Rothamsted Research

Training
Rothamsted Research

Rothamsted Research provides PhD students with a structured training programme, which will enhance their career prospects, make them more competitive in the workplace and give them a clear understanding of the role of a Research Scientist. In addition, we have a monitoring scheme that ensures each student is making satisfactory progress, is receiving adequate supervision and is completing all mandatory parts of the training programme.The aims of the programme, and the monitoring scheme that it includes, are that:the student becomes knowledgeable in a chosen scientific field to a standard expected of a scientist of potential international standinggenerates novel research findings suitable for publication in internationally refereed journalsdevelops expertise in:modern technical methods and experimental planningnumerical and statistical skillscommunication and organisational skillsinformation technologyachieves the self-reliance and adaptability needed to succeed in subsequent employmentacquires the interpersonal skills that promote effective interaction with peers, established scientists and support staff

PhD Training Elements
ElementMandatoryRecommendedFirst YearPhD induction+Planning your PhD+Poster Design+Develop personal training programme+Presentation Skills+Technical Writing (or Year 2 by discussion)+Attend student symposium as a poster presenter+Present a departmental seminar introducing your research topic (15-20 minutes)+Complete and submit report after 9 months+4 additional days of generic training+Literature survey (first 6 months)+Journal club+Intermediate YearsAttend studeent symposium presenting a poster+Submit second year report+10 days of generic training+How to get your work published+Specialist courses for research+Journal club+Final YearCareer Management (2 days)+Thesis Writing and Viva Skills+Attend student symposium as an oral presenter+Full seminar within departmental programme+6 additional days of generic training+Submit thesis+Journal club+

Full list of courses and length
Course offeredDuration1 credit = 0.5 daysPhD Induction Course2 creditsPlanning your PhD2 creditsPhD Health and Safety1 creditBasic statistics and Introduction to GenStat4 creditsDesign and Analysis of Experiments part 14 creditsDesign and Analysis of Experiments part 24 creditsLinear regression4 creditsNon-linear regression2 creditsEndnote for beginners1 creditIntroduction to Multivariate Statistics4 creditsGood scientific practice2 creditsGetting your work published2 creditsThesis writing2 creditsTechnical writing4 creditsPlanning your PhD2 creditsCommunication skills2 creditsMaking meetings work2 creditsCareer management4 creditsHandling difficult conversations/situations2 creditsDiversity1 creditTime management2 creditsPanel interviewing4 creditsMicrosoft Outlook2 creditsSuccessful grant writing1 credutIntroduction to project management4 creditsIntroduction to finance2 creditsDeveloping presentation skills4 creditsPoster skills2 creditsPowerPoint introduction2 creditsPowerPoint intermediate2 creditsPowerPoint advanced2 creditsWord introduction2 creditsWord intermediate2 creditsWord advanced2 creditsDreamweaver2 creditsPhotoshop2 creditsExcel introduction2 creditsExcel intermediate2 creditsExcel advanced2 credits