[Academic] PH450: 2023-2024 Call for Projects

Thu Jul 6 14:18:00 BST 2023

Hello everyone!

It's time to design & submit some PH450 projects.

Executive Summary (TL;DR):

  *   Submit/Revise PH450 Projects by 7th August 2023.
  *   Pre-allocated Projects is under review and more details will be sent out in due course.
  *   All Academics/Senior Research Staff generally expected to offer 2 to 4 Project Places (total number of students able to be taken, projects can have more than 1 student per project topic).

Thanks to all who contributed to last sessions' PH450, 550 and 570 Projects. The projects in 4th and 5th Year were once again the highlight of our undergraduates' degree.
An especially big thank you to Dr Daniel Oi for organising them.   (and giving me the text for the email below)

For the next session (2023-24), the incoming 4th year class size is expected to be similar the previous one so I am looking to maintain the same, or slightly increase, the number of project topics on offer.

Project Descriptions:

  *   Currently held projects are attached.  It will be assumed you intend to offer these again unless modified or removed (by emailing me)
  *   All new and modified projects should use the attached Project Descriptor spreadsheet. Please only fill in the indicated boxes and do not change its structure as this will cause problems with the system used to collate all the projects
  *   Deadline for additions and changes by 7th  July 2023
  *   Primary Supervisor is usually an Academic of Senior Research member of Staff
  *   Secondary Supervisors can be PDRAs
  *   A more junior researcher can be Primary Supervisor as long as the Secondary Supervisor is an experienced senior member of staff who will assist in the supervision and assessment
  *   All academics and senior researchers are expected to offer at least 2 to 4 project places (there can be more than one student per topic, if it suits the project. Unless requested, I will try to balance project allocation to that no one received no more than 3 project students, with most having 2 or fewer students. If you would like more than 3, then let me know. If there are particular circumstances that significantly impact upon your ability to take on the expected average number of project students, please discuss with me accommodations that may be able to be made. Newer academic staff will likely be allocated fewer than average students in any case.
  *   Project topics can be shared by more than 1 student, please indicate if your project can do so. Such projects should have some aspect of differentiation between the students taking the project, e.g. different samples, different regimes etc.

General notes about the projects

Project structure

  *   Run across Semester 1 and 2, project worth 40 credits.
  *   General Allocation in Sem 1 Wk 1.
  *   Final Report Due Monday 3rd April 2023 (50% of mark) TBC, guideline length 20-25 pages.
  *   Viva during Sem 2 Exam period (20%), Supervisor Mark (20%), Presentation (Talk/Poster TBC) (10%).
  *   Assessment committee for each project, Supervisor, Independent Marker, Chair. All mark Presentation, Report, and Viva (joint mark).
  *   Rough supervision time commitment 1 hour a week on average (will vary). Supervisions are expected to transition back to in-person if possible (with some exceptions).

Student Project Selection Process, General Allocation

  *   Students will be given a booklet of projects available for selection beginning of September. Students can discuss with supervisors to find out more about projects.
  *   At start of Sem 1 Wk 0, students will be given a talk on the projects and allocation process. They will have till the end of Sem 1 Wk 0 to submit via MyPlace their Specialism preference and student project preferences (5 to 10).
  *   Projects will be allocated based on preferences and a "coin flip" to break ties.
  *   Project allocations released in Sem 1 Wk 1, all students can now begin projects. Additional rounds of allocations may be conducted if not all students successful at first

Pre-Allocation Process

  *   The pre-allocation of projects is being reviewed and more details will be sent out in due course.
  *   The system is being reviewed to ensure that it meets with the Institute of Physics Accreditation Guidelines/expectations.
  *   Please do speak to students about possible projects with you, but do not promise them any specific project at this time.

PH550 Related Notes:

  *   Continuing students going from 4th to 5th Year are highly encouraged to retain their supervisor and continue their topic from PH450.
  *   As a default, PH550 students are assumed to be continuing with their PH450 Supervisor, but I request that Supervisors of such students informally enquire about their supervisee's plans at least a few weeks prior to the start of Semester 1 in case there are any issues with continuing
  *   5th Year students wishing to switch topics will need to discuss this with me, and should do so as soon as possible.

Thank you,

Helen, Newly-appointed Project Coordinator for PH450 & PH550

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Dr Helen L Vaughan [she/her]<https://www.stonewall.org.uk/workplace-trans-inclusion-hub/beginner%E2%80%99s-guide-pronouns-and-using-pronouns-workplace#:~:text=Pronouns%20are%20words%20we%20use,to%20express%20your%20gender%20identity.> SFHEA MInstP
Senior Teaching Fellow
Department of Physics
University of Strathclyde
helen.vaughan at strath.ac.uk
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