelines for preparation of European PhD Video highlighting examples of good and poor presentations

28. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Homework Preparation of 10 minute presentation based on proposed PhD research theme Due date: 22 nd January, 2007

29. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Presentation Practise 22 nd January, 2007

30. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Contents There will be two three-hour sessions on Monday 22 nd January, 2007 Each student should attend the entirety of at least one of these sessions Each student will give a 10-minute presentation, that will be video-ed and 2 minutes will be allocated for questions Each student should takes notes to evaluate the other students

31. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Homework Summary of notes to assist in evaluation of student presentation Due date: 29 th January 2007

32. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Presentation Evaluation Ciara O’ Sullivan Thursday, 1 st February, 2007

33. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Contents There will be two three-hour sessions on Thursday, 1 st February Each student should attend the entirety of at least one of these sessions (and the same one they attended on Monday 22 nd January) Each student will be shown the video of their presentation and students will discuss how the presentation could be improved

34. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Homework Prepare final presentation Due date: 8 th February, 2007

35. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Formal Presentation All supervisors, colleagues and a mock-DEA panel Thursday 8 th February, 2007

36. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 Contents This should be treated a semi-formal process where the proposed research for the PhD is to be described in the presentation and students should dress semi-formally Students and supervisors will be asked to attend and will contribute to the grading of the presentation and will complete a feedback form that will be given back to the student so as to assist in further improving the quality of the presentation A mock panel will ask questions - if possible technical - but the importance is the style!

37. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 EVALUATION The only way we can improve our class is to have feedback and evaluation. There will be an anonymous suggestion board available on the web page - please use it We will distribute an informal evaluation from at the end of the course – please complete it!

38. Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 GOOD LUCK! Whatever problem you have regarding the class - contact me! Remember this class is to help you, and any homeworks etc will assist you in your research work…. Looking forward to collaborating,