Lateral Skills in Research in Chemistry

Code:

Q654

Acronym:

Q654

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Chemistry

Instance: 2023/2024 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Course/CS Responsible:	Doctoral Program in Chemistry

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
PDQUI	10	PE_Doctoral Degree Program in Chemistry	1	-	6	28	162

Teaching language

Portuguese and english

Objectives

The objective of this course is to provide the doctoral student with a set of generic and transversal skills, pivotal for scientific research in Chemistry and for the professional success of the future doctor. Those skills encompass method, organization, planning, advanced written and oral communication skills, critical thinking, scientific and work ethics, time management, problem-solving, teamwork skills and accountability, which are fundamental for the development of the student's doctoral project, personal success and success of the research group in which he/she is part. Furthermore, the aim is to provide current perspectives on innovation processes, knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship.

Learning outcomes and competences

Meeting the objectives of the course, the program contents aim to respond to the training needs identified as among the most common and basic for a doctoral student. It is intended that at the end of the course the doctoral student will have developed and improved:
- advanced bibliographic research and information organization skills;
- scientific writing ability in relation to the state of knowledge in your area of ​​specialization;
- communication and oral presentation of scientific topics;
- basic knowledge about intellectual property protection, knowledge transfer, innovation and entrepreneurship.
The UC will also discuss other fundamental transversal skills, such as synthesis power, creativity, analytical and critical thinking, spirit of initiative, resilience and complex problem solving. Teamwork is also discussed from a methodical and rational perspective, with a view to developing and consolidating the student's ability to join a team, where his/her personal creativity and autonomy will have to be balanced with the performance of collective tasks, typical of a team, group and research unit, where the harmony of the whole is as important as the individual merit of its elements.

Working method

Presencial

Program

Module 1. Research and organization of scientific information
- Advanced information search.
- Analysis and systematization of scientific information.
- Organization and synthesis of information.
- Preparation of a monograph on the state of the art in the area of ​​specialization.

Module 2. Scientific communication
- Generic principles on communication in science.
- Preparation of oral presentations and their implementation.
- Creation of posters.
- Contextualization of the theme of the research project; planning and scheduling; risk analysis.
- Discussion of oral presentations and posters in a collective and interactive context.

Module 3. Current perspectives on innovation and entrepreneurship
- Intellectual property and its protection.
- Innovation and technology management.
- Innovation models and strategies.
- Analysis of business opportunities.
- Entrepreneurship case studies (start-ups, spin-offs, and technology-based companies).

Mandatory literature

Owen Hargie; Social skills in interpersonal communication. ISBN: 0-415-08137-8

Complementary Bibliography

Hans F. Ebel; The art of scientific writing. ISBN: 3-527-26677-1(VCH, Weinheim)
F. Peter Woodford; Scientific writing for graduate students
Albert N. Link; Innovation, entrepreneurship, and technological change. ISBN: 9780199268832

Teaching methods and learning activities

Students will receive intensive theoretical and theoretical-practical training that includes attending and completing modules 1-3.

Module 1. Research and organization of scientific information
Preparation of a monograph on the thesis topic, with a strong focus on the state of the art, in-depth bibliographic review and contextualization of the doctoral project in light of the state of knowledge on the specialization topic.

Module 2. Scientific communication
Preparation and presentation of a lecture on contextualizing the topic of the research project, planning and scheduling, contingency plans and risk analysis. Preparation and presentation of a poster on a specific scientific topic relating to the research project. Discussion session and interactive participation between students and evaluators.

Module 3. Session on innovation and entrepreneurship
Set of seminars (mini-symposium) on the topic, with guest speakers from the academic and business world.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	20,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	40,00
Trabalho escrito	40,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	35,00
Estudo autónomo	50,00
Frequência das aulas	12,00
Trabalho escrito	65,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Participation in a minimum of 75% of contact hours in the different modules.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final Grade = 0.50 x Grade (Module 1) + 0.50 x Grade (Module 2).

It is also mandatory to attend module 3 to pass the course.