Public Health Science, From Doctoral Education to Postdoctoral Career Pathways with Societal Impact, 4.5 credits

Aim

The online course is intended for doctoral candidates who have reached the mid-point of their doctoral studies or are in the later stages of their doctoral education.

The aim of this course is to develop the competencies required for the transition from doctoral studies to postdoctoral research, with particular emphasis on societal relevance and research impact. The course addresses research communication, project development, grant writing, and peer review processes within the context of national and international research policy frameworks.

Course objectives

Upon completion of the course, the doctoral candidate is expected to be able to:

• explain research funding processes and postdoctoral career pathways within academia,
• communicate their research in relation to societal challenges and relevant national and international policy frameworks,
• design a scientifically grounded and feasible conceptual framework for a postdoctoral research project and prepare a competitive research funding application in accordance with relevant funders’ requirements and guidelines, and
• critically assess research proposals with regard to scientific quality, feasibility, ethical considerations, and societal relevance.

Content

The course provides doctoral candidates with the opportunity to develop competencies related to postdoctoral research planning and external funding acquisition.

During the course, participants:

• prepare and present a concise research presentation linking their doctoral research to Agenda 2030 and relevant national objectives,
• formulate a conceptual framework and project plan for a postdoctoral research project,
• draft a research funding application adapted to a selected funding body,
• participate in structured peer review and a simulated evaluation process.

Particular emphasis is placed on scientific quality, research design, ethical considerations, societal impact, and understanding assessment criteria used by funding agencies. The course is based on seminars, workshops, and collegial feedback.

Doctoral candidates are required to attend all scheduled course sessions

Entry requirements

A person meets the entry requirements for the course if he or she has been admitted to a third-cycle study programme and will be given credit for the course in that study programme.

Teaching form

The course is delivered in English and conducted online. Teaching consists of seminars and workshops. Doctoral candidates are expected to work independently and in groups with course materials and assignments and to participate actively in peer review of other participants’ work.

Examination form

Doctoral candidates are assessed through active participation in all scheduled course components and through the completion of course assignments. The assessment is based on:

• a research presentation linking the candidate’s doctoral research to societal challenges, Agenda 2030, and relevant national objectives,


• a conceptual framework for a postdoctoral research project,


• a draft research funding application prepared in accordance with the requirements of a selected funding body, and


• participation in structured peer review and the simulated evaluation process.

Certain assignments, including the preparation of the research funding application, may be undertaken individually or in groups.

Grading system

Two-grade scale