PhD in Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Training activities

The PhD programmes include research training that is both transferrable and specific to the area of each programme and consists of both compulsory and optional activities.

All the activities that the PhD student must complete are recorded in an activities document, but in any case there are compulsory activities that must be completed in the first academic years. It may also include transferrable activities offered by the same university.

Other professional who are not PhD holders may participate in these activities as long as they hold a relevant qualification in the corresponding area.

Erasmus
You can also do other mobility, under the Erasmus programme, both studies and internships. Check the information in the corresponding links.

To include these activities in your academic record, please check this video (click on the subtitle icon at the bottom right corner).

The programmed activities for this PhD are as follows:

Obligatory

• Attendance at seminars or conference given by expert in the area of knowledge
  PhD students attend seminars or conferences which gives them contact with speakers, lecturers and delegates etc. This is a great opportunity to get to know about first hand experiences of practical or pioneering work being carried out in other areas and be able to discuss it.

• Production of a research article sent to a high impact scientific journal
  Writing of at least one article published in an indexed journal in the speciality of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology or a field related to the thesis. Beforehand PhD students have the opportunity to act as second authors in the writing of another article. This encourages them to get more in-depth knowledge of the English language.

• Giving a seminar on the research project
  Presentation of the general lines of the research project. One seminar should be given at the beginning of the research period once the methods and objectives have been defined, another in the middle to describe the progress of the project and a third when the work is in the final strait.

• Participation in internal group or departmental seminars
  PhD student take part in seminars or workshops held by the research group they belong to in order to discuss aspects common to the different projects, formulate new hypotheses and report the results of funding competitions, etc.

• Participation in a research project
  PhD students participate in the planning and carrying out of at least one research project with other PhD students and researchers. This means carrying out the corresponding systematic review of the bibliography, developing a rigorous and appropriate methodology that meets the planned objectives, elaboration of the logics and budget for the project, etc.

• Participation in methodological or technical specialisation workshops or courses
  PhD students attend workshops to specialise in the necessary complementary methodology or techniques. These activities enable PhD students to master some of the essential techniques and instruments for the preparation of their doctoral theses.

• Presentation of a paper (oral or poster) at a national or international conference
  Preparation and presentation of at least one scientific paper (poster or oral) at an international or national meeting or conference to acquire the necessary skills fop generating precise and convincing language and familiarise themselves with answering questions and responding to comments and possible criticisms. 

• Collaboration in teaching tasks (Grant holders and Clinical Associates)
  Participation in postgraduate seminars or workshops, technical biological or clinical practicals min the field of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology under the supervision of a lecturer. Students may also take part in the preparation of exercises or practicals and the correction of some of the evaluated tests.

Optional

• Periods of research in national or foreign research centres
  PhD students can spend period of several weeks or months at national or international research centres to gain deeper knowledge of aspects related to their thesis projects. Contacts are established by the thesis supervisor so that the host institution can prepare a detailed programme of work and individual tuition.

• Attendance and doctoral working groups
  Participation in working or discussion groups made up of PhD students and other researchers. The activities in these groups offers the chance to gain deeper knowledge in aspects that are common to the different theses, critically read the bibliography of common interest, learn certain specific biological techniques, etc.

• Participation in summer schools
  PhD students can take part in summer school courses or courses for specialisation in paediatric, obstetric or gynaecological techniques related to the field of interest of the thesis. This offers an excellent opportunity to make contact with colleagues and researchers from other centres and plan for future collaborations.

• Participation in journal clubs
  PhD students can take part in groups to discuss interesting published articles in the scientific literature. The groups are made up of PhD students and other researchers. In these sessions PhD students apply the rules of critical reading according to the design of the study in question.

• Participation in collaboration meetings between research groups
  Participation in groups to discuss biological or clinical research projects with the participation of researchers from different groups. These meetings are a great opportunity to fine tune methodological and logistical details of the different projects and include the perspectives and views of different members of the team.

• Language or English improvement course
  PhD students must be able to accredit a good command of spoken and written English. During the preparation of the thesis they have the opportunity to take part in bibliographic session in English and to attend conferences and workshops with foreign speakers.