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  3. PhD Programme in Radiation Biology and Biophysics
  4. Specialization in Applied Atomic and Molecular Physics
  5. Research Rotation I

Research Rotation I

Objectives

This curricular unit is designed to provide opportunities for PhD students to gain hands-on experience on research methodologies used in different scientific domains of this program. Students will be exposed to a broad range of techniques available at the different laboratories affiliated to the program. Specific objectives for the students are:

  • To understand the research topics under investigation in a specific laboratory
  • To understand the research methods applied and data analysis
  • To develop critical thinking skills and design new experimental approaches to answer specific questions
  • To mature a work ethic consistent with a professional researcher

It is expected that these internships will help the students in the process of choosing the research areas or laboratories to continue their PhD studies. 

General characterization

Code

11254

Credits

6.0

Responsible teacher

Maria Alice Santos Pereira

Hours

Weekly - Available soon

Total - 56

Teaching language

Português

Prerequisites

Available soon

Bibliography

Scientific articles related with the different research areas of the host laboratories.

 At the Bench: A Laboratory Navigator by Kathy Barker. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, 2004. 

Teaching method

A list of the laboratories affiliated to the doctoral program available for the internships will be provided to the students at the beginning of the course. After the needed arrangements with the host lab and approval by the coordinators, the rotation will be supervised through a tutorial regimen by the head and researchers of the hosting laboratory. 

There will be a continuous evaluation system based on the students’ performance and attitude in the laboratory, the knowledge acquired during the lab rotations and the understanding about the specific subject they worked with. At the end of the semester, the students will write a report describing the rotations. An oral presentation of the experimental work will also be required to enable students with communication skills, focusing on technical and scientific details.

A grade report form will be provided to all rotation supervisors that will evaluate: the enthusiasm, the work ethics, team work competences, ability to work and think independently, experimental work performance and progress, as well as communication skills.

Evaluation method

A grade report form will be provided to all rotation supervisors that will evaluate: the enthusiasm, the work ethics, team work competences, ability to work and think independently, experimental work performance and progress, as well as communication skills.

Subject matter

In this curricular unit PhD students will perform 3 short-term laboratory rotations (45 h per laboratory rotation). During these laboratory rotations students will get acquainted with routines of the chosen laboratories and will have a direct contact with other students and researchers from different scientific areas in a laboratory environment. Students will also have the opportunity to attend group meetings and other institutional seminars. This will provide a chance for discussing both theoretical and practical aspects, reading specific scientific literature, thinking on new ideas or experimental approaches, have contact with new equipment and perform some experimental work.