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Faculty of Science & Health

School of Chemical Sciences | Structured Doctoral Pathways 2023-2024

Overview

The School of Chemical Sciences possesses an outstanding track record for postgraduate research,
currently home to more than 60 postgraduate students engaged in research-based M.Sc. and PhD
programmes, in diverse fields. These range from the development of chemical and biological sensors
and intelligent materials, to drug design and discovery, and advances in science education. The
School houses a suite of state-of-the-art research equipment including high resolution electron
microscopy and a range of both mass and magnetic resonance spectrometers. It is one of the most
successful Chemistry Schools in Ireland for attracting large-scale research funding, with our
researchers having significant roles within a number of recently established, nationally significant
university/industry collaborative initiatives, including biomedical diagnostics, biofermentation process
analysis, separation science and marine monitoring.

The School of Chemical Sciences structured PhD programme is tailored to the needs of the School
and its postgraduate students. It is a student-centred, flexible, research-focused programme, which
aims to provide SCS students with discipline-specific knowledge, generic skills and autonomy to
augment and support their postgraduate research. Within the programme, with their supervisor's
guidance, students can undertake a range of modules across multiple subject areas, developing both
scientific and generic skills. This allows our students to create truly individual and personalised PhD
programmes, tailored to their specific needs.

Selection and Registration

The student's original research presented as a written thesis is the sole means of assessment for the award of PhD. In addition, PhD students will also normally have accumulated 30-50 taught credits.
MSc students will have accumulated at least 20 credits. Modules will be taken from the current GTE
(Graduate Training Element) offering within the Faculty. Additionally, appropriate level 8 modules may also be taken, in discussion with the student, the supervisory panel and the module coordinator.
Normally students will take 10 credits each year for years 1-3, with year 4, if appropriate, focused
exclusively on their research. Students will normally take approximately two-thirds discipline-specific
modules and one-third transferable skills/language modules. It is the policy of the School of Chemical Sciences that all students who are assigned teaching-related responsibilities must complete BT6071 and BT6072 Laboratory Tutoring, two 5-credit modules to be taken over at least two years.

Once approval from the supervisor has been granted, students should register for their approved
Faculty GTE modules during the online registration process. However, if you wish to take a non-FSH
GTE module you MUST first email the module coordinator listed to check that you are eligible to
register for this module, then email science@dcu.ie providing:

  • confirmation and proof of approval from module coordinator
  • module code and title
  • student id number
  • qualification code
Progression

The individually-tailored structured pathway for each student should be discussed and agreed in the
first instance with their supervisory panel and progress recorded on the annual PGR2 form.

Induction and Training

Research students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of centrally offered non-accredited
workshops, seminars and training on academic, software or transferable skills which align with their
developmental needs. In year one, all students are required to attend the orientation sessions, the
Graduate Studies Office (GSO) and library-run programme and other relevant induction sessions.
GSO communicates details of the training schedule to each student at the beginning of each
semester. Research students are also required to take the Online Research Integrity Module in year
one of their studies.

Core Discipline Specific Modules

Tutoring Modules

  • GS602: Postgraduate Tutoring Principles and Practice (5 ECTS)

Analytical Science Training

  • BE536: Precision Medicine II (7.5 ECTS)
  • BE516: Bioseparations (5 ECTS)

Bio-based Training

  • BE517: Recombinant DNA Technology (5 ECTS)
  • BE533: Gene Cloning and Gene Expression (5 ECTS)
  • BE570: Computational Sciences (5 ECTS)

Physical Science Training

  • MM600: Labview, Data Acquisition, Analysis & Control (7.5 ECTS)
  • PS522: Microfluidics 2 (5 ECTS)
  • PS523: Applied Spectroscopy 2 (5 ECTS)

 

Core Discipline Specific Modules | Years One to Three 

Teaching and Learning Skills

  • CS6071: Year 1 Laboratory Tutoring (5 ECTS)
  • CS6072: Year 2 Laboratory Tutoring (5 ECTS)

 

Core Transferable Skills Modules
  • TP602: Research Ethics (5 ECTS)
  • GS606/A: Enterprise Experience for Graduate Research Students (10 ECTS)

 

Non-accredited Training, Workshops and Masterclasses
  • Graduate Studies Office Orientation Programme
  • Research Integrity Online Training Module (Natural and Physical Sciences stream) (non - accredited) (obligatory in Year 1)
  • Students are encouraged to take additional training opportunities offered by the School and GSO as appropriate throughout their PhD.

 

Approval Date