Crucial scholarly skills for a good start on your PhD
Starting in a PhD program can be as intimidating as exciting. In the process of working towards the PhD degree, they need to become well-versed in their literature, proficient in their methods, masters of their data and effective communicators, all at the same time. To do so, doctoral students need to develop essential scholarly skills to successfully carry out research that contributes to their respective fields. While doctoral schools support PhD students in this endeavor, the university library also offers resources and guidance in developing the kinds of skills needed across disciplines.
This course aims to introduce PhD students at Nord University to fundamental aspects of academic life and equip them with essential skills for a successful research career. The course also seeks to provide an arena in which PhD students from different fields can meet and develop fruitful peer relationships that support them throughout their PhD journeys and further in their research careers.
A certificate of participation will be provided for students who take part in at least 75% of the course.
Course schedule
| Date | Theme | Room |
| 11 November 2024 – 12:15-15:00 | Finding, assessing and managing literature | A263 |
| 12 November 2024 – 9:00-15:00 | Managing research data: From policies to impact | A263 |
| 13 November 2024 – 9:00-15:00 | Getting words down on paper | A263 |
| 14 November 2024 – 9:00-15:00 | Presenting and publishing your research | A263 |
Day 1: Finding, assessing and managing literature
Afternoon program (12:15–15:00) – 11 November 2024
| Responsible | Content | Time |
| Hannah | Session 1 – Introductions 45 minutes 15 minutes – writing your elevator pitch 15 minutes – practice elevator pitch | 45 min - 12:15 - 13:00 |
| Break – 15 minutes | 15 min – 13:00 - 13:15 | |
| Session 2 – 45 minutes total Academic integrity – 15 minutes Searching for literature – 30 minutes | 13:15 – 14:00 | |
| Break – 15 minutes | 15 min - 14:00 - 14:15 | |
| Session 3 – 45 minutes Searching for literature pt. 2 – 30 minutes Introduction to reference managers – 15 minutes | 45 min - 14:15-15:00 |
Day 2: Managing research data: From policies to impact
Morning program (9:00–11:45) – 12 November 2024
| Responsible | Content | Time |
| Hannah | Recap from day before and introduction for the day | 9:00 - 9:15 |
| Sagnik | Managing research data | 9:15 - 10:00 |
| Break | 10:00 - 10:15 | |
| Sagnik | Motivation or burden? | 10:15 – 11:15 |
| Lunch | 11:15 – 12:15 |
Afternoon program (12:45–15:00) – 12 November 2024
| Responsible | Content | Time |
| Toril | Data privacy & information security | 12:15 – 13:00 |
| Break | 13:00-13:15 | |
| Sagnik/Toril | Hands-on work: Preparing own DMP and/or filling out Notification form for personal data (Sikt). | 13:15 – 14:00 |
| Break | 14:00 - 14:15 | |
| Sagnik/Toril | Hands-on work continued | 14:15 - 15:00 |
Day 3: Academic writing and academic publishing
Morning program (9:00–11:45) – 13 November 2024
| Responsible | Content | Time |
| Session 1 – 60 minutes Recap from yesterday Introduction to academic publishing – 30 minutes: How academic publishing works Predatory publishing – 30 minutes | 09:00 - 10:00 | |
| Break | 10:00 - 10:15 | |
| Wiebke/Kristin | Session 2 – 60 minutes total Open Access Publishing Bibliometric Indicators | 10:15 - 11:15 |
| Lunch break | 11:15 - 12:15 |
Afternoon program (12:15–15:00) – 13 November 2024
| Content | Time |
| Session 1 – 45 minutes total How to read an academic paper – 30 minutes Activity – practice academic reading techniques on short papers – 15 minutes | 12:15 - 13:00 |
| Break | 13:00 - 13:15 |
| Session 2 – 45 minutes total Topic – writing habits and mindsets Writing exercise | 13:15 – 14:00 |
| Break | 14:00 - 14:15 |
| Session 3 – 45 minutes Research questions, core arguments, evidence, and structure – 25 minutes Finetuning your English writing – how to improve your writing at the sentence level – 20 minutes End of day closing | 14:15-15:00 |
Day 4: Networking and disseminating your research
Morning program (9:00–11:45) – 14 November 2024
| Content | Time |
| Session 1 – 60 minutes total Recap and start of day – 15 minutes Academic networking – 45 minutes | 9:00-10:00 |
| Break | 10:00-10:15 |
| Session 2 – 60 minutes total Networking with industry and practitioners 30 minutes Lisbeth Bjerva fra Nord Innovasjon Research dissemination – in academia and beyond | 10:15-11:15 |
| Lunch break | 11:15-12:15 |
Afternoon program (12:15–15:00) – 14 November 2024
| Content | Time |
| Session 1 – 45 minutes total Picking an outlet for your paper - 30 minutes | 12:15-13:00 |
| Break | 13:00-13:15 |
| Session 2 – 45 minutes total Creating a publication plan – 10 minutes Learning from the experts activity – 10 minutes Work on your publication plan – 20 minutes | 13:15–14:00 |
| Break | 14:00-14:15 |
| Session 3 – 45 minutes Reframing academic mentors: from a superstar to a constellation of mentors + mentor map activity Final thoughts and closing out – 15 minutes | 14:15-15:00 |
Participation: Physically at Nord University, Bodø
Language of instruction: English
