Doctoral School of Sciences & Technology

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Organisation & management

The Doctoral School of Sciences & Technology is a joint initiative of

  • the Faculty of Sciences,
  • the Faculty of Engineering Technology,
  • the School of Transportation Sciences.

The Doctoral School Board consists of members of each faculty/School (see below). Prof. Dr Wim Deferme is appointed as director. Together with a coordinator, a PhD and a postdoc representative, the doctoral school board is responsible for

  • development of the curriculum (organisation of courses, quality control)
  • evaluation of the individual program of PhD students
  • decisions about possible exceptions

The faculty liaison doctoral schools, Dr Kirsten Braem, is responsible for all communication with PhD students and postdocs, as well as for the coordination of all discipline-specific activities.

The director, two vice-directors and the coordinator (Doctoral School Bureau) are responsible for the daily functioning of the doctoral school.

Members of the Doctoral School Board

  • Prof. Dr Wim Deferme (director)
  • Prof. Dr Karen Smeets (biology)
  • Prof. Dr An Hardy (chemistry)
  • Prof. Dr Jan Van den Bussche (computer science)
  • Prof. Dr Ir Bram Vandoren (engineering technology)
  • Prof. Dr Frank Renner (physics)
  • Prof. Dr Sorin Pop (mathematics)
  • Prof. Dr An Neven (transportation sciences)
  • Prof. Dr Anneleen Verhasselt (statistics)
  • Prof. Dr Ir Ronald Thoelen (Dean Faculty of Engineering Technology)
  • Prof. Dr Jan Colpaert (Dean Faculty of Sciences)
  • Sonny Brebels (PhD representative)
  • Brigitte Reimann (PhD representative)
  • Dr Maarten Wijnants (postdoc representative)
  • Dr Kirsten Braem (Faculty liaison doctoral schools)

Minimal requirements

An overview of the minimal requirements postulated by the Doctoral School of Sciences & Technology is shown on the websites below. Fulfilling these requirements is obligatory for all PhD students who started their PhD from January 2013 onwards.

The doctoral school course offer may be used to fulfill the requirements, but (additional) external courses may also be acknowledged and may sometimes be needed. A digital procedure is used for the acknowledgement of activities within the framework of the minimal requirements, generating an overview of the progress made in your individual doctoral school portfolio on Google Drive. This document can be consulted at any time by you, your supervisor and the doctoral school’s management team.

Exemption from (certain) doctoral school requirements can only be requested within three months after starting the PhD (or within six months if you have a 3 x 2 year contract), by completing this template and sending it to the DS faculty liaison (kirsten.braem@uhasselt.be).

The requirements that need to be fulfilled are different depending on the start date of the PhD. Below you can find an overview:

Requirements - PhD started before 01/09/21

Publications

  • experimental biology: At least one publication as first author, in the top 50% of the research domain. More Publications are recommended
  • theoretical chemistry: One top publication or 2-3 publications
  • experimental chemistry: At least one accepted A1-publication as first author. Three A1-publications are expected
  • theoretical computer science: Three publications on peer reviewed and international workshops, conferences or in journals
  • applied computer science: One to three A1/C1 publications as first author
  • theoretical physics: One top publication or 2-3 publications
  • experimental physics: At least one accepted A1-publication as first author. Three A1-publications are expected
  • mathematics: Two submitted papers in A1/A2 journals or one submitted paper in an A1 journal within the first 25% of the research domain
  • statistics: Two to four A1-publications (at least submitted or in revision, preferably accepted)
  • engineering technology: At least one accepted A1-publication (research paper) as first author. Three A1-publications are expected
  • IMOB: At least one accepted A1-publication as first author. Three A1-publications are expected

In exceptional cases, where a patent application blocks the publication of an article, an ad hoc arrangement with respect to the above mentioned requirement can be made in consultation with your promoter, doctoral committee, and DS Board.

Conferences

  • experimental biology: Active participation in at least two conferences (at least one international) with a poster or oral presentation
  • theoretical chemistry: Active participation in at least one international conference or workshop with a poster presentation
  • experimental chemistry: Active participation in one (or more) international conferences/workshops with a poster or oral presentation as first author
  • theoretical computer science: Active participation in at least two peer reviewed and international workshops or conferences
  • applied computer science: Active participation in two to three conferences with an oral presentation (poster presentations are an exception)
  • theoretical physics: Active participation in at least one international conference or workshop with a poster presentation
  • experimental physics: Active participation in one (or more) international conference/workshops with a poster or oral presentation as first author
  • mathematics: Active participation in at least one international meeting with a poster or oral presentation
  • statistics: Active participation in four conferences with a poster or oral presentation
  • engineering technology: Active participation in one (expected more) international conferences/workshops with a poster or oral presentation as first author.
  • IMOB: Active participation in one (or more) international conferences/workshops with a poster or oral presentation as first author

Teaching

  • Fulfil at least 4 teaching assignments throughout your PhD
    • Examples of teaching assignments: a course, a practical session, a consultancy task related to education, guiding a bachelor or master student
    • Active participation in activities where science related topics are explained to a non-expert public (e.g. Dag van de Wetenschap, Kinderuniversiteit, UHasselt@School) can count for 1 of the 4 teaching assignments
  • Modules on education: 3 options
    • Option 1: Follow 4 modules related to professionalization (at least 1 module should be a module on education) throughout your PhD
    • Option 2: Follow 1 module on education and 1 extra course on scientific & generic communication (see below)
    • Option 3: Follow 'Traject voor assistenten'
      • Examples of modules on education are 'how to use smartboard, 'scientific reporting', 'digital media', modules organized by the department of educational excellence, professionalization and diversity
      • An example of a module related to professionalization is an EHBO course

Internationalisation

  • Follow an info session about (funding) possibilities to perform research abroad (+)
  • International stay (summer school, visiting a research group, stage/internship,...) (optional)

Seminars & Advanced courses

  • Follow at least 12 seminars/research presentations from external speakers throughout your PhD
    • Seminar/research presentation = An external speaker that gives a presentation of at least 45 min. For example a researcher that is visiting a research group or who is invited to give a presentation about a specific topic (e.g. IMO-lectures). Make sure you have a proof that you followed the seminar. You can use this declaration
    • Passive attendance at a conference with international speakers. Although more speakers will present their research, one conference can only count for one research seminar. Active participation can additionally be acknowledged in the category 'scientific output'
  • Follow 1 info session about 'Computational science/supercomputer' or an equivalent (+)
    • Each year, the DS S&T will organize 1 info session entitled Introduction to computational science/supercomputer
  • Follow at least 1 advanced course (a master course, a tutorial, a technical course,...)
    • Examples of advanced courses: LabVIEW, statistics, Imec academy, working on the HPC cluster, scientific libraries, debugging & optimalisation, Data processing,...
    • A master course (a course that is given to master students within a master programme) can be eligible for the DS as an advanced course if you follow it during your PhD and if your promoter agrees that the content of this course is necessary for your PhD. You can only receive a certificate from the DS for a master course if you are officially registered for this course (the student administration office can help you with that) and if you pass the exam. Otherwise, you will not receive a certificate. If you would like to follow a master course at another university, the same rules as mentioned above apply.

IP & Valorisation

  • Follow an info session about Intellectual property/patents, search for patents or an equivalent
  • Info sessions/courses about valorization of innovation, how to protect IP,... (optional)
    • Info session = Intellectual property/patents, search for patents or an equivalent = obligatory. Each year the DS S&T will organize one info session on IP

Scientific & Generic Communication

  • Follow an info session about Literature Searching skills or an equivalent (preferably year 1) (+)
    • Each year the DS S&T will organize 1 info session about literature searching skills which is eligible
  • Follow at least 1 course about scientific and generic communication
    • Examples of courses about scientific and generic communication: writing a scientific abstract/article/these, Academic English, Effective Scientific Communication, Create a scientific poster, how to write for a general public, public speaking,...
  • Follow an info session about reviewing skills or an equivalent (preferably year 2,3) (+)

Research management

  • Follow at least one course/workshop aimed at developing general research skills
    • Possible courses could be: PhD management, project & time management, successfully dealing with stakeholders, ...
  • Follow an info session on writing a successful project proposal (preferably year 3) or an equivalent (+)
    • Each year the DS S&T will organize 1 info session about writing a successful project proposal
  • Organization of lectures, symposia (optional)

Ethics & Research integrity

  • Follow at least one info session about ethics & research integrity or an equivalent (preferably year 2)

Career & Personal Development

  • Follow at least 1 course / info session about career & personal development

For the info sessions with a (+), the following rule counts: you need to follow at least 3 different info sessions of the following list (or an equivalent) in order to fulfil the minimal requirements of the DS S&T

  • Introduction to computational science/supercomputer
  • Literature searching skills
  • Reviewing skills
  • (Funding) possibilities to perform research abroad
  • Writing a successful grant proposal


Pragmatic calculations: 1 seminar/ research presentation ≥ 1 hour, 1 info session ≥ 2 – 3 hours, 1 course ≥ 8 hours

What does ‘equivalent’ mean in the context of the minimal requirements of the DS S&T?
It means that in order to fulfil a certain minimal requirement, you can follow the info session or course organized by the doctoral schools of Hasselt University but you are also allowed to follow another info session or course organized most of the time outside Hasselt University with a similar topic (but always ask first confirmation of the DS that the proposed info session or course is equivalent for the doctoral school). For example, one of the minimal requirements is that you need to follow an info session about ethics & research integrity. The DS S&T organizes every year 1 info session about this topic. However, you are also allowed to follow an info session about ethics and research integrity at another university, institution,…. As long as you have the confirmation from the DS S&T that this info session is equivalent to the info session organized within the DS S&T.

Participation in national/international conferences, international stays, modules, info sessions and courses has to occur in consultation with your promoter.

If due to circumstances a teaching assignment is not possible, the doctoral schoolboard can allow the replacement of a teaching assignment by an advanced course.

Requirements - PhD started after 01/09/21

Publications

  • experimental biology: At least one accepted publication as first author, in the top 50% of the research domain
  • chemistry: At least one accepted A1-publication as first author. Three A1-publications are expected
  • theoretical computer science: At least three peer-reviewed accepted publications in journals or on international workshops or conferences
  • applied computer science: One to three accepted A1/C1 publications as first author
  • physics: At least one accepted A1-publication as first author. More publications are recommended
  • mathematics: At least two submitted A1-publications OR At least one accepted paper in an A1 journal within the first 25% of the research domain
  • statistics: At least one accepted and one submitted A1-publication (at least one of two as first author)
  • engineering technology: At least one accepted A1-publication (research paper) as first author (preferably within the first 25% of the research domain). Three A1-publications are expected
  • IMOB: At least one accepted A1-publication as first author. Three A1-publications are expected

In exceptional cases, where a patent application blocks the publication of an article, an ad hoc arrangement with respect to the above mentioned requirement can be made in consultation with your promoter, doctoral committee, and DS Board.

Conferences

  • experimental biology: Active participation in at least two conferences (at least one international) with a poster or oral presentation
  • chemistry: Active participation in at least one international conference/workshop with a poster or oral presentation as first author
  • theoretical computer science: Active participation in at least two peer-reviewed and international workshops or conferences
  • applied computer science: Active participation in two to three conferences with an oral presentation (poster presentations are an exception)
  • physics: Active participation in one (or more) international conference/workshop with a poster or oral presentation as first author
  • mathematics: Active participation in at least one international meeting with a poster or oral presentation
  • statistics: Active participation in four conferences with a poster or oral presentation
  • engineering technology: Active participation in at least two conferences (at least one international) with a poster or (preferably) oral presentation as first author.
  • IMOB: Active participation in at least one international conference/workshop with a poster or oral presentation as first author

Teaching

  • Fulfil at least 4 teaching assignments throughout your PhD
    • Examples of teaching assignments: a course, a practical session, a consultancy task related to education, guiding a bachelor or master student
    • Active participation in activities where science related topics are explained to a non-academic public can count for 1 of the 4 teaching assignments
  • Follow at least one module on education
    • Examples of modules on education are 'how to use smartboard, 'scientific reporting', 'digital media', modules organized by the department of educational excellence, professionalization and diversity

Internationalisation

  • International stay (summer school, visiting a research group, stage/internship,…) is optional
  • Courses geared towards enabling or strengthening options for international research can be acknowledged under this category.

Seminars & Advanced courses

  • Follow at least 12 seminars/research presentations from external speakers throughout your PhD
    • Seminar/research presentation =
      • An external speaker that gives a presentation of at least 45 min. Make sure you have a proof that you followed the seminar. You can use this declaration
      • One conference with several speakers can only count for one research seminar. Active participation can additionally be acknowledged in the category 'scientific output'.
  • Follow 1 domain-specific course at PhD level (= advanced course)
    • Examples of domain-specific course at PhD level: LabVIEW, statistics, Imec academy, working on the HPC cluster, scientific libraries, debugging & optimalisation, Data processing,...
    • A master course (a course that is given to master students within a master programme, both at UHasselt or another university) can be eligible for the DS as a domain-specific course if:
      • You follow it during your PhD
      • Your promotor agrees that the content of this course is necessary for your PhD
      • You are officially registered for this course (the student administration office can help you with that) and if
      • You pass the exam

Research valorisation

  • Participate in at least one activity on valorisation of your research
    • Activities can be courses on the topic but also initiatives towards valorisation of your PhD, how to protect IP, search for patents,…

Scientific & Generic Communication

  • Follow at least 1 course/session about scientific and/or generic communication
    • Examples of courses about scientific and generic communication: writing a scientific abstract/article/these, Academic English, Effective Scientific Communication, Create a scientific poster, how to write for a general public, public speaking,...
  • Participate in at least one activity on science dissemination
    • Examples of activities on science dissemination: presentation to a non-scientific audience, magazine article, news article, workshop,…

Research management

  • Follow at least two courses/workshops aimed at developing general research skills
    • Examples of courses general research skills: project management, literature searching skills, managing your PhD, time management, lab management, writing a grant proposal, dealing with stakeholders,…
  • Organization of lectures, symposia (optional)

Ethics & Research integrity

  • Follow at least one info session/course/workshop about ethics & research integrity or an equivalent (preferably year 2)

Career & Personal Development

  • Follow at least 2 courses / info sessions about career & personal development

Pragmatic calculations: 1 seminar/ research presentation ≥ 1 hour, 1 info session ≥ 2 – 3 hours, 1 course ≥ 8 hours

What does ‘equivalent’ mean in the context of the minimal requirements of the DS S&T?
It means that in order to fulfil a certain minimal requirement, you can follow the info session or course organized by the doctoral schools of Hasselt University but you are also allowed to follow another info session or course organized most of the time outside Hasselt University with a similar topic (but always ask first confirmation of the DS that the proposed info session or course is equivalent for the doctoral school). For example, one of the minimal requirements is that you need to follow an info session about ethics & research integrity. The DS S&T organizes every year 1 info session about this topic. However, you are also allowed to follow an info session about ethics and research integrity at another university, institution,…. As long as you have the confirmation from the DS S&T that this info session is equivalent to the info session organized within the DS S&T.

Participation in national/international conferences, international stays, modules, info sessions and courses has to occur in consultation with your promoter.

If due to circumstances a teaching assignment is not possible, the doctoral schoolboard can allow the replacement of a teaching assignment by an advanced course.

Testimonials from PhD holders