Teaching
The initial phase of the Aerosol Science PhD programme comprises a seven-month full-time teaching programme based at the University of Bristol. Students will study five modules: two core modules in Aerosol Science; one module in professionalism and the translation of research into new technologies and products; one module in computational and data tools and one module in research methods. A mixture of modes will be used to teach these modules, including intensive teaching blocks, webinars, workshops, and a journal club.
Students will be registered for the PhD if they are able to demonstrate adequate research potential. This determination will be dependent on the student passing through a probationary review in the fifth term to demonstrate knowledge in the field of aerosol science and present a plan for the PhD project. Students are required to take the first-year modules in order to demonstrate such knowledge.
The numbers given below reflect the seven-month initial teaching period at the University of Bristol only. After that, students will be entitled to attend most lecture courses within the Department of Engineering at Cambridge. They should discuss with their supervisors which courses would be most beneficial to their research.
| One to one supervision |
Students will be in regular contact with their supervisors during the first-year research project. From the second year, PhD students can expect to attend at least eight one-hour-long individual meetings with their supervisor every calendar year. This is in addition to daily contact with the research group in which they are placed. The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University’s expectations regarding supervision. |
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| Seminars & classes |
Approximately 45 hours of teaching will be provided by webinar. |
| Lectures |
The primary mode of delivery is through a series of intensive courses, which will involve mixed lecturing and seminar-format teaching. Students will be participating in one five-day workshop, one three-day course, 16 two-day courses, one one-day course, 14 half-day courses. This comprises approximately 350 hours of contact, in addition to the webinars mentioned above. |
| Journal clubs |
Students will be participating in a weekly journal club. |
| Literature Reviews |
Conducting a literature review is a normal part of the PhD writing process. |
| Posters and Presentations |
The formative assessment for the seven-month taught component includes two presentations. First, students will give a group pitch presentation exercise, in front of a panel (akin to the pitching exercises seen on a number of business-pitching reality television programmes), in developing a business plan. Second, students will give an oral presentation on their research proposal. |
| Taught/Research Balance |
Predominantly Research
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Placements
It is expected that Aerosol Science PhD students will undertake at least one placement hosted by an industrial partner supporting the project, giving the student a perspective on aerosols outside the academic environment. Beyond this, the Department is flexible in permitting students, with the support of their supervisors, to undertake research in an industrial setting. Permission to work away from the University is required. However, students may not undertake any paid work in an industrial setting during the course of the PhD.
Feedback
Throughout the PhD, students can expect to receive feedback from their supervisors, whom they will meet for regular supervisions, and assistance from those working in the same research group. Supervisors will also submit a termly report on students' progress which will be made available via an online system, and students will have an opportunity to submit a self evaluation report during the first term of each academic year.
Every student is also allocated an adviser, who is available for consultation alongside the supervisor. Additionally, in the initial training phase, students will receive feedback from their assignments from the University of Bristol.
Assessment
Thesis / Dissertation
The doctoral thesis should be submitted by the end of the fourth year (full-time). The thesis will have to comply with the rules and regulations set out by the department in which the student is registered for their PhD. The typical length of the PhD thesis will be 60,000–65,000 words A compulsory viva voce examination will follow thesis submission.
Essays
Students will be required to produce a refined research proposal in the format of a journal manuscript before the end of the first year.
Written examination
The two core Aerosol Science modules are formatively assessed through online tests split into an individual stage and a team-based stage. Success in these tests will help students to indicate sufficient research potential to progress beyond the probationary stage.
Other
At the end of the fifth term (or part-time equivalent), students will be required to produce a written report describing their research to date and a clear plan for the remainder of the PhD. The report will be assessed by two assessors, who will meet with the student to discuss their work. This probationary review exercise determines whether students will be able to continue to the PhD.