Research Element Requirements - Year 1

To monitor your overall progress throughout your programme, you will have a Thesis Committee consisting of your supervisors and one or more members who are independent of the supervisory team.  A member of the DTP Academic Committee will chair each Committee.

Each student is responsible for meeting the following Research Milestones in Year 1 of the programme:

10 Week Plan- Report to be submitted by Friday 26th November, 5pm

• Write a short report (1000-1500 words) which includes
  • an abstract
  • an introduction which provides the background to the project and puts the scientific questions being addressed in context
  • the aims of the project
  • the project milestones
  • any risks
  • the plan of work for year one
  • the taught courses you have enrolled on
  • relevant references

As this report is written at the beginning of your PhD, the main purpose of the report is to understand what your plan is for the 1st year, not to report on your progress to date.  Should you have made any significant progress this can be added as an appendix.

Your report should be submitted via email to Precision.Medicine@ed.ac.uk and feedback will be provided by your Thesis Committee Chair. 

Institute for Academic Development (IAD) Courses

All students must attend writing and presentation skills courses with the IAD, preferably within the first year of your programme. The full list of courses available can be found here. Please get in touch if you need advice about which courses to attend.

1st Year Review - Complete by mid-September latest 

Image

1. A written report prepared by you in consultation with your supervisors which should be available to members of the Thesis Committee at least two weeks in advance of the meeting.
2. An interview with your Thesis Committee which will include a brief (~20 minute) presentation by you.
3. A written report by the Thesis Committee.
4. Completion of the Postgraduate Research Annual Review form in EUCLID.

Your report should not exceed 5000 (excluding figure legends and references). The report should include: 

• abstracts [scientific and lay]
• introduction
• aims
• methods
• results & discussion
• future plans

Appendices should list

• completed training courses
• additional training
• any publications/presentations at meetings
• outreach activities

Additional Information

• All 1st year reviews should be completed by mid-September at the very latest.
• Students are responsible for arranging their Thesis Committee meeting at a time that suits all members.  We recommend that this is organised early to ensure a suitable time can be found prior to mid-September deadline.
• Your principal supervisor, Thesis Committee chair and external member must all be in attendance. Additional supervisors are encouraged to attend but are not required for the meeting to go ahead.
• Once organised, students should confirm the date of the Thesis Committee meeting to Precision.Medicine@ed.ac.uk.
• Your First Year Report should be sent to all Thesis Committee members and Precision.Medicine@ed.ac.uk at least two weeks before the scheduled meeting. There is no set deadline for the submission of the report, this is dependent on individual meeting dates. 
• Completion of the Postgraduate Research Annual Review form is supported by EUCLID, students and supervisors will receive email prompts from the system when action is required.  Additional guidance for students on completion of this form is available here.  Additional guidance for supervisors on completion of this form is available here.  Final sign off of the Postgraduate Research Annual Review form will be completed by the DTP Programme Director.
• Students should upload their report and Thesis Committee report to their Postgraduate Annual Review in EUCLID.

NOTE: Taught Specialism 1 and 2 will also be completed in Year 1.