Small Research Project and Symposium

Uitgebreide vaknaam	Small Research Project and Symposium
Leerdoelen	In the second semester of the first year, each student will carry out a Small Research Project around an already defined problem. This course is designed to provide a first taste of scientific research, as well as acquainting the student with a research group. Guided by a junior staff member, the student will participate in ongoing research. The results will be presented in a symposium at the end of the first year, jointly with other students of the Top Master Programme in Nanoscience. The objectives of this task are: to broaden the student's view. Therefore, the Small Research Project needs to be performed in a different group from the Master Thesis Project (WMNS901-45). Moreover, it is required that students that have the intention to do the master project on a physics topic, do the short research project on a chemistry (or bio-chemistry/physics) topic, and vice versa. to develop and train generic research skills, including the use of scientific database or graphics software, keeping a log-book (of activities, tasks and results), and presenting results in the form of an oral presentation. to get experience in organizing a scientific meeting/symposium at the end of the semester as a team. In addition, there are training modules attached to this course (session with obligatory attendance) for development of skills on: - keeping a lab journal; - oral presentations; - organizing a scientific symposium.
Omschrijving	Selecting a topic Research groups in the Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials submit proposals, which are collected on the student portal. The student selects a topic and discusses this with her/his mentor, before contacting the project supervisor. Note: students should not feel restricted to this listing, when a student has an idea for a small project of her/his own, she/he is always welcome to approach a prospective supervisor with the idea for asking whether it can be carried out. The Review Paper, the Small Research Project and the Master Thesis Project cannot be on the same topic nor in the same research group (same supervisor). The three topics must be a diverse choice from the research topics that are present in the Zernike Institute National Research Centre (incl. associate members). Supervision The supervisor of the Small Research Project will function as second examiner, and also the staff members who grade the symposium. The course coordinator will be the first examiner. Together they are responsible for the assessment. For more information about the examiners: 1. information about examiners 2. complete list of examiners.
Uren per week	variabel
Onderwijsvorm	Bijeenkomst (S), Opdracht (ASM), Practisch werk (PRC), Werkcollege (T) (Individual guidance by staff members. Tutorials about oral presentation by Guimaraes. Tutorial about lab journal and organization symposium by van der Wal. Mandatory attendance.)
Toetsvorm	Practisch werk (PR), Presentatie (P), Verslag (R) (The grade is based on the oral presentation (P), the lab journal (R), the practical work (PRC) and the organization of the symposium as specified on the assessment form.)
Vaksoort	master
Coördinator	prof. dr. ir. C.H. van der Wal
Docent(en)	M.H. Diniz Guimaraes, PhD. ,prof. dr. ir. C.H. van der Wal
Entreevoorwaarden	Assessment The Small Research Project is reported individually as well as collectively: each student must present the progress and results of his/her research to the supervisor in the form of a log-book (note that a thesis-like report is not required as output to pass; however, upon mutual agreement between a student and a supervisor, documenting the results in a report can be part of the student's task). all students belonging to the same cohort jointly organize a symposium in which everyone gives an oral presentation. A proposed final grade is formed by averaging a grade for the symposium presentation (weight 1/3), and a grade by the supervisor (who use a standard form) reflecting the research project's quality (incl. the log-book keeping) as performed in the research group (weight 2/3). The grade for the symposium presentation is the average grade from at least 2 (typically 4, incl. the coordinator) staff members who use a standard form. The coordinator defines the final grade taking into account the various student cases and the student's contribution to the organization of the symposium. The assessment form is available on the Nanoscience student portal. Assessment and remediation of Small Research Project: 1. The assessment of the Small Research Project must take place at the time that is determined by the student and the supervisor and in accordance with the guidelines for the degree programme. 2. If the assessment cannot take place on the date agreed due to a late delivery to the work by the student, the student must notify the first supervisor and send a request to the Board of Examiners to postpone the deadline (for a maximum of 10% of the total time). When this request is approved, a new deadline is set by the Board of Examiners. 3. Before or on the agreed end date the project will be assessed and when the assessment criteria are not met, an insufficient grade will be registered. Then the student is offered a remediation trajectory by the supervisor and second examiner. 4. The student is offered a remediation trajectory of up to one third of the time of the original individual project period. 5. The supervisor and second examiner will agree on a new deadline in consultation with the student. 6. On the deadline of the remediation trajectory, the project will be assessed again. 7. If after this deadline the assessment does not meet the set criteria, the project will be assessed with an insufficient grade again. The student will have to carry out another project. Grading consequences for missing deadlines There are consequences for students who do not meet a deadline for turning in an assignment for a course. These guidelines apply to all (partial) examination forms where you need to turn in, or finish, a certain assignment for passing the course.
Opmerkingen	Guidelines for the symposium Each presentation should take approximately 15 minutes, plus 5 minutes for questions and discussion. Use of modern audio-visual presentation techniques is encouraged. It is the student's responsibility to avail him/herself of advice on scientific presentation skills, if needed. The presentations should be aimed at an audience of Master's students of Physics or Chemistry. Staff members of the Zernike Institute will also be present. Time schedule (will be announced in detail by the course coordinator) Kick-off meeting (including workshop lab journal) (2h) by course coordinator prof. van der Wal (late January/early February) Selection of a project: early February (declaration of choices, a few days after start semester 2A; February 10th). Workshops on lab journal and organization symposium (2h) (van der Wal). Start actual working on a project: typically shortly after 15 February, but 1 March at the latest. Students and supervisors must plan a workload of 13 ECTS (13 x 28 hours) in the period up to the symposium (including the symposium presentation), in parallel with the other study tasks. Mid-term-evaluation (early May) Seminars and feedback meetings on oral presentation skills (by Guimaraes, 6x2h). Symposium should be held around 1 July. Hand over your lab journal to course coordinator. Feedback meetings on oral presentations and Small Research Project in general are scheduled some days after the symposium. More information Guidelines for performing the research project, the final assessment, duties and expectations to supervisors and student, guidelines for the lab journal keeping and oral presentations, available projects and the assessment forms can be found: Small Research Project.
Opgenomen in	Opleiding Jaar Periode Type MSc Nanoscience 1 semester II verplicht