The transition from Master to PhD studies A personal perspective collected over 5 years in the structured FWF Doctoral Program Complex Quantum Systems (CoQuS) Markus Arndt University i of Vienna Head: Quantum Nanophysics Speaker: FWF CoQuS
The transition from Master to PhD studies Internationalization of master studies How to select PhD students? How to support PhD students in their carreer?
How to attract international PhD students to Austria? Attract t them as Master students: t Early integration facilitates immersion into PhD Consider language as a key factor: English should be compulsory for master lectures! Raise awareness: International rankings distort reality Adapt Bologna system: Consider Bachelor PhD system (e.g. USA) Consider tuition fees and qualitative admission rules: Higher personal effort and public prestige for studies that cost
CoQuS and the US physics system US System CoQuS Start after bachelor usually after master Admission Training selection at all stages Uni: no qualitative selection FWF programs: selective Master: Courses 2 years Master: 1 year course +1ylab PhD: Research 3-7 years Doctorate: 3-4 years lab Secondments Rare Almost obligatory Language classes Success Not needed within a united nation Completion before 30 years several high-level publications Rather commonly taken Completion before 30 years several high-level publications
What is the doctoral program CoQuS about?
CoQuS Mission Statement CoQuS is a PhD program on Complex Quantum Systems in Vienna We recruit students solely based on academic achievements & scientific qualifications. CoQuS aims at leading gifted students to scientific success and maturity. CoQuS realizes this by training on the job, in competitive research projects. CoQuS supports this effort by a complementary and comprehensive teaching program
How do we select PhD students for CoQuS?
Pre-selection and invitation is based on Curriculum vitae: incl. prizes, awards, distinctions List of publications, posters and talks Academic records (school certificates, pre-diploma, diploma) Motivation letter Letters of recommendation (2 x) Language: English
Final selection and acceptance is based on PPT presentation: previous work, 15 min Free black-board b presentation: ti new subject (assigned by CoQuS), 15 min Interview: with 2-3 CoQuS faculty members Informal discussions Ranking: by all faculty members at the end of the day Matching of interests: between students and faculty + finances
Selection rules which remain often subconscious
Hard criteria for choosing a PhD student Top marks throughout all stages of his/her career you can rely on intelligence and dilligence. But: this is not by itself an indication of independence or curiosity. Involvement in high-level research (publications) he/she knows the scientific work and a particular research field But: even excellent papers may occasionally have modest students as first authors. Reference letters Enthusiastic letters from research leaders employ immediately Consider national and cultural l dff differences!
Soft criteria for choosing a PhD student If a student gets bright eyes when you talk about science You can rely on strong interest in science Interest is a precondition but not a guarantee for success Corollary: If a candidate gets sleepy during your conversation He/she may be bored you may be tempted to drop it It may also mean he/she is jet-lagged : invite a second time If you feel your talking the same language This is important for a successful future collaboration But don t mix appeal with brillance
Soft criteria for being hesitant A candidate is unable to explain ideas? How will this influence your cooperation? Language training for a brillant student? give it a chance A bright candidate cannot present to an audience? Accept her/him to a PhD program Encourage to participate in obligatory soft-skill training A student presents with brilliant rhetoric Don t be blinded by the form. Focus on content.
Important criteria for choosing a PhD student Don t generalize! Look at each specific case! Students may have highly specialized and invaluabel talents for research even their overal range of competences is somewhat more restricted than in others. A research team benefits from different students having complementary skills. Don t try to copy any model. We are looking for research innovators.
Application statistics 89 applicants from 30 nations with 12% female applicants 35 students invited to a hearing in Vienna 23 of them held a non-austrian Master/Diploma degree 14 were selected for CoQuS in 2007
International incoming students How to evaluate the quality of students from foreign countries with a different cultural background and no direct cooperations Are national / international rankings sufficient Personal recommendations by? How to distinguish? Taught Master Research Master
How we train PhD students in CoQuS
PhD training in a competitive research environment CoQuS Research is involved in Various Austrian Special Research Programs (SFBs) Many EU and ESF Projects Reputation and infrastructure through ERC Advancedd Grant 1x ERC STARTING Grants 2x FWF Wittgenstein Prize 2x FWF START Prize 4x EURYI Award 1x Win-Win-Situation for both CoQuS Faculty and Students Faculty could never achieve this without the students Students could never achieve this without the faculty
Diversity of Quantum Systems in CoQuS Photonic quantum information & communication (Zeilinger) Molecular quantum optics (Arndt) Semiconductor nanostructures (Unterrainer) Circuit QED (Schmiedmayer) Ultra-cold atoms (Schmiedmayer & Zeilinger) Theory of quantum computation and communication (Brukner) Nuclear quantum clocks (Schumm, associated) Opto-mechanical quantum systems (Aspelmeyer) Quantum physics and biology (Vaziri, associated) Quantum theory of many body quantum systems (Verstraete) Photonic quantum simulation (Walther)
Formal CoQuS Activities Specialized Quantum Teaching (continuously) shared among University of Vienna and TU Vienna + international visiting professors CoQuS Colloquium (weekly) > 30 international visitors per year, from all continents + 1 Student presentation (filmed & commented by CoQuS staff) CoQuS Summer School (annually) CoQuS Retreat (annually 2-3 days)
CoQuS Activities: Summer schools 4-6 international speakers per school 1 week duration, with 30 lecture hours (2 Semester hours) Open to local students Often with invitations to international research schools Organization by CoQuS students
Student secondments
CoQuS Students spend typically 1-3 months abroad during secondments to The USA: Europe: Asia: Caltech, Pasadena Cornell University Harvard University ENS, Paris ETH Zürich Weizman Institute Los Alamos Nat. Labs MPI PKS, Dresden MIT, Cambridge NBI, Copenhagen NIST, Gaithersburg Lab Phys. Théor., Orsay Princeton University LENS, Florence Stanford University University, Belfast Univ. of California Berkeley Universität Düsseldorf University of Gdansk Canada: Universität Innsbruck Perimeter Institute Waterloo Universität Stuttgart University of Toronto TU Denmark TU München ILL Grenoble NUS Singapore Univ. Osaka Australia: Queensland, Brisbane Africa: KwaZulu-Natal, Durban
Are secondments the holy grail? Advantage: Embedding in international i research groups Collaborations Formation of an individual broader world view Reduction of the Austrian Cross-Border Threshold Disadvantage: Loss of dedicated research time in a competitive field Funding is limited and a PhD is short Conclusion: Value has to be decided for each case. Short stays (4 weeks) could be obligatory if financed Otherwise the needs of the PhD s research have to have priority
Soft skill training Frequently requested Language classes (for local work and secondments) German, Chinese, Japanese, French, Spanish, even Latin,, p,, p, Only occasionally chosen by the students English Academic Writing Presentation training Research funding & projects Scientific c organization a o Motivation and team building Vocal training for presentations in front of large audiences
Advantages of a structured Doctoral Program
Benefits for the Faculty Enlarged pool of applicants: International visibility, call & applications Joint quality control: Selection & monitoring raises reputation of the program among students International contacts through secondments Students return with inspiration & motivation Collaborations & joint papers with external groups Technology exchange on an informal basis
Added value of CoQuS for our students Fully paid PhD fellowships Recognition as members of a select - team Secondment to almost any top-university i of their choice Generous support for conference attendance Effectively unlimited soft skill opportunities (already through Uni) Administrative support (Visa, Housing..)
Summary Research leaders have a great responsibility in selecting and advising master and PhD candidates. The selection rules cannot be strictly formalized. A good portion cannot be formalized but rather requires personal care involvement gut feeling & experience Mistakes are part of the system. Be ready to adapt.
Sponsors of the Vienna PhD Program on Complex Quantum Systems CoQuS