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Cairo University - Faculty Of Engineering

Seminar (STR 683)

Selection of Supervisor
and Research Topic
Prof. Dr. Osman M. O. Ramadan
MasterDegree

StructuralEngineering

Spring2016
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Supervisor and
Student
Responsibilities

Supervisor and Student Responsibilities

Considerations in Addition to Academic

Requirements

How to Choose Research Topic

Working with your supervisor

Selection of Supervisor

Summary

Your supervisor is the key person

in your graduate degree program.
Nature of the supervision
Quality of communication
Close and effective supervision quality thesis
Supervisors should be available to help at every stage
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Researchsupervisionresponsibilities
Evaluate the students progress.

Generalresponsibilities
Respond in a timely and thorough manner to

Assist in the selection and planning of research

students written work (with constructive

topic.

suggestions, turnaround time for comments).

Be familiar with the field of research.

Be accessible to the student (frequency of meetings).

Make arrangements to ensure continuity of

research.
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Managerialresponsibilities

Enablingresponsibilities

Assist the student in being aware of current graduate

Assist the student in gaining access to facilities or

program requirements, deadlines, etc.

research materials.
Ensure that the research environment is safe,

Encourage the student to finish up when it would not be

healthy and free from harassment, discrimination

in the students best interests to extend the program of

and conflict.

studies.
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Careerdevelopmentresponsibilities

Finalexamresponsibilities

Encourage the student to make presentations of research

results as appropriate.

Ensures that recommendations for external examiners

are made.

Acknowledge appropriately the contributions of the

Assist the student to comply with any changes that

student in presentations and in published material (joint

need to be made to the thesis after the thesis defense.

authorship).
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Specificresponsibilities
Generalresponsibilities

As a graduate student, you must accept the rules, procedures

and standards in place.

When you register as a graduate student, you're

making a commitment to devote the time and energy
needed to engage in research and write a thesis.

Its tough, yet rewarding at the same time, being a graduate

student.
Dont expect others to care for your emotions.

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Youareexpectedto:

1/2

Youareexpectedto:

Make a commitment and show dedicated efforts to gain the

background knowledge and skills needed to pursue your
research project successfully.

2/2

Keep your supervisor informed about your contact

information.
Give serious consideration to the advice and criticisms
received from your supervisor.

In conjunction with your supervisor, develop a plan and

timetable for completion of all stages of your thesis project,
adhere to a schedule and meet appropriate deadlines.
Meet with your supervisor when requested and report fully and
regularly on progress and results.

Return borrowed materials to your supervisor, graduate

program, library, etc.

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ConsiderationsinAdditiontoAcademicRequirements
Is the department appropriate for your proposed

Considerations in
Addition to Academic
Requirements

research? Does it have the space, facilities and

resources that your project is likely to require?
Are you able to support yourself for the duration of
your research program?
You need an experienced (principal) supervisor and at
least one co-supervisor.
Is there a sufficient level of similarity between your
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research interests and those of your supervisors?

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How to Choose Research Topic

There are two main ways by which students develop
research topics:

How to Choose
Research Topic

Propose an original research topic.

Browse from a list of available research topics provided
by a supervisor.
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Howtodevelopanoriginalresearchtopic

Read broadly and widely.

Immerse yourself in the literature by reading journal articles and
theses associated with your topic.

Narrow your focus to a single research question. Be specific and resist

the temptation to be overambitious.

This will ensure your idea is achievable and that it has not already been
addressed by another researcher.

Discussyourideawithapossiblesupervisor.

Make sure your approach is flexible. As your research develops it is likely

that some of your initial ideas will be challenged. You must be prepared to
change or modify your question if necessary.
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Make sure you are familiar with the most recent developments in your
field.

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Working with your supervisor

Your choice of supervisor is one of the most important decisions you will make.

Working with
Your supervisor

Many research students state that their supervisor had a lifelong influence on their
future career.

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Whatyoucanexpectfromyoursupervisor?

Whatyoursupervisorwillexpectfromyou?

Intellectual support.

Good communication.

Emotional support.

A strong work ethic.

Take initiative.

Quality assurance.

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Howdoyouknowifasupervisorisrightforyouand
yourresearchproject?

Selection of
Supervisor

Readingsomeofhispreviousacademicwork.
Get a feel for what your relationship will be like by meeting
with your prospective supervisor.
Develop an understanding of mutual expectations from the very
beginning.
Talktoafewofhispresentorpreviousgraduatestudents.

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Canchangesbemadetothe
supervisorypanel?

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Summary

Whomakesthechange?
How?
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Area&Topic
Area&Topic

MainSupervisor
Co Supervisor

Co Supervisor

MainSupervisor

MainSupervisor

Co Supervisor

Co Supervisor
Area
Area

Area & Topic

Co Supervisor

MainSupervisor

MainSupervisor

https://www.murdoch.edu.au/Researchcapabilities/Futureresearch
students/Yourresearchproject/Howtochoosearesearchtopic/
http://www.reading.ac.uk/graduateschool/prospectivestudents/gs
topicsupervisor.aspx
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/graduatecentre/handbook/03considerationsin
applying/03researchtopicandsupervisor/
https://www.grad.ubc.ca/handbookgraduatesupervision
InadditiontoPPTpresentationsby:(1)LucyByrnes;(2)SteveSalterio;(3)
VladimirRyabov;and(4)Saunders,Lewis,andThornhill).

Area&Topic
Area&Topic
Main Supervisor

MainSupervisor
Topic

References

Co Supervisor

Co Supervisor

Topic
Topic
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