Postgraduate and Research

Tutor

At the time of admission to the Doctoral Program, each candidate will be assigned a Tutor by the Academic Committee of the Doctoral Program.

The Tutor will be a Doctor whose research activity is related to one of UIMP's collaborating institutions in the Doctoral Program.

The Academic Committee, after hearing the doctoral student, may, by means of a reasoned resolution and provided there are justified reasons, modify the appointment of the Tutor of a doctoral student at any time during the period of completion of the Doctoral Thesis.

Role of the Tutor

  • The Tutor is responsible for monitoring the research studies of the doctoral student, and facilitating the interaction between the student and the Academic Committee.
  • The Tutor will annually issue assessment reports on the Doctoral Student's Activity Document and the Research Plan, delivering them to the Academic Committee of the program within the established deadlines.

Supervisor

At the time of admission to the Doctoral Program, each candidate will be assigned a Supervisor by the Academic Committee of the Doctoral Program, who may or may not coincide with the previously referred Tutor. If a Thesis Supervisor is not assigned at the time of admission, the Academic Committee will have to appoint a Supervisor within three months from the date of the initial enrolment. Up to one co-supervisor may also be appointed.

Any Spanish or foreign Doctor with accredited research experience may be assigned this position, regardless of the university, centre or institution in which he or she works. 

The Academic Committee, after hearing the doctoral student, may, by means of a reasoned resolution and provided there are justified reasons, modify the appointment of the Tutor of a doctoral student at any time during the period of completion of the doctoral thesis.

The Supervisor will have full responsibility for the coherence and suitability of the training activities and for the doctoral student showing adequate progress in achieving the objectives described in his/her Research Plan. The Supervisor is committed to guiding the doctoral student, encouraging his/her initiative with the aim of achieving full autonomy as a researcher.

The Supervisor will annually issue assessment reports on the Doctoral Student's Activity Document and the Research Plan, delivering them to the Academic Committee of the program within the established deadlines.

Role of the Supervisor

  • To provide the researcher in training with the appropriate means and scientific environment.
  • To guarantee the research is completed according to the terms and conditions established by the entity funding the project and agreed upon with the UIMP. 
  • To inform the doctoral student about the safety and labor risk prevention standards and to insist on adherence to them. 
  • To inculcate the training researcher with following the UIMP Code of Best Practices and being critical when evaluating their work.
  • To do his or her job in a way which serves as an example for the training researcher to follow.
  • To promote cooperation with other research teams, R&D and Innovation Centres and agents of knowledge to favor the exchange of ideas between researchers, research and the transfer of knowledge. 
  • To protect the secrecy of confidential data provided by the doctoral candidate or any other member of the research team they are working with.   
  • To recognize the work of the training researcher and to be rigorous and fair in authorship of publications.
  • The Supervisor must request express authorisation from the Academic Committee to be able to supervise more than three doctoral theses simultaneously.
  • To respect and value the organizational, administrative and related tasks for research activity as well as the correct use material means and facilities available to them.

Doctoral Students

The doctoral student, as researcher in training, undertakes to record his/her activities and the results obtained in the Doctoral Student's Activity Document and to develop the Research Plan under the monitoring and supervision of the tutor and his/her Supervisor(s). 

Role of the Doctoral Students

  • To follow the indications and recommendations of his or her Tutor and Supervisor regarding training/educational activities that must be completed and to inform them of possible initiatives and the advances in results.
  • To regularly inform the Tutor and Supervisor(s) about completing such activities and the evaluation of the research work, of the results obtained and the problems which may arise during their training.
  • To completely integrate in the project assigned for their training.
  • To participate in scientific activities, discussion forums, seminars, etc., related to the development of their project.
  • To present the Research Plan and the Doctoral Student's Activity Document (DAD) to the Academic Committee for the program within the established time frame for evaluation.
  • To dedicate at least the equivalent of 35 hours/week to the doctoral thesis in the case of full-time dedication or 21 hours/week in the case of part-time dedication to the program.
  • To follow the UIMP Code of Best Practices for training researchers and the code of conduct at the UIMP and the institutions participating in the doctoral program.
  • To complete and pass the training activities included in the Study Plan of the doctoral program and those delegated by the thesis Tutor or Supervisor with the approval of the Academic Committee for the program.
  • To protect the secrecy of confidential data provided by the thesis Supervisor, Tutor or any other member of the research team as well as to use the information obtained exclusively for the completion of the doctoral thesis. 
  • To not reveal or transfer information about the project or results of the research, either individual or from the group, in which they participate with third parties, even in the case of changing thesis Supervisor, without obtaining the corresponding express and written authorization from the previous thesis Supervisor. 
  • To recognize the contribution of their Tutor and/or Supervisor in oral or written distribution of their results. 

Related link

UIMP Code of Best Practices for Researchers in Training

Research Plan

Before the end of the first year of enrolment, the doctoral candidate will draw up a Research Plan, under the supervision of the Tutor and/or Supervisor, which will be approved by the Academic Committee of the Program.

The Research Plan will include at least the objectives to be achieved and the methodology to be used, as well as the means and time planning to achieve them.

This Research Plan will be updated and assessed annually, along with the Doctoral Student 's Activity Document, throughout the doctoral student's stay on the program and must always be endorsed by the Tutor and the Supervisor(s).

  • Annual Research Plan - to be completed in the first year (Forms)
  • Annual Research Plan - to be completed after the first year (Forms)

Document which monitors Doctoral Student's Activity (DAD)

The Doctoral Student's Activity Document (DAD) is a personalised document that records all the relevant specialist training-based activities carried out by the doctoral student during the period of preparation of the Doctoral Thesis and which form part of his/her initial training as a researcher.

These activities must be regularly assessed by the Tutor, the Supervisor and the Academic Committee of the Program. The training activities are described on the website of each Doctoral Program. 

  • Document which monitors Doctoral Student's Activity (DAD) (Forms)

Related link

Educational Activities

Annual assessment

The monitoring of the doctoral student will be carried out directly by the Tutor and the Supervisor, based on the periodic review of the Doctoral Student's Activity Document, the Research Plan and face-to-face meetings.

The Doctoral Student's Activity Document will be an essential element in the different evaluation procedures the student must submit. 

The Academic Committee of the Doctoral Program will jointly evaluate the Doctoral Student’s Activity Document and the Research Plan each year, along with the global report on both documents which must be submitted by the Tutor and Supervisor.

A positive assessment is required in order to continue in the program. In the event of a properly grounded negative assessment, the doctoral candidate must be re-evaluated within six months, for which purpose a new Research Plan will be drawn up. Should the second consecutive negative assessment be repeated, the doctoral student will be permanently removed from the program.

The annual assessment of the activities carried out by part-time students will take into account the special conditions of these students in terms of availability of time and schedules to carry out certain activities.

  • Evaluation of the Research Plan (to be completed the first year) (Forms)
  • Evaluation of the Research Plan (to be completed after the first year) (Forms)
  • Evaluation of the Doctoral Student's Activity Document (Forms)
  • Act of the Academic Committee of the Program for Annual Assessment (Forms)

Change of Tutor, Supervisor or Study Regime

Should there exist justifiable reasons for doing so, and the legitimate evolution of the research undertaken so requires, the student concerned may apply to the Academic Committee of the Program for amendments to be made to his or her Thesis Project.

The requested changes must be substantiated and can affect:

  • The Tutor of the Doctoral Thesis.
  • The Supervisor(s) of the Doctoral Thesis.
  • Study regime (full-time or part-time studies).

The request must reckon with the authorization of the Supervisor, the Co-Supervisor or, were it the case, the Tutor.

  • Application Form for change in modality, appointment of Tutor or Supervisor of Doctoral Thesis (Forms)

Guidance Calendar for the supervision of Doctoral Students and Doctoral Theses

In this link you can consult a Guidance Calendar for the Supervision of Doctoral Students and Doctoral Theses