MARCS Higher Degree Research Expectation Guidelines

Guidelines about what to expect when undertaking postgraduate research at the MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University.

This document provides a guide of what you might expect while undertaking a PhD (3 years) or Masters (2 years) at the lab-based research Institute, MARCS.

As a research institute, the majority of postgraduate candidates in MARCS are full-time and receive a stipend, either from an externally funded research grant or research contract or the university. The degree is a research training degree and the scholarship is a stipend rather than a salary. PhD candidates are expected to design institute-based projects (with guidance from supervisors) that can be completed within 3-3.5 years of full-time study, or within 2 years for MPhil candidates. These guidelines aim to provide insight into potential opportunities during a candidature, with research and research output being the central focus.

Supervision

Each candidate’s supervisory panel includes a primary supervisor and two associate supervisors, based on aligned research interests. The primary supervisor is the main point of contact during your candidature and should be consulted on all aspects of your research and candidature. You should regularly check in with your supervisor(s) to seek their guidance and feedback including your research and candidature progression.

Research Training

Typically, academic research during a higher degree will build on candidate’s disciplinary background and experience and develop across the candidature to greater independence and narrow and deep subject mater expertise. There will at any given time, be guidance provided by your supervisor(s), however a candidate is required to have foundational understanding of a particular discipline and related research design, and be able to conduct ethical, practical, and rigorous research.

Student experience

The MARCS Institute provides a positive and supportive environment for research and research training. Candidates and supervisors are encouraged to plan a program of academic and professional development each year both within and beyond Western Sydney University. The Institute currently offers HDR candidates the following opportunities:

• Annual MARCS HDR Forum where HDR candidates present their research in a poster, talk or demonstration.
• Annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition for HDR candidates to hone science communication skills, by participating at least once during candidature.
• MARCS Writing Fellowship/s are competitively awarded to those HDR candidates that submit their thesis within 3.5 years which provides them with an opportunity to write up their publications over a 10-week period.
• The Denis Burnham Award for Doctoral Student Career Transition is competitively awarded and supports a HDR candidate annually to transition to post-doctoral research.
• HDR candidature support funds are provided to candidates enrolled in MARCS annually for 3 years. They can apply through an annual budget to access up to $5000 per year for 3 years, capped at $15,000 over the life of the candidature.
• The HDR portiolio also provides research training opportunities as required such as workshops and presentations on topics identified by HDR candidates.
• An opportunity to meet frequently and regularly with their principal supervisor and at least once each semester with their full supervisory panel.
• HDR candidates enrolled in MARCS are provided with a desk at either Westmead or Werrington, a leased lap top computer, external hard drive and desk monitors for the time they are undertaking their research.
• Access to high quality research facilities, and outstanding research mentors during their candidatures and, relatedly, expert networks of national and international researchers.
• Access to Western Sydney University resources such as those through Student Wellbeing, the Library, Graduate Research School, and the Student Representative Council.
• Nomination as the student representative on several different university level and national commitees.

Roles and Responsibilities of a HDR candidate

HDR candidates all have a role in creating a valuable, educational, and rewarding experience during their candidatures. Candidates should be on a WSU campus at least 3 days per week, and be:

• Engaged by proactively managing their time and work requirements.
• Responsive to developing their professional requirements and actively seeking skills and knowledge to excel in their candidatures.
• Available for meetings and discussions with their supervisors and more widely across the Institute and others as required, including the weekly MRM meetings as audience and speakers.
• Collaborative with each other to share knowledge, work toward common goals and respond to challenges.
• Work toward their HDR candidate milestones in a timely manner (i.e Confirmation of Candidature completed by the 6-month mark of candidature, and Progress of Candidature at the 24month).
• Contributing to the collaborative fabric and research culture of our academic unit through seminar atendance and presentation.
• Willing as 2nd and 3rd year candidates to mentor and support 1st year candidates.

By being on campus 3 days per week candidates enjoy the ability to interact with their peers and develop research ideas. Candidates should maintain a 3 day on campus mindset but the Institute understands there is a level of flexibility built into this expectation if you are proactively managing your workload and some periods require more or less time on campus.

Graduate Atributes

By the end of 3 years (or 2 years equivalent for Masters) evidence of academic research will consist of, for example, thesis submission, publication, and collaboration. Below are some indicators that a candidate is developing independent research skills:

• Ability to develop original project designs and carry these out. Instigate collaborative projects with national/international partners.
• Ability to take projects through to completion in a timely manner.
• Evidence of publication in high quality discipline-specific peer-reviewed journals and/or published reports to industry and government. First author publications are encouraged.
• Evidence of quality and impact of research such as invitations to speak at national and international conferences and win prizes and awards.
• Participation in the preparation of applications for external research funding (may include Conference Travel Awards/Scholarships, external scholarships, Category 1, 2, 3 funding. Category 1 includes ARC, NHMRC and others listed in the Australian Competitive Grants Register).
• Evidence of a significant role in collaborative research projects.

Work Experience during the Candidature

Teaching

PhD and Masters candidate, especially atier completing the Confirmation of Candidature, are encouraged to contribute informally or formally to teaching in the relevant discipline. Teaching activities may include:

• lectures, tutorials, marking, workshops, and/or demonstration in practical classes.
• Co-supervision or mentoring of student research at the undergraduate, Honours and/or postgraduate research or coursework level.
• professional development activities associated with teaching and learning.

A full-time candidate receiving a stipend would normally engage in no more than 10 hours of paid work per week; candidates should seek their supervisor’s support to undertake teaching activities. Candidates can contact the Director of Academic Program (DAP) in each school at Western or elsewhere to enquire about available teaching activities and provide their CV, and to be included on casual sessional eligibility lists.

Research Assistance (RA) work

RA work is a way for HDR candidates to gain experience and casual employment within a research environment and supplement their scholarship stipend. RA work is usually linked to research grant funding and becomes available if an academic staff member has included the provision of RA work within a successful research grant application. If RA work is available within the Institute, details are circulated by email to Institute members. HDR candidates can also apply to be on the RA eligibility list and speak to academic peers submiting grants about future RA opportunities.

Service

HDR candidates can contribute to the Institute and to the wider University community through service activities such as:

• Membership/involvement in organising or governance commitees for the organisation of seminars, workshops, and forums.
• Working with other staff in areas of collective responsibility (e.g. summer schools, other outreach activities).
• Contributions to professional societies.
• Public lectures.
• Media appearances.
• Consultancy services for government bodies.
• Engagement with business and industry.
• Reviews of journal or conference papers.

A HDR candidate should seek their supervisor’s support with respect to being engaged in service-related roles, remembering that these activities compete with time for research related activities.

All HDR candidates are encouraged to participate in service-related roles at the Institute, which can include organising events such as the HDR Forum. We value the contributions of all volunteers and take their participation seriously. It is important to note that some service roles may involve additional responsibilities and workload. Before volunteering or accepting a nomination, candidates should consult with their supervisors to ensure that the role is appropriate and will not interfere with their research progress. The Institute reserves the right to make nominations in cases where there are no volunteers or where diversity is needed on organising committees.

Both teaching and service activities are forms of professional development and can develop experience and confidence in ways of working, interpersonal and collaborative skills, science communication, outreach, research project administration, pitching and grant writing skills, systems thinking, growing professional visibility, networks and profile, and project management.

Administration and procedures

Below are several resources available at the University and within MARCS to support your candidature. It’s important that you become familiar with what procedures you must follow during your candidature. As a general guide My Student Record (MySR) is where you manage yourself as a student, and Research Master is where you manage your candidature. Remember to register your enrolment in your program before the census date for each quarter. The census date is an important date which confirms your status as a student, if for some reason you want to apply for a variation of candidature including leave of absence you should do so before the census date. International students atier the end of your scholarship may be liable to commence paying student tuition fees commencing the quarter atier your 3 years is completed (speak to your supervisor at 2.5 years to review your progress).

Resources

• WSU Higher Degree Research Policies
• WSU Higher Degree Forms, Policies and Guidelines
• MARCS Sharepoint – HDR candidates and supervisors
• WSU Student Administration information including Student Services and Amenities Fees and how to enrol
• WSU Postgraduate information and resources

These MARCS HDR Expectations Guidelines are complementary to the WSU Supervisor and Higher Degree Research Candidate Compact. The Compact should be completed as part of the [early] candidature plan milestone, and both documents should be reviewed and discussed by supervisors and HDR candidates.