Design and Development of the Thesis Plan

Objectives

This curricular unit intends to build the design of a project plan for the doctorate thesis. Specific objectives for the student are related with the definition of the research domain in mechanical engineering, the definition of research problem, the identification of a research work value proposition as well as eventual hypothesis to test. As output, it expected that the student could prepare and plan the work to be developed in the following semesters. The student is asked to present a report and a presentation to summarize the research theme and its process. This presentation will help to develop the student argumentative skills.
At the end of the course, the student should be prepared to start the research work, which will be continued in the following course/semester – Development of the Thesis Plan.

General characterization

Code

11607

Credits

30.0

Responsible teacher

Telmo Jorge Gomes dos Santos

Hours

Weekly - 5

Total - 230

Teaching language

Português

Prerequisites

Being enrolled in the curriculum program in Mechanical Engineering.

Bibliography

Specific bibliography will be identified depending on the specific scientific work to be developed.

Teaching method

Teaching method:

1. Interaction student-teacher-supervisor
2. Presentation of previuos research works
3. Auto-study under scientific supervision
4. Presentation and discussion of the work

Evaluation method

The evaluation process is based on the following issues:
1. Student capability to define the problem to be investigated and its characterization.
2. Definition of research project objectives.
3. Writing of a report to justify the methodology and the project plan to adopt.
4. The final report will be assessed and its approval will enable the continuity of the research work, namaley, to the “Thesis plan development” curricular unit.

Subject matter

1. Definition of research domain and topics
2. Definition of the research problem
3. Identification of the state-of-art in the research field
4. Literature review methods
5. Formulation of research objectives, value proposition and hypothesis
6. Definition of work methods
7. Organization methods when working in research teams
8. Research project management

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: