Research Skills Development Course First year Research students only. Applied Writing Skills. Assertiveness: Being Assertive, Feeling Confident

Research Skills Development Course

First year Research students only

Applied Writing Skills

Assertiveness: Being Assertive, Feeling Confident

Communication and Presentation Skills

Creativity and Ideas Generation

Effective Poster Presentations

Information Retrieval

Myers Briggs: Introduction

Networking

Perfecting Your Poster Presentation

Research Design For Life Sciences & Medicine

Science Research and Integrity

Time Management

Writing for Publication

For second and third year students only

Suitable for: First year research students only.

Special instructions:This course is equivalent to 3 A List Courses

Although it is possible to attend this course on a non-residential basis, participants are strongly encouraged to attend on a residential basis as there will be important activities as well as social events in the evenings.

No bookings are accepted without a copy of the RSD application form. Application forms MUST be signed by supervisors.

Research Skills Development (RSD)

Residential Course

Course Description

This is a three day / three night residential course. The primary purpose of the course is to enhance both the personal and research effectiveness of the participants, and thus help foster the skills which are important to life as a PhD student and beyond. Topics include PhD planning and management, creativity, communication skills, group dynamics, research collaboration, and developing greater self, social and cultural awareness. Wherever possible, links are made to the research environment and participants are encouraged to apply new insights and approaches to their work. Opportunities also exist to discuss and explore any specific issues and concerns the participants may have.

The focus of the course is very much on experiential learning, which is achieved by a series of challenging indoor and outdoor group exercises. For many of the exercises, participants work in teams of 8 people or less. Thus, the course provides an excellent opportunity to meet (and learn from) people from other disciplines, and to have a lot of fun!

The venue for courses will be Easthampstead Park Conference Centre. This is a Victorian country mansion situated within 60 acres of beautiful parkland, but convenient to Bracknell and Wokingham stations. Great houses have existed on the site since 1335 and many kings and queens have visited. For example, it was here that Henry VIII first saw Katherine of Aragon, when she stayed there on her way to marry Arthur, his elder brother.

Travel and accommodation expenses for the course will be met by GSLSM. All meals are also provided free of charge at the venue. The approximate travel time from London (Waterloo Station) to the venue is 75 minutes.

For course dates please login to the GSLSM Blackboard site:

http://learn.imperial.ac.uk and enter your College username and password

Comments from Past Participants

"As a summary I would say that it is a very useful course. Useful for the PhD but also for the future afterwards" "Absolutely excellent! A great experience"

"The course was well organized. It was of great value and has had a deep impact on my teamwork abilities"

Cancellations

The cancellation charge for this course will be £150.00.

Students must give a minimum of two weeks notice of their cancellation to avoid their Department/Division being charged.

Suitable for: All research & MRes students, particularly first years.

A unique approach to the task of report and thesis production, this workshop emphasises the management of the whole process. Managing the task properly means it is completed on time and to the best possible standards.

Workshop Outline:



Defining and Scoping the Task; Managing the Process; Understanding the Reader

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Doing the Work; Better Writing; Foundation Grammar; Presenting Complex Data; Effective Graphics; Presentation



Writer’s Block and Other Writing Problems; Causes; Cures

The workshop is aimed at first year students and is designed to be complementary to the "Planning and Writing your Thesis and Preparing for the Viva" workshop – which offers more specific guidance about planning the writing of your thesis, which you should attend in year 2 or 3.

Suitable for: All research & MRes students, particularly first years. Aims of the session:



To learn the difference between assertiveness, aggressiveness and submissiveness

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To define assertiveness and identify those situations where assertiveness skills are required



Explore how to behave assertively in these situations

The session uses mini lectures and group work to explore issues to do with giving and receiving criticism, making and refusing requests, making mistakes and learning to say no. This is followed by role play exercises where participants have the opportunity to practice dealing with tricky situations that may challenge them - for example facing difficulties in getting to see their supervisor, being talked over at a meeting, dealing with disputes over whose name goes first on an academic paper. As well as the spoken word we look at presenting oneself with confidence, examining body language and how we talk as well. Ultimately participants are invited to work out what they want from various transactions, and how to increase their chances of success.

Applied Writing Skills

Suitable for: 1st year research and MRes students only.

This intensive half-day workshop will add impact and style to your presentations. This will be a generic training workshop and students should expect to be able to apply the techniques discussed during the session to any situation.

Topics will include (among others):

 Structuring and shaping a presentation

 Body language and confidence

 Tips for audio visual aids

 How to add interest, energy and colour to your talk

 Organising notes

 Ways to cope with nervousness

For course dates please login to the GSLSM Blackboard site:

http://learn.imperial.ac.uk and enter your College username and password

Suitable for: All research & MRes students, particularly first years.

This session is aimed at anyone who wants ‘to think outside the box’ to generate ideas. The techniques presented and tried during the session are particularly useful for people who do not believe they have time to think differently due to the pressures of daily life.

Key areas:

 Define creativity through an exercise exploring the difference between creativity and innovation.

 Examine blockages to creativity and ideas generation - emotional, perceptual, environmental and intellectual.

 Discuss what is meant by left-brain and right-brain thinking and explore the implications of this for creativity.

 Explore at least four techniques to develop creativity to be applied in different situations

The workshop will take students through a pragmatic 6 stage problem solving process. They will apply the process from problem definition through to implementation.

Communication & Presentation Skills

Suitable for: All research and MRes students, particularly first years. Students are advised to attend either this session or the Perfecting Your Poster Presentation workshop (p26). If you chose to attend both, only one A credit will be allocated although both will appear on your attendance record.

Presenting posters as a way of communicating research can be a highly satisfying experience. A successful presentation enables researchers to talk directly to an interested audience, enlarge their research network and enhance the reputation of themselves, their research group and their institution.

This course takes the approach that the presenter needs to focus on the objectives of the presentation and carefully consider what actually motivates viewers in a poster hall, how they behave, and what is likely to attract them – and repel them!

The session includes exercises in designing and presenting a poster.

You are welcome to bring one of your existing posters to the session for peer and tutor feedback.

Selected Topics & Highlights

 Realistic objectives of a poster presentation

 Viewer behaviour, motivations and needs

 What you need to know to plan effectively

 How much text?

 The most attractive layouts, fonts, pictures

Suitable for: Students in their first six months of study. The session is complementary to Research Design for

Life Sciences & Medicine, and will cover both observational studies and relevant experimental designs for social and

medical sciences.

Students may attend either or both Research Design workshops as they choose, but please note that only one "A" course will be credited in terms of the minimum attendance requirement (although both will appear on the record of attendance).

Course Content



How do you approach an experimental project?

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What is a hypothesis and why have one?

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Is all scientific study hypothesis-driven?

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Setting realistic aims and targets.

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Aims and hypotheses – are they different? The design of experiments

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What are you testing and what do you hope to learn?

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The use of positive and negative controls

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Repetition – is the experiment meaningful?

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Power calculations The analysis of experiments

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Observer bias

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Statistical significance

Effective Poster Presentations

For course dates please login to the GSLSM Blackboard site:

http://learn.imperial.ac.uk and enter your College username and password

Suitable for: Students in their first six months of study.

This session will focus on the importance of feasible plan and appropriate design, and how the aims and hypotheses influence choosing the best study design. The session is complementary to Experimental Design for Laboratory

Based Research and will cover both observational studies and relevant experimental designs for social and medical

sciences.

Students may attend either or both of the Research Design workshops as they choose, but please note that only one "A" course will be credited in terms of the minimum attendance requirement (although both will appear on the record of attendance).

The following areas will be covered:

a) The importance of a feasible plan and appropriate design BEFORE the study starts



Ensuring a sound working hypothesis



Setting realistic aims - time frame/level of support/material available



Differences between aims and hypotheses



Selecting the right populations/patient groups b) Types of Study

We will discuss meaning and applications of main study designs using examples from recent studies. What will be the best choice for your project? (Students are welcome to bring their own example).

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Observational studies: case-control and cohort studies

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Intervention studies: clinical trials, other experimental designs including animal studies as appropriate

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Descriptive studies: cross-sectional, ecological

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Strengths and weaknesses of different designs (bias, confounding etc)



What matters for your sample size?

Suitable for: Students in their first six months of study. It is recommended that you attend either EndNote or Reference Manager to supplement this lecture.

One hour introductory lecture on Imperial College London Library resources and information services designed specifically for first year research students. A study pack will also be provided containing a range of documents relating to the library resources covered in this introduction. The main topics will include:

 Library services at Imperial College London and the changing nature of information provision.

 How to locate and access resources

 Bibliographic Databases

 E-journals

 Other Electronic Resources

 Developments in the Library Service

Research Design for Social Sciences and Medicine

Suitable for: All research and MRes students with an interest in improving self awareness, communication, working relationships or personal effectiveness. This workshop is designed to complement the introductory session on the Research Skills Development course, but is also suitable for those with no previous knowledge. The Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a versatile tool, which provides individuals and teams with a powerful understanding of their own and others’ personality style. By understanding the differences between personality types, groups and individuals are able to work together effectively as they understand how to communicate more constructively with different people. The instrument also helps individuals to recognise their own strengths as well as their own areas for self-development.

The Myers Briggs tool is based on the psychology of Jung and is the world’s most widely used personality model. The MBTI instrument promotes a constructive approach to individual differences, demonstrating that different working styles can be complementary rather than a source of friction. People generally find the process enjoyable and the results enlightening!

During this introductory workshop participants will be asked to complete the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (a brief questionnaire). It is important to remember that this is not a test and there are no right or wrong answers! Workshop participants will then take part in a number of interactive and fun exercises designed to help them understand how they interact with others and how they deal with all kinds of real-life situations.

The Aims of the Workshop



To become familiar with the Myers Briggs model as a framework for understanding and valuing differences.



To support participants in gaining clarity about what is their “best-fit” personality type.



To look at how greater personality awareness can improve our personal effectiveness and communication with others.

Suitable for: All research & MRes students, particularly first years.

Networking is a powerful tool that can make a huge difference in our professional lives. However, many fail to make good use of networking because of shyness, uncertainty about “the rules” of networking and a lack of knowledge of basic techniques. This practical workshop aims to equip participants with the confidence and the tools to network effectively.

The Aims of the workshop:

 To consider what is good practice in networking

 To improve networking confidence and skills for application in career planning, professional advancement, forming new collaborations etc.

 To develop techniques for effective networking at professional gatherings

Content:

The workshop is interactive and practical and covers the following:

 What exactly is meant by networking

 Why networking is so important

 What is and is not acceptable in networking terms

 How to expand our own network

 How to use networking for career advancement

Myers Briggs: Introduction

Suitable for: All research & MRes students, particularly first years.

As trainee scientists in the life sciences, PhD students are in the middle of a revolution. On the one hand, the last 15 years has seen scientific research become more competitive and commercial, influences that may encourage secrecy, selfishness and even misconduct, as well as excellence and high productivity. On the other, we have seen a great increase in public debate about innovations such as stem cell technology, genetic modification of organisms, and cloning. The result is that scientists are being challenged to consider their role in society, at a time when researchers - including PhD students - are under intense pressure to get results and meet deadlines.

The workshop Science, Research and Integrity looks at these challenging issues. Through discussion we will examine what is meant by "scientific integrity" or the “well-trained scientist”; you will be asked to consider what you think are the benefits and the costs of scientific research (for yourself, and for society). We will examine some recent cases of misconduct, such as the cloning scandal surrounding Woo Suk Hwang, and look at how Imperial College views the issue. More generally we are likely to consider how issues arising from peer review, gift authorship, commercial sponsorship, and secrecy can affect a researcher’s attitude to the ideals of science.

The workshop involves discussion and working in groups. You are asked to undertake some preparatory reading taken from Nature magazine’s coverage of the area. At the end of the workshop you will be given reading lists and contact details of useful periodicals and organisations. Note that the workshop aims to give a general overview of scientific integrity, and is suitable for students from all areas of the life sciences and medicine. We will not discuss in detail such technical matters as Home Office licensing, clinical ethics committees, or the design of clinical trials.

For course dates please login to the GSLSM Blackboard site:

Suitable for: All research & MRes students, particularly first years, who would like to develop a practical approach to producing effective poster presentations

Students are advised to attend either this workshop or the Effective Poster Presentations course (p24) but not both. However, if you would like to attend both sessions please note that only one "A" course will be credited in terms of the minimum attendance requirement (although both will appear on the record of attendance).

Poster presentations can be an effective method to communicate your research. They provide an ideal opportunity to make contacts and network and to attract interest in your work, your research group, department and organisation. But there are many pitfalls that can result in a visual nightmare which repels viewers!

This workshop considers the importance of understanding your viewers and audience in order to clarify your objectives and successfully target your message. It will help you to develop a set of guidelines for design and delivery of poster presentations.

The session includes exercises in the evaluation of actual academic posters.

Selected Topics

 Appeal: would you stop to look at this poster at a poster session?

 Define your viewer to refine your objectives and target the message

 The message: clear, concise and informative

 Layout: organisation and guiding your audience

 Visuals: graphics, colours, captions, fonts, space

 Engaging with the viewers

 You and presenting your poster

Science, Research and Integrity

Perfecting Your Poster Presentation

Suitable for: Late second or third year research students

Pre-course preparation: Course exercise material will be circulated in advance

This course will teach students how to write scientific papers for publication and covers the following topics:



Why write



Common pitfalls



Audience selection



Conventions of scientific presentation and journal selection

This course does NOT teach students how to write good prose, rather it teaches them how to present their research to a journal editor and to a scientific audience with the aim of getting it published.

At the end of the course participants will be able to:

 Recognise the need for scientific paper writing

 Understand why scientific papers are constructed as they are

 Distinguish between poorly written and well written papers

 Evaluate the relative worth of journals

Writing for Publication

Suitable for: All research & MRes students, particularly first years.

It is likely that many of you feel rushed and under pressure balancing the many priorities and competing tasks that you have to do as part of your course. This workshop is intended to improve your personal effectiveness by identifying your time management problems and coming up with realistic courses of action. As a result of attending this course, you will be able to:

 Identify your own time management problems and time robbers

 Appreciate common problems of balancing priorities, and keeping to objectives

 Identify a realistic approach to improve your own time management

 Clarify your own work boundaries and a realistic work schedule and objectives

 Produce an action plan to put into place better time management habits