Queen's University of Belfast - Medical Faculty

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

大学院研究学位には、専門の学術指導チームの指導の下で、通常はチームの 1 つ以上の研究室で提供される実験設備を使用して、独立した研究を行うことが含まれます。学生は独自のアイデアを開発し、それを経験的および理論的にテストするために必要な方法を学ぶことが求められます。これには通常、実験室 (および/またはフィールド) スキルの学習と実践、および関連科目の強力な理論的背景の開発が含まれます。

研究学位取得中は、実務だけでなく、文献検索や批評的評価、文書および口頭でのコミュニケーション、学術的ネットワーク構築など、独立した学術研究活動のすべてが展開されます。独立性と革新性は強く奨励されますが、学生は定期的な監督指導によってサポートされます。また、大学院が特にサポートする、科目固有のスキルと一般的なスキルの両方に関する幅広いコースも提供されます。

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

卒業生はプロの研究者やコンサルタントになったり、商業や政府で技術職や若手管理職に就いたりしています。