Robyn's Blog : Worldwide PhDs

McPhDs - is this the future?

robyn.owens — Mon, 11 May 2009 06:12:00 GMT

A very interesting article on the ABC website today. See

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/05/11/2566534.htm

Go8 - Harvard Graduate Symposium

robyn.owens — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:26:00 GMT

Climate: Science + Humanities

Graduate Perspectives from Australia, China, and the US

Information for Applicants

www.usyd.edu.au/graduate_studies_office/about_us

From James Lovelock’s Gaia thesis to Tim Flannery’s historical work, global discussion on climate and climate change spans the humanities and the sciences. This symposium will bring together c35 graduate students to exchange global perspectives from three very different national bases: Australia, China, and the US. It aims to highlight and sharpen work which displays genuine disciplinary crossover, and to extend local perspectives on global concerns. 16 Australian students will be selected and funded, one science and one humanities student from each University in the Group of Eight.

Convenor: Professor Alison Bashford, Chair of Australian Studies, Department of the History of Science, Harvard University, 2009/10.

Date: 3-4 March 2010

Venue: Dudley House, Harvard University, Cambridge Massachusetts, USA

Funding: 2 students from each G08 University will be funded, each to total of AUD2,500 travel + AUD800 accommodation.

Selection Criteria:

Excellence and innovation in research

Capacity to connect science and humanities on climate issues, broadly conceived.

Evidence of potential for research leadership

Eligibility:

Students must be enrolled in a research degree at a G08 University. Eligible students include those currently under examination.

Process:

3 copies of application form (from your School) + CV + 500 word abstract to be sent in hard copy to “Harvard Symposium” c/- Alison Bashford, School of Philosophical and Historical Inquiry, A14, University of Sydney, NSW 2006. A selection committee chaired by Professor Bashford will notify successful applicants by 1 August 2009.

Application Due: 1 July 2009. Late applications will not be considered.

Associated Conference: “Climate: Science + Humanities” will be followed by “Changing Climate: historians and hemispheres in conversation” (5-6 March). Confirmed speakers include Professors Warwick Anderson (Sydney), Peder Anker (Oslo), Joyce Chaplin (Harvard), Tom Griffiths (ANU), David Livingstone (Queens University, Belfast), Iain McCalman (Sydney), Libby Robin (ANU), Charles Rosenberg (Harvard).

Australia to US Fellowships

robyn.owens — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:13:00 GMT

The American Australian Association is now accepting applications for its 2009 Australia to U.S. Fellowship Program. The Program offers Fellowships of up to US$25,000 to Australian researchers or students wishing to undertake advanced research or study in the U.S. Through these Fellowships, the Association encourages intellectual collaboration and innovation, building on the strong economic and social partnerships between Australia and the United States.

Fields of research supported by the Fellowships:

- Medicine
- Technology
- Science
- Engineering
- Business

General Requirements:

- Applicant's research or study must be at a graduate or postdoctoral level.
- Proof of acceptance into a U.S. educational institution.
- Applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
- The Fellowships are intended to support part of the costs of one year of research/study in the U.S. (applicants must submit a proposed budget).
- Applicants should devote full time to their research or study.

Deadline: April 15th 2009

Further Information: http://www.americanaustralian.org/australian_to_usa_apps/

Please send enquiries & applications to: atous@aaanyc.org

Smithsonian Fellowships

robyn.owens — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 08:45:00 GMT

The Smithsonian Institution is currently offering in-residence Fellowships for 2009
http://www.si.edu/ofg/start.htm

Senior Fellowships - for scholars more than 7 years post PhD

Postdoctoral Fellowships - for scholars up to 7 years post PhD
Term - 3 to 12 months for both Senior Fellowships and Postdoctoral Fellowships (Postdoctoral fellowship applicants in science may apply for up to 24 months). Both fellowships offer a stipend of US $42,000 per year plus allowances. Earth and Planetary Sciences Senior and Postdoctoral stipends are US$47,000 per year

Predoctoral Fellowships - for dissertation research
Term - 3-12 months
Stipend - US $27,000

Graduate Student Fellowships - 10 weeks, US $6,000.

Smithsonian Institution offers fellowships for research and study in the following fields:

*       Animal behavior, ecology, and environmental
        science, including an emphasis on the tropics
*       Anthropology, including archaeology,
*       Astrophysics and astronomy
*       Earth sciences and paleobiology
*       Evolutionary and systematic biology
*       History of science and technology
*       History of art, especially American, contemporary,
        African, and Asian art, twentieth-century
        American crafts, and decorative arts
*       Social and cultural history of the United States
*       Folklife
*       Materials Research
*       Molecular biology (contradictory information - please check)

Molecular Evolution Fellowships Program -http://www.si.edu/ofg/Applications/MEFELL/MEFELLapp.htm

Deadline: January 15, 2009

Further information and application materials can be found at: www.si.edu/research+study
For questions please contact:
                Office of Fellowships
                Smithsonian Institution
                470 L'Enfant Suite 7102
                MRC 902 PO Box 37012
                Washington, DC 20013-7012
                phone: 202-633-7070
                email: siofg@si.edu

Please let your Faculty Research Development Officer (RDO) know if you are submitting an application.

UWA Library - dissertations and theses database upgrade

robyn.owens — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 01:27:00 GMT

The UWA Library has recently upgraded its subscription to ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Database to allow access to documents in full text.

The ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Database (PQDT) is a comprehensive collection of dissertations and theses, from all fields of study, from around the world. The full text version includes 2.4 million dissertation and theses citations from 1861 to present day with 1 million full text dissertations that are available to download in PDF format. Full text dissertations include most from 1997 with a strong retrospective collection for older works. Each year more than 60,000 new full text dissertations and theses are added to the database.

You can access this exciting resource from the Library website. Simply search for the title ProQuest Dissertations and Theses in the Library catalogue and link through to the online resource.

Australia-Italy Award

robyn.owens — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 01:52:00 GMT

The Australian Academy of Science is inviting applications for the Australia-Italy Award for short-term scientific research visits (1–3 months) between Australia and Italy in 2009. One Australian and two Italian PhD students and early postdoctoral researchers will be supported under this award.

Aim of the Award

The award is aimed at recognizing excellence in research cooperation between Australia and Italy and to foster further research activity among PhD students and early postdoctoral researchers.

Areas of Science

Proposals in any field of natural science, basic and applied, including mathematics and engineering science, will be considered. Information, closing deadlines and application forms are available on theAustralia-Italy web site

Go8 Germany Joint Research Cooperation Scheme

robyn.owens — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 04:07:00 GMT

Applications for the Go8 Germany Joint Research Co-operation Scheme close on 22 August for exchanges taking place in 2009. The scheme is a joint initiative of the Group of Eight and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

The scheme aims to:

	foster research collaboration of the highest quality between Australian researchers from Go8 universities and German researchers.
	result in research outcomes and the exchange of skills and knowledge of mutual benefit to Australia and Germany.

Objectives and scope of the scheme
The scheme will support exchanges for Australian researchers to spend time at partner institutions in Germany and for collaborating German researchers to spend time at Go8 universities.

Total Funding
The Go8 and the DAAD have each agreed to provide approximately 160,000 euros (AUD250,000) per year for the period 2008-2010 (approximately AUD1.5 million) to support the scheme.

Eligibility
Exchange participants must either be employed as academic staff members in a teaching and research or research only role at a Go8 university, or a PhD student involved in the research project submitted by an eligible staff member.

Assessment criteria
The criteria to be used in assessing Australian applications include:

	the quality of the research project;
	the experience and track record of the participating researchers/research groups and the level of involvement of early career researchers; and
	the potential of the project to result in outcomes of mutual benefit to Australia and Germany.

Application key dates
Applications for exchanges in 2009 open on 4 June 2008 and close on 22 August 2008.

Evaluation of the scheme
At the end of the second year of the scheme (2009) the Go8, in consultation with the DAAD, will conduct an evaluation of the scheme to inform decisions about whether it should be continued beyond 2010, and if so, whether any changes are required to improve it. The evaluation shall be completed no later than 1 March 2010.

Further information

Ms Olivia Langensiepen
Administrative Officer (Grants)
Phone: +61 08 6488 4708
Email: olivia.langensiepen@uwa.edu.au

Canadian Studies

robyn.owens — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 04:48:00 GMT

Canadian Studies Postgraduate Research Grants

The following opportunities exist for postgraduates and recent doctoral graduates to pursue research or teaching in Canadian Studies. Canadian Studies is defined as research which aims at a better understanding of Canadian society and/or culture and includes most disciplines in the social sciences and humanities. The grants are offered by the Association for Canadian Studies in Australia and New Zealand (ACSANZ), the International Council for Canadian Studies (ICCS) and the Government of Canada.

Please note new deadlines for selected programs as indicated.

Guidelines and application forms for all programs are available at: www.acsanz.org.au/funding.html

Association for Canadian Studies in Australia and New Zealand (ACSANZ)

Postgraduate Travel Award

Deadline: 30 September

Up to five grants are awarded each year to postgraduate students for a short research trip to Canada. Research must be in Canadian Studies and related to the student's thesis topic. The value of each grant is up to A$3000. Available to ACSANZ members only (new members welcome).

International Council for Canadian Studies (ICCS)

Graduate Student Scholarship

Deadline: 30 September NEW DEADLINE

Up to ten grants are awarded world-wide to Masters and Doctoral candidates to undertake thesis-related research on Canada at a Canadian university for 4-6 weeks. Up to C$3,500 is available for all expenses.

Canadian Studies Postdoctoral Fellowships

Deadline: 30 September NEW DEADLINE

This program enables Canadian and foreign academics who have completed a doctoral thesis on a topic primarily related to Canada to visit a Canadian or foreign university with a Canadian Studies program for a teaching or research fellowship. Fellowships are for a minimum of one month and a maximum of three months. Applicants must not be employed in a full-time university teaching position and must agree not to accept honoraria or salary during their fellowships. The grant will be C$2,500 per month plus the cost of a return airline ticket.

Best Doctoral Thesis in Canadian Studies

Deadline: 30 September

This International Council for Canadian Studies (ICCS) Award is designed to recognize and promote each year an outstanding PhD thesis on a Canadian topic, written by a member (or one of his/her students) of a Canadian Studies Association or Associate Member, and which contributes to a better understanding of Canada.

Government of Canada

Doctoral Student Research Award (DSRA)

Deadline: 1 November

This award is designed to assist full-time graduate students at degree-granting institutions of higher education, whose dissertations are related in substantial part to Canada, to undertake doctoral research about Canada. The purpose is to increase knowledge and understanding of Canada and to support the development of Canadian Studies.

For further information, please contact:

Prue Torrance
Assistant / Adjointe
Academic Relations and Canadian Education Centre
Relations académiques et Centre d'éducation canadienne
Canadian High Commission / Haut-commissariat du Canada
Commonwealth Avenue, CANBERRA ACT 2600 Australia
Tel/Tél: +61 2 6270 4051 - Fax/Tél: +61 2 6270 4083
prue.torrance@international.gc.ca ~~ www.canada.org.au

Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8:30am-4:30pm

Association for Canadian Studies in Australia and New Zealand (ACSANZ)

www.acsanz.org.au

The Graduate Junction

robyn.owens — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 05:48:00 GMT

Two research students at Durham University have set up a website that is meant to reduce isolation among graduate students. Called the Graduate Junction, the site allows graduate students to form networks of students with similar research interests in a similar way to Facebook or LinkedIn. Launched in May in the UK, the site had over 2000 students register in the first 2 weeks, and now has users in over 38 countries. Check it out.

Another survey for the social scientists

robyn.owens — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:45:00 GMT

If you are a doctoral student in the social sciences and are at the stage of writing your dissertation, you might be willing to fill in another online survey regarding supervision - this one relates to another student's research on this topic. The details of her request are given below:

The central purpose of my doctoral research is to examine factors that may influence satisfaction with the doctoral research experience. My study proposes that understanding and applying concepts of supervision, communication and personality can be significant in creating quality research experiences for students in higher education. In order to learn more about what makes the doctoral research experience satisfactory, however, I need to collect data from a large number of students doing doctoral research. Your involvement in providing the requested information is therefore very important and appreciated.

Directions:

Please follow the link given at the bottom of this letter and complete the online survey.
Read the instructions to each survey section carefully.
After completion, send the survey to the indicated drop box.
Your participation in this study is voluntary and the information obtained will remain completely confidential. No one, except the researcher, will see the completed survey. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time.
There are no “right” and “wrong” answers. Please select the option corresponding to your personal perception.
Please answer ALL questions on this survey. The entire survey should not take more than 15-20 minutes.
The survey is divided in five parts:

(a) Doctoral Research Experience

(b) Communication with the Research Supervisor (Advisor)

(d) Personality

(e) General and Demographic Information

If you have any further questions regarding the study, feel free to contact nwieland@aiias.edu.

By clicking on the following link you indicate your willingness to participate in the present study and you will be directed to the survey.

https://online2.aiias.edu/limesurvey/index.php?sid=41471&lang=en

US looking to reform doctoral education

robyn.owens — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:14:00 GMT

A new post on the Inside Higher Ed site reviews a book just released by the Carnegie Endowment for the Advancement of Teaching on Reforming the 'Formation of Scholars'. It talks about the appalling attrition rate in doctoral education (cited at about 50% in the States), the lack of focus with qualifying exams, the difficulty in risk management with single advisors, and the lack of preparation for the sorts of jobs doctoral graduates actually end up doing. Its recommendations are basically about re-building intellectual cultures - I like this idea and know of some Schools here at UWA that have done a great job in creating a culture of shared ideas and excitement about the creation of new knowledge.

What, in your mind, should we do to build vibrant intellectual cultures?

Comprehensively Canada

robyn.owens — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 04:03:00 GMT

I'm currently in Canada for a Graduate Education Summit: 5 nations and 25 delegates, it promises to be very interesting. My topic is joint degree PhDs, and I've been exploring that particularly at UBC in Vancouver and after the conference will do likewise at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.

Above is the UBC campus. UWA already has lots of links with UBC, with plenty of staff already collaborating and writing joint publications. In addition, quite a lot of our undergraduates go there for study abroad semesters. So I have been exploring the idea of setting up joint PhDs with UBC: candidates would be enrolled in both universities, have supervisors in both universities, spend at least one year in each university, and end up with a PhD that is badged by both institutions.

Sounds great, doesn't it? But there will be a few obstacles to overcome as the PhD programs are a little different. In Canada, beginning PhD candidates undergo a year of "comprehensives": a series of broad but substantial units of study in the general discipline area, designed to make PhD graduates capable of teaching broadly in their discipline. They then sit exams, and along with writing their research proposal and having it accepted, move through confirmation of candidature and into the research part. Even with comprehensives, the whole program still takes 3-4 years, as does our program.

I like the idea of comprehensives - what do you think?

Their exams include an oral exam, but only have one external examiner.

I'll find out more about other obstacles when our conference starts on Friday. In the meantime, I'm staying in a castle and visiting Lake Louise tomorrow. More soon ...

Australia-Israel Postgraduate Fellowship

robyn.owens — Tue, 29 May 2007 02:17:00 GMT

The Australia-Israel Scientific Exchange Foundation Postgraduate Fellowship Award

The Australia-Israel Scientific Exchange Foundation (AISEF) was established in 1997, with the specific vision to nurture ties between the academic institutions of Australia and Israel.

The Australia-Israel Scientific Exchange Foundation serves the academic communities of Australia and Israel, and the enrichment, which the cooperation and collaboration between the two countries bring, can be shared by all.

The Foundation established an award for postgraduate students in Australian and Israeli universities to undertake part of their research for their PhD in matching institutions in Israel and Australia. The award, AU$5,000 for a period of up to six months, has in the past been awarded to nine Australian and Israeli students. The funds for this award have come from private donations.

Applications for the 2008 Fellowships close on Friday, 27 July 2007 for both Israeli and Australian students. Application information and forms are available from the AISEF website.

Virtual pals

robyn.owens — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 01:47:00 GMT

The BBC reports today that virtual communities are becoming as important as real communities and that, on average, net users made 4.6 virtual pals each in the last year. Moreover, those surveyed in this US study had, on average, gone on to meet 1.6 of those virtual pals.

Since we'll be giving away the "best blog" camera at the March Induction next year, should we invite myResearchSpace members to the party as well? It could be your chance to make 1.6 real friends!

PhdData.org

robyn.owens — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 05:31:00 GMT

Have you visited PhdData.org yet and registered your thesis? This site holds a database of research dissertations in progress around the world and allows you to both register your own thesis and search for similar theses. It certainly helps with that age-old problem of discovering someone else who is currently writing a thesis on exactly the same topic as you are! There are over 2500 theses registered at the moment, 7 of which are UWA theses.