Project for a Thesis in Astronomy

Code:

AST601

Acronym:

AST601

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Astronomy

Instance: 2024/2025 - A

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Physics and Astronomy
Course/CS Responsible:	Doctoral Program in Astronomy

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
PDA	8	P.E. do Programa Doutoral em Astronomia	1	-	30	30	810

Teaching language

English

Objectives

The preparation of a doctoral thesis project aims to develop the ability for systematic understanding of astronomy and the building of research skills and methods for working in astronomy and its instrumentation. To this end the student should be able to understand, conceive, design and develop a research program that will eventually produce a significant body of original research results that may contribute to extending the frontiers of knowledge. Thus, this curricular unit aims to allow the student to structure the thesis plan in order to advance to the second phase of the course, after having understood the state of the art and the research route that may enable a significant contribution to the specific topic of astronomy that has been chosen.

Learning outcomes and competences

The content of the course aims at ensuring that the student reflects on the topic of the thesis, contributing to the definition and planning of the work to be done. The student must thus consolidate the knowledge about the area and what has been done, perceiving and reflecting on the outstanding issues and the type of tools, methods and / or models that need to be used in order to get the results that are identified as the objective of the research work towards the preparation of the thesis.

Working method

Presencial

Program

Based on a specific topic of work, the student prepares, with the supervision of an adviser(s), a detailed project for a thesis which includes an analysis of the state of the art, open questions and what are goals of the thesis. It should also include a detailed work plan that will secure the identified scientific objectives and how to achieve them, including which set of tools and methods, data and/or models are needed to reach the proposed objectives. It should also include an analysis of the impact that the expected results will have on the field of the proposed topic.

Mandatory literature

Vários; Não é relevante (List of references specific for each project)

Comments from the literature

Each student will receive from the supervisor a specific list of references relevant for her/his project.

Teaching methods and learning activities

The student works under the guidance of one or more advisors who are experts in the area of the thesis and have an adequate publication record in areas relevant to the thesis project. The supervision enables the student, through his/her individual work, to prepare a detailed thesis project, scientifically valid, that will be the basis for the second phase of the course. The assessment is made based on a written report with description of the proposal for the project of a thesis, its public presentation and the discussion with a panel of experts.

The work takes place in a unit/research institute or group of proven quality, allowing the student to be integrated in an active research environment with access to the resources needed for the student to plan and define a viable thesis project that is also scientifically relevant. When completing with success this curricular unit, the students is expected to have demonstrated that he/she has been able to set a valid scientific work plan and of high scientific relevance for preparing a doctoral thesis in astronomy within the time allocated to it. It also allows the student to identify the tools, data and/or models that must be developed and/or used in order to achieve the proposed objectives.

Software

LaTeX

keywords

Physical sciences > Astronomy
Physical sciences > Astronomy > Astrophysics
Physical sciences > Astronomy > Cosmology

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Prova oral	50,00
Trabalho escrito	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Elaboração de relatório/dissertação/tese	180,00
Trabalho de investigação	630,00
Total:	810,00

Eligibility for exams

Submission of the report.

Calculation formula of final grade

The evaluation includes the following items: monograph with the proposal, an oral presentation and its discussion.

The final result is either "approved" or "not approved".

Classification improvement

It is not possible to improve the classification of this curricular unit.

Observations

Jury: Nuno Santos, João Lima, Mário João Monteiro