MSc Research Project: Expectations and Responsibilities

To provide some clarity and facilitate effective ‘partnerships’ between you and
your supervisor, here are some of the expectations and responsibilities during
your 12-week research project (a copy will be sent to your supervisor):

 For those of you on lab-based projects, you should receive lab induction
and Health and Safety training, relevant to your research (if necessary,
remind your supervisor).

 You should establish the arrangements regarding day-to-day lab

supervision and should liaise with your supervisor to agree suitable time
schedules.
 You should take responsibility for your own progress (and it might be
helpful to regularly refer to your proposed timeline and milestones and
amend as appropriate), and you should strive to display the initiative,
commitment and work ethic required to successfully complete your
project. The supervisor’s primary role is to advise, guide and oversee
your research, rather than dictate it. If you are concerned about your
‘partnership’, please raise this in a timely manner with the module
manager and/or programme lead.
 You should ensure you have regular meetings with your supervisor to
discuss the project and progress; keep a record of the action plans you
agree on in those discussions. The contact time with your supervisor is
expected to be about one hour per week (please make your own clear
and suitable arrangements in consultation with your supervisor); this
may take the form of an individual meeting and/or group/lab meetings.
Work collaboratively and respectfully with colleagues in person or
remotely.
 You should alert your supervisor in the first instance at the earliest
opportunity when you anticipate potential shortfalls that might impact
your ability to progress your research project; please contact the module
manager/programme lead should you need further help.
 In your discussions with your supervisor, you should seek guidance and
feedback on your progress (including how and when you can expect to
receive feedback). Please note, the supervisor should give you general
guidance only and should not be asked to provide detailed
comments/feedback on a draft of the project report.
  You should keep accurate daily records and notes of your research and
progress (some guidance can be found in BS52008 module in the folder
for 'Week12-22: Workshops and tutorial sessions' > 'Documenting your
project'); it is of importance for scientific integrity, facilitates your
progress and write-up of the project report and it is a record that can be
asked for at the end of your project in judging your project performance.
 You should act in accordance with the Guidelines for Proper Scientific
Conduct in Research, and the University's Academic Misconduct by
Students Code of Practice https://www.dundee.ac.uk/corporate-
information/code-practice-academic-misconduct-students. You should
understand that the project report must be all your own work and that
other sources used, whether published or unpublished, must be
properly acknowledged.
 You should inform your supervisor (and copy in slslt-msc@dundee.ac.uk)
if you are unable to attend (in person or remotely) due to illness or other
personal circumstances and provide a medical certificate to the School
Office (slslt-msc@dundee.ac.uk) if the illness extends beyond seven
days.
 You will submit your project report to Turnitin (which will provide an
originality check) three weeks after the end of your project.
 We will celebrate your achievements in a Mini-Symposium at the end of
August (poster and oral presentation). We also encourage you to get
involved with the Schools’ wider science activities (e.g. seminars) and
communities.
 You should enjoy your time; the research project is by far the largest
single part of your Master’s programme and is a great opportunity to
pursue a novel research question or problem, and engage with scholarly
debates in the relevant disciplines, in order to produce a substantial
research project report.

If you have any further questions, please contact us on SLSLT-

MSc@dundee.ac.uk.

With best wishes,

Dr Joost Zomerdijk (Module Manager BS53004 and MSc Programme Lead)

Professor Jenny Woof (Module Manager BS53003 and Associate Dean Quality
and Academic Standards)