Doctoral Programme on Drug Research and Diagnostics - for the Doctoral Researcher
Registration
> Registration with the University of Turku
UGIS - The Information System of the Graduate School
UGIS is the information system of the University of Turku Graduate School. The portal contains information regarding the doctoral training of each doctoral candidate and instructions.
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Guidelines of the postgraduate studies
> University of Turku Graduate School (UTUGS)
- Follow-up committee meeting and progress report
Doctoral researcher fills in an electronic progress report annually - Instructions at the Faculty of Medicine - Career guidance
- Mentoring
DRD doctoral researchers must be registered as doctoral researchers at the University of Turku. They must also register as attending at the university every year, arrange an annual meeting of their follow-up committee and report on their progress annually to the DRD steering committee. Reporting is done in UGIS system.
All DRD doctoral researchers should attend Annual DRD Meetings organised in Spring and Annual FinPharmaNet meetings in August.
The responsibilities of Doctoral researchers in respect to reporting
* Report on the progress of your work annually by filling in the UGIS system report.
* Organize a meeting with your follow up committee at least once a year. You should attach the memo of this meeting to UGIS.
Those who have got their right to pursue doctoral studies 1.8.2020 or later, can apply 1 credit (max 4 x 1 credit) from Follow-up committee meeting at UGIS portal. You should attach the memo of meeting to application.
Major tasks of the Follow-up Committee
· The aim of the committee is to promote successful progress of the thesis work by providing expertise in the subject matter and in the implementation of the work. If needed, changes to the study plan and research plan can be made based on the discussions.
· The follow-up committee evaluates the progress of the doctoral training and studies. A career discussion can be carried on in the meeting. The doctoral researcher convenes the meeting and delivers the meeting material to the supervisors and the committee members
· The follow-up committee confirms that the amount of work of the doctoral researcher as well as the doctoral researcher’s personal contribution to original publications is sufficient for beginning the preliminary examination process of the thesis manuscript. If needed, the follow-up committee gives a statement of the progress of the thesis work.
· In possible problem situations, the doctoral researcher may contact the members of the committee in between the meetings. The doctoral researcher should have an opportunity to discuss in confidence about the supervision with the external follow-up committee members.
The doctoral programme monitors the implementation of the supervision plan and the follow-up committee’s activity.
Composition and members of the follow-up committee:
Student: Doctoral Researcher of DRD.
Supervisor(s): All Supervisors nominated in the decision for right to pursue doctoral studies at University of Turku.
External member(s): At least 2 (two) members, must come from outside the doctoral candidate’s own research group. This person should be affiliated to University of Turku.
MEETINGS AND REPORTING
The follow-up committee meets at least once a year until the thesis defense. Organizing the meeting is the responsibility of the doctoral researcher. The nature of follow-up committee work changes according to the maturation of the doctoral researcher. In addition to the general follow-up on the progress of the project, each meeting has its specific aims, which may vary depending e.g. on the doctoral researcher´s former studies and progress.
Please notice that Follow-up Committee Meeting can be arranged in any time of the year. Supervisors and Follow-up Committee members are often busy during December-January.
Following is the recommended structure and content of the meetings:
Meeting 1: Forming a personal study plan together with the doctoral researcher, verification of faculty registration of the project. Doctoral researcher of DRD should organize the first meeting in three (3) months after getting the right to pursue doctoral studies.
Meeting 2: Follow up on the personal study plan
Meeting 3: and subsequent meetings: Follow up on the personal study plan, thorough check of research results, first preliminary future career plans (labs and funding)
Meeting 4: Accepting the PhD project, writing a statement to the faculty in support of permit for the thesis where applicable, having a thorough look into postdoctoral funding or other future career plans
Other meetings if needed: Memo on the topics covered in the meeting
Arranging the meeting
Prior to the meeting the doctoral researcher prepares and sends a progress report to the follow-up committee members and supervisor(s). The follow-up committee members are expected to familiarize themselves with the report in advance. The doctoral researcher, supervisor(s), and the follow-up committee members must all participate in the Follow-up Committee Meeting. Participation can be organized e.g. over zoom to reduce travelling, but face-to-face meeting is recommended.
During the meeting
The doctoral researcher presents the current status and future plans of the PhD project, including the publication plan
Thesis committee members evaluate the project and progress and make suggestions
The doctoral researcher and the other members of the thesis committee check the courses completed by the doctoral researcher and advise the future studies to guarantee adequate knowledge of and expertise in the field
The doctoral researcher has the opportunity to discuss with external members of the follow-up committee in the absence (5-10 min) of the supervisor
After the meeting
Doctoral researcher writes a Memo of the follow-up committee meeting. This Memo should be attached to UGIS.
Please notice also obtaining Transferable Skills/Generic Skills in PhD training
1. Working with others/team working
2. Communication/presentation skills, both written and oral
3. Communication/dialogue with non-technical audiences (public engagement)
4. Project and time management skills
5. Problem solving
6. Research management -- research leadership
7. Creativity and the ability for abstract thought
8. Knowledge of research methods and technologies beyond the Doctoral project
9. Teaching skills
10. Research ethics
11. Enterprise skills (entrepreneurship, commercialization, innovation, patenting and knowledge transfer)
12. Use of science in policy-making
Information about courses and seminars can be found also at
Faculty of Medicine Postgraduate Education Unit (PGE) course calendar
https://www.nordochealth.net/courses
https://opas.peppi.utu.fi/en/programme/101783?period=2024-2027
http://www.biocenter.helsinki.fi/finbionet/course_calendar.html
Population pharmacokinetic modeling (PopPK) and
Physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling (PBPK)
LINKS TO OTHER INTERNATIONAL COURSES AND MEETINGS
http://www.keystonesymposia.org/
DRD steering committee 1.8.2025-31.7.2029
DRD director, Professor Matti Poutanen, Institute of Biomedicine
Vice-director, Professor Urpo Lamminmäki, Faculty of Technology, Biotechnology
Professor Anu Airaksinen, Faculty of Science, Chemistry
Professor Kari Auranen, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Biostatistics
Professor Jukka Hytönen, Institute of Biomedicine & Varha
PhD Matilda Kråkström, Turku Bioscience Centre
Docent Päivi Koskinen, Institute of Biology, Animal Physiology
Professor Olli Pentikäinen, Institute of Biomedicine
Docent Pekka Postila, Institute of Biomedicine
Professor Anne Roivainen, Turku PET centre
Professor Teijo Saari, Institute of Clinical Medicine
Associate professor Virpi Talman, Institute of Biomedicine
Associate professor Aleksi Tornio, Institute of Biomedicine
Julia Lindqvist, Finnish Drug Discovery Center
Docent Juha Rantala, Orion Pharma
Professor Jessica Rosenholm, Åbo Akademi, Pharmacy
PhD Alice Ylikoski, Eurofins Electrics & Electronics Finland
Doctoral reseacher Saara Östman 1.8.2025-31.7.2027
Doctoral researcher Shruti Nitin Bhardiya 1.8.2025-31.7.2027
Coordinator PhD Marja Peura, Research Career Unit
> DRD intranet (login with utu username and password)