PHS5000 - Advanced physics research project - 2019

24 points, SCA Band 2, 0.500 EFTSL

Postgraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Science

Organisational Unit

School of Physics and Astronomy

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Michael J Morgan

Coordinator(s)

Professor Michael J Morgan

Not offered in 2019

Prerequisites

Enrolment in the Master of Science

Notes

This unit will be offered annually from Semester 2, 2020

Synopsis

Students undertake an advanced research project involving original work on a topic chosen in consultation with an academic supervisor. The topic may be a continuation of research completed in PHS4000, enabling a deeper insight into a larger research problem. In this case, it is expected that the research outcomes will also be suitable for submission for publication in a peer-reviewed international journal.

Alternatively, the project may be a separate topic to PHS4000, but the student must display a more mature research methodology than was required for PHS4000.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

  1. Understand, use and explain the advanced concepts and principles of the research literature, which underpin the chosen area of research in theoretical, computational or experimental physics.
  2. Synthesise and interpret the knowledge gained in the study of the underpinning research literature. This leads to the ability to identify a niche topic or topics within this existing body of literature, which represents a gap in current knowledge. This problem should be suitable for original research.
  3. Solve an outstanding problem or problems in the chosen area for original research.
  4. Present the results of the original research in written form as a thesis, and also present key thesis results in oral form as a final seminar.
  5. Defend the results of the original research in an oral exam.

Assessment

Seminar 20%

Thesis 80%

Workload requirements

48 hours per week which includes 36 hours of independent research; 7 hours of final seminar and thesis preparation; 3 hours attendance at group meetings, seminars colloquia; 1-hour specialist training and 1-hour consultation with a supervisor.

See also Unit timetable information

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Master of Science in Physics