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PhD research plan

purpose and requirements

Astrid Aksnes, Professor

Dept. of Electronics and Telecommunications
IME Faculty, NTNU
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Outline
•  Purpose of the PhD research plan
•  Requirements
•  Contents of the PhD research plan
–  Background
–  Objectives
–  Research topics
–  Research methodology
–  Work plan
–  References
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Purpose of the PhD research plan

•  Develop a PhD project with realistic goals that can be achieved
within the timeframe of the PhD period (normally 3-4 years).
•  Ensure that the PhD student and PhD supervisor(s) are aligned
wrt goals of the project and the work plan/schedule.
•  Critically evaluate the overall objectives.
•  Identify necessary tools and infrastructure needed e.g.
–  hardware
–  software (e.g. design and simulation tools)
–  laboratory facilities and equipment
–  funding for e.g. equipment and travel

•  Plan research abroad (if relevant).

•  Enable the Department and Faculty to quality control the PhD
plans
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Requirements
•  Provide a 5-10 page PhD research plan within 6 months
of being admitted to the PhD programme.
•  Develop the plan in cooperation with your supervisor(s).
•  Include the following points in the research plan:
–  Background
–  Objectives
–  Research topics
–  Research methodology
–  Work plan
–  References
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Background
•  What is the motivation for this PhD project?
•  Which topics and challenges will be addressed?
•  Why are these topics of relevance (or interest)?
•  Describe concisely the state-of-the-art.
•  What will the PhD project address that goes beyond
the state-of-the-art?
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Objectives
•  Describe precisely the academic objectives of the
PhD project (preferably in bullet form).
•  Formulate the objectives so that they can be verified.
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Research topics
•  Describe the topics and challenges that will be
pursued in more detail.
–  Why?
–  What?
–  How?
•  If relevant
–  Who? (e.g. with collaborators)
–  Where? (e.g. NTNU Nanolab, St. Olavs hospital, Harvard Univ).
•  Briefly describe the tasks which must be performed to
achieve the objectives.
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Research methodology
•  Describe the research methods that will be used to
achieve the objectives. Examples are
–  literature study, statistical analysis, modeling, numerical
techniques, simulations, design (HW and SW), experimental
techniques, testing and verification.
•  If experimental data will be used, describe the
–  experimental setup, acquisition strategy and the planned
methodology for analysis of the results.
•  If applicable, use a table to describe the research
methods for the specific research topics.
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Research methodology example

Ref: Lukasz Paluchowski

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Work plan
•  Make a work plan/schedule for the PhD project
period. Include:
–  planned attendance at conferences and workshops
–  targeted journal articles
–  research studies abroad
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Work plan – Gannt chart example

Ref: Lukasz Paluchowski

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References
•  Include references used in the description of the
state-of-the-art and elsewhere.
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Living document
•  Note that the project plan should be a living
document that is updated periodically.
•  The plan is an aid to achieve your objectives on time.
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Good luck!