Graduate Program
DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH SKILLS
Workshops
The E&ERC hosts regular workshops and discussions throughout the year aimed at improving the research skills of postgraduate students. These will be held by centre academics, research fellows and distinguished visitors. Postgraduate students are encouraged to be actively involved in the selection of topics that will most benefit their research project and development as a research scientist.
In session 2, 2012, we will be offering “Strategies for successful publishing in ecology and evolution”.
Writing skills. The centre strongly promotes the written communication of research via journal articles, and the popular media. Workshops will give guidance in all steps of the publication process: manuscript preparation, selection of appropriate journals, dealing with reviewers’ comments and manuscript revisions. Excellence in publication is recognised by the annual E&ERC postgraduate award for “Outstanding Paper in Evolution and Ecology”.
Communicating research to the broader community is encouraged via preparation of articles for the popular press, and promotion of student research on the E&ERC web page. Excellence in scientific communication in addition to journal articles is recognised by the annual E&ERC award for “Outstanding Evolution & Ecology Postgraduate Researcher”.
Practical skills: Academics, research fellows and distinguished visitors will periodically present workshops on specific skills relevant to their research (e.g., advanced statistical analyses). A database of research skills held by centre staff and students will facilitate skill sharing among postgraduate students.
Students should check the E&ERC website for dates and times of upcoming events.
Special Interest Advanced Courses
The E&ERC offers advanced courses in evolution and ecology for postgraduate and honours students. These are aimed at developing the research and critical thinking skills of students, giving them a broader conceptual understanding of their discipline.
Past special interest courses have included:
Session 1, 2008. A critical look at the modern relationships between evolutionary biology, society and the meaning of life (Rob Brooks and Erik Postma)
Session 2, 2008. Strategies for successful publishing in ecology and evolution (Peter Banks and Alistair Poore)
Session 1, 2009. Selling Your Science (Tracey Rogers)
Session 2, 2009. Topics in the Philosophy of Science (Russell Bonduriansky)
Session 1, 2010. Modeling Workshop (Troy Day – Queen’s University, Canada)
Postgraduate Writing and Skills Transfer Scholarship
In addition to these special courses run by E&ERC faculty, several courses run by senior postgraduate students and typically scheduled towards the end of the year have also been offered as a part of the “E&ERC Postgraduate Writing & Skills Transfer Scholarship”.
These awards support students who have recently submitted their PhD theses to continue the preparation of journal articles from their theses. Students receiving this award will also present a short course. The short course is usually based upon the skills they developed during their tenure as PhD students and is presented to students in the EERC graduate program. The aim of these awards is to maximise research output (and to increase competitiveness for post doctoral research fellowships and research positions), and to facilitate the transfer of professional and research skills between post graduate students. Information on the application requirements and submission dates for these awards is available on the EERC website.
Previous skills transfer courses have included:
Interdisciplinary Research: melding for maximum impact (Louise McKenzie; 2010)
A Successful Abstract, Making your Conference Talk Stand Out, and Speaking to the Public (Alex Jordan; 2010)
Introduction to the R Environment (Luke Hedge; 2011)
Understanding and incorporating genetic and microbial analyses into your research (Tiffanie Nelson & Anna Kopps; 2011)
Research Discussion Groups
Students and staff regularly meet to discuss ideas in evolution and ecology. These groups feature discussions of published papers, short presentations of student research, and sessions for planning proposed research. Currently active discussion groups include:
- Evolution of sexual selection, ageing – Brooks & Bonduriansky laboratories
- Conservation genetics – Sherwin laboratory
- Marine ecology and evolution – Johnston, Poore and Steinberg laboratories
- Fisheries and marine environmental research – Suthers laboratory
- Ecogeeks – Bonser and Moles laboratories
Students should contact the academics in question for further information.
