Physics

Postgraduate Research Students, NUI Galway

National Student Survey

School of Physics

Interim 2022 Physics Action Plan 

The school structure in the COSE is undergoing a change and the former School of Physics is in the process of merging with the parts from other schools to form a new School of Natural Sciences (SNS). The current interim action plan is, thus, named as Physics Action Plan. The current Physics Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) has discussed the results of the Student Survey and prepared an interim plan, which later can be incorporated into the new SNS Action Plan.

The GSC notes the significant decrease in overall satisfaction of the research experience in the former School of Physics (a drop from 84% to 47%), which might be linked to lockdown related issues as only 44% of the respondents indicated having an adequate access to the oncampus facilities required to engage with research. The Chair of the committee and the Head of Physics are, thus, planning a meeting with the graduate students to discuss the survey findings in more details and to find reasons behind this low satisfaction rate.

The other areas of concern are the questions relating to Research Culture, Progress and Assessment and Development Opportunities and the following list of actions have been drawn up. Some of the actions are brought up from the previous action plan as their implementation was held up due to Covid-19 related restrictions.

Research Culture: 

1. The seminar series, led by Graduate Students, will resume on campus/online, with invited speakers relevant to the graduate research areas.

Underway. PhD external examiners are being considered as invited speakers. Proposals for speakers from graduate students are being compiled.

2. Physics will also endeavour to have speakers from companies which would potentially employ postgraduates.

Noted in planning new Seminar Series

3. Graduate students will receive information and be encouraged to participate at College/University wide events to present their research to peers and staff to increase opportunities to become involved in the wider research community beyond the Physics. Information on bursaries (like Ryan Institute travel support fund) for participation at international conferences and summer schools will also be disseminated to students to enhance their participation at international events.

Underway

4. Physics will encourage social aspects of the postgrad experience through coffee mornings etc. encourage graduates to join local chapters of (e.g.) the European Physical Society, Optica, SPIE etc.

Underway. Events introduced previously and deemed successful (like Meet for Pizza evenings etc.) will resume

Progress and Assessment:

1. Induction sessions will be organised specifically for new Physics PhD/Masters students. These will be cognizant of the fact that some of the students are new to NUI Galway.

Induction Session for new Physics Research students will be held on the same week as University/CoSE second induction round

2. Physics Postgraduate Handbook will be updated and merged with counterparts to include information on the required standards for the thesis and final assessment procedures.

Underway

Development Opportunities:

1. Physics will investigate possibilities for training in Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

The Head of Physics and GS committee will communicate relevant workshops and courses to graduate students. Taping into current staff experience as principal or technical lead in start-ups is being discussed (Gerard O’Connor and Martin Leahy are considered as invited speakers at the GS seminar series)

2. New postgraduate students will, together with their supervisors, prepare individual career development plans. These will be reviewed annually by the GRCs.

Is being implemented.

3. Laboratory coordinators will be tasked to organise training sessions for Postgraduate student Demonstrators in advance of labs.

This has happened for first year labs before the lockdown. Will be continued and expanded to other labs.

Feedback:

1. Physics will seek feedback from the graduate students following the GRC process and
will respond to that feedback.

This will be implemented in next GRC round