Introduction to Research studies at the Faculty of Medicine, Lund University

INFORMATION & INSTRUCTIONS

Dear Course Participant on PhD Digital Introduction to research studies (0.5 credits),

Welcome to the PhD Program and the introductory course. We are looking forward to working with you on important matters for your studies.

The course will be fully digital and all document and lectures/movies can be viewed whenever it suits you. You can access all materials via this learning platform where you easily can find the links and materials for the course. To complete the course, you will need to read and view the compulsory materials and also pass a test with multiple choice questions (MCQ) and hand in an individual reflection.

Do not hesitate to contact course coordinator Göran Karlsson (goran.karlsson@med.lu.se) and Tomas Deierborg (tomas.deierborg@med.lu.se) if you have any questions related to the courses and its contents. For administrative questions related to the research school, Anette Åkerberg (anette.akerberg@med.lu.se) at the postgraduate studies office will be able to help you.

This digital introductory course will give you a glimpse of what courses to come and learning goals for the different courses, including Introduction to research methodology, Scientific communication, Statistics and choice of statistical software, Research ethics and Oral communication. Useful information to facilitate your academic writing will also be provided. In this course you will learn about your individual study plan (ISP) and be introduced to the portfolio, which will be a reflection document you will work with throughout your PhD education.

Further, you will get information from the post graduate studies office, and the human resource department related to the working environment describing your and the employers responsibility at the University and available support. You will get to know the role of the doctoral student ombudsman (DOMB), how to benefit from the Medical doctoral student council (MDR), and how Lund University Innovation can help you to utilize your research. Career Centre, will provide the perspective of what possibilities you have when you have obtained a PhD.

Recommended order of digital lectures:

Relations, expectations and responsibilities. The national Outcomes for the PhD Program.
The individual study plan
The portfolio
PhD studies office
Introduction to Research Methodology
Introduction to Scientific Communication
Choice of statistics package
Introduction to Research Ethics
Introduction to Oral Communication
Academic writing
Social working environment and equal rights
Medical doctoral student council (MDR)
Doctoral student ombudsman (DOMB)
LU Innovation
Careers Centre

Instructions for the individual work

The aim of this individual work is to put your own research work in a wider context and understand different competences you need to obtain during your PhD. In the PhD outcomes, see linked attachment, you can find the qualifications that you need to obtain during your PhD studies related to Knowledge and understanding, Competence and skills and Judgement and approach. Read and reflect when in your doctoral studies you believe you will obtain the different outcomes. As you will see this work will be important for writing and building up your portfolio.

This reflection document that is a requirement for a pass on this course. The following questions are suggestions for what to address in your reflection.

1) What are your motives for following the PhD program?

2) What alternative/parallel career do you have or could imagine yourself in?

3) How would you describe your scientific approach?

4) What kind of support do you expect from your supervisors?

5) What would you prefer to handle yourself?

6) What do you fear that you have to manage yourself?

7) What are the course requirements for the PhD program?

8) What courses have you followed so far?

9) What non-compulsory courses have you taken or are you planning to take. Why?

10) What are your thoughts on internationalization? Do you plan to spend time abroad?

11) Are your choices aligned with your plans for the future?

For each of the points above, identify in which of the 12 categories of the portfolio they fit best. Please use a format like this:

My motives for following the PhD program are…

(Portfolio category 3: subject expertise.

An alternative career for me would be

(Portfolio category X: …..

Resources in terms of informative web pages important for your learning goals can be found below.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A PASS ON THE REFLECTION

The reflection should comprise at least 2 pages of the reflection including reflection on the 11 points above.

For a Pass on the course you will have to:

Carry out an individual test of 10 multiple choice questions related to what you have learnt during the course
Produce an individual reflection – a product that will develop during the course and be used in your portfolio

Learning outcomes for the Introductory Course

Describe the learning outcomes and content for the PhD program in its local context as well as the national aims and policies for doctoral studies.
Define the function of the individual study plan and how it can become a significant instrument in the learning process.
Identify the value of self-reflection and how the portfolio system can be of support in the learning process.
Identify various roles and clarify distribution of responsibility between doctoral student, supervisors and others involved in the educational process.