<aside> đź“‘ This content is based on this page on the Chalmers intranet
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There are several people involved in your PhD journey. With all the different roles, it can be confusing to understand what can be expected of whom and whom you can reach out to for help/advice. Below you can find a simplified overview of the most common roles and responsibilities surrounding your PhD journey.
| Who | Description | Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| Main supervisor | Is always responsible for ensuring that the doctoral student receives qualified supervision to a sufficient extent from one of her/his supervisors so that the doctoral student can follow the individual syllabus. | |
| • To stay up to date with the rules and procedures of Chalmers. | ||
| • To support the doctoral student’s path towards fulfilling the objectives for the degree. | ||
| • To ensure that a research task is in place when the studies commence. | ||
| • To guide the doctoral student so that the research project continues with a reasonable scope and of scientific and academic quality. | ||
| • To follow up the doctoral students’ research and education and plan it together with the doctoral student. | ||
| • To develop the individual syllabus together with the doctoral student, update it at least once a year and participate in the study follow-ups. | ||
| • To introduce and guide the doctoral student into the relevant academic communities, within Sweden as well as internationally. | ||
| Assistant supervisor | One or more assistant supervisors. Can work at Chalmers or at another university or company. | |
| The assistant supervisors will take on a different role depending on how their skills complement the other supervisors and the doctoral student; they can contribute with industry experience or with expertise concerning a certain part of the research project, or they can have a deeper knowledge regarding the chosen method or theory. | • To take an active part in guiding, planning and following up the doctoral studies together with the doctoral student. | |
| • To participate in the study follow-up meetings. | ||
| • To introduce and guide the doctoral student into the relevant academic communities, within Sweden as well as internationally. | ||
| Examiner | Has the overall responsibility for the doctoral programme in a specific subject, and a specific responsibility for the quality of their doctoral students’ education and research. | • To ensure that the research task and other elements of studies satisfy the quality requirements. |
| • To approve the individual syllabus and take part in the study follow-up. | ||
| • To approve course work and decide the amount of credits given for each course (normally in consultancy with the main supervisor). | ||
| • To read the licentiate and doctoral dissertation/thesis before it goes to print. | ||
| • To approve the licentiate dissertation and its presentation. If a midterm seminar is held instead of a licentiate seminar, the examiner decides if the doctoral student has reached licentiate level. | ||
| • To approve that the doctoral student is ready to go ahead with the defence. | ||
| • To suggest faculty opponent and grading committee. | ||
| Director of studies - Ala Arvidsson ([email protected]) | At each Chalmers graduate school there is at least one director of studies. | • To support the doctoral student, supervisors, and examiners in the graduate education process. |
| • To prepare and update the general syllabus for the graduate school. | ||
| • To initiate the development of courses and seminars within the graduate school or in collaboration with other graduate schools. | ||
| • To ensure that information is provided regarding courses at the graduate school. | ||
| • To conduct a study follow-up at least once a year with each doctoral student at the graduate school. At the study follow-up previous and planned activities as well as progress is discussed. The discussion should center around the updated individual study plan. | ||
| • To ensure that each doctoral student’s individual syllabus is filed at the department. | ||
| • To ensure that the requisite material is available when the graduate school is to be evaluated. | ||
| Study administrator - Ann-Sofie Ullenius ([email protected]) | There is at least one study administrator working with the graduate education at each Department at Chalmers. | • Supports graduate students and supervisors with templates, practicalities and “wisdom” related to various phases and aspects of the graduated education. |
| • Supports faculty giving courses within the graduate education and graduate students taking those courses. | ||
| • Supports the development of the graduate education by e.g. compiling necessary material (historical data, statistics etc). | ||
| • Reports course points to LADOK and files documents (such as decisions related to the graduate education) at the Department. | ||
| Vice Head of Department (Education) - Frida Lind ([email protected]) | The Vice Head of Department is responsible for doctoral studies within the department, a task delegated from the Head of Department. Vice Head of Department is part of the departments’ management group and has an overall responsibility for | |
| doctoral studies at the department. Represents the Department in the Research Education Committee (FUN). | • To ensure high quality of doctoral studies at the department. | |
| • To develop rules and regulations for doctoral education at the departmental level. | ||
| • To admit graduate students. | ||
| • To appoint supervisors to each doctoral student and decide on any change thereof. | ||
| • To approve that a licentiate seminar or doctoral defense may take place. | ||
| • To approve the faculty opponent and the members of the grading committee. | ||
| • To approve crediting of courses or activities as GTS credits. | ||
| Unit manager (depends on division) | Responsible for the work environment of PhD students. | • Holds yearly Appraisal talk with PhD student |
| • Makes sure that you have everything you need to work safely and efficiently |