PhD in Food Safety and Biotechnology

Research degrees vary in length, but typically for a PhD they are three or four years long (full-time) and double that for part-time studies. They follow an annual cycle of progress with formal panel-based appraisals of the progress, the outcome of which is typically practical and academic advice about how to overcome problems encountered and how to move to the next stage. During each year, students are expected to supplement their studies with some tailored courses, ranging from highly specific (e.g. learning to use a piece of apparatus or technique) to generic (e.g. developing oral presentation or leadership skills). Every stage is supported by the supervisory team, augmented by an independent panel of progress monitors as well as the full support of the Graduate School.

Assessment

Assessment processes for the Research Degree differ from taught degrees. Students will be expected to present drafts of their work at regular intervals to their supervisor who will provide written and oral feedback; a formal assessment process takes place annually.

This Annual Progress Review requires students to present their work in writing and orally to a panel of academics from within the School. Successful completion of this process will allow students to register for the next academic year.

The final assessment of the doctoral degree is both oral and written. Students will submit their thesis to an internal and external examining team who will review the written thesis before inviting the student to orally defend their work at a Viva Voce.

Learning Outcomes

En forskergrad innebærer å gjennomføre uavhengig forskning under veiledning av et profesjonelt akademisk veilederteam, vanligvis ved å bruke laboratoriefasilitetene som tilbys i ett eller flere av lagenes laboratorier. Studenten forventes å utvikle egne ideer og lære metodene som trengs for å teste dem empirisk og teoretisk. Dette innebærer vanligvis å lære og praktisere både laboratorie- (og eller felt) ferdigheter samt å utvikle en sterk teoretisk bakgrunn i det aktuelle faget.

I tillegg til praktisk arbeid, vil alle aktivitetene til uavhengig akademisk stipend, slik som litteratursøk og kritisk vurdering, skriftlig og muntlig kommunikasjon, og akademisk nettverk utvikles i løpet av en forskergrad. Uavhengighet og innovasjon vil bli sterkt oppmuntret, men studenten vil bli støttet av regelmessig veiledning. Det vil også bli tilbudt et bredt spekter av kurs, både i fagspesifikke ferdigheter og generiske ferdigheter, spesielt støttet av Graduate School.

Students are encouraged to interact with one another and with members of academic staff and postdoctoral scientists to build confidence and informal learning, through a range of ‘research culture’ activities, including peer groups where students get together to discuss topical research papers, or methods, or just chat about their interests.

Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes alongside sterling integration with business experts help our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally. Career prospects in the biological sciences are exceptionally good. To some extent, it depends on the specific topic, of course, but laboratory-based and especially quantitative skills and the proven innovation of a PhD or MPhil are highly sought after. Degrees are very much in demand, both in commercial science and public sector research and development (e.g. drug discovery and development, crop and animal improvements and welfare, sustainable agriculture and resource use, human nutrition and health, animal health, ecological management, food safety and technology, scientific communications, regulation, and many more fields).

Employment after the Course

Nyutdannede har gått videre til å være profesjonelle forskere og konsulenter, eller inneha tekniske og juniorlederstillinger i handel og myndigheter.