Tasks and responsibilities of the doctoral researcher and the doctoral supervisor

The tasks and responsibilities of a doctoral researcher is to

• register each year as present or absent,
• ensure that their research plan is updated and to commit to conducting research,
• follow actively communication related to doctoral education (e.g., Viva Engage channels of Doctoral Programmes, Researcher Training Services and/or the Faculty) and search information from Kamu,
• prepare a personal study plan for doctoral studies on the basis of the research topic, the scientific objectives of the degree and their personal aims, for example, career goals, and ensure that the plan is kept up-to-date,
• submit to the supervisors, without undue delay, documentation concerning study attainments based on scientific activities,
• familiarise themself with guidance on research ethics and data management principles, and comply with these in pursuing studies and conducting research for the doctoral dissertation,
• utilise guidance and take into account feedback received from the supervisor (see Supervision Plan) as well as make use of the opportunities for guidance from and in the community at large (e.g., peer support),
• participate during their studies in the activities of the scientific community and in scientific discussion and doctoral education,
• bear responsibility for obtaining financing (e.g., foundations, funding by a company, and other supplementary financing) and request, when necessary, a reference/recommendation letter from the supervisor in good time, before the deadline of application,
• submit the manuscript of the doctoral dissertation for scrutiny by the plagiarism detection system prior to pre-examination, request a public defence, publish the doctoral dissertation, and apply for the degree certificate.

The tasks and responsibilities of a supervisor is to

• supervise the doctoral research, assist the doctoral researcher in structuring the various stages of their research work (see Supervision Plan), and engage in conversation about possible careers with the intended competencies and degree (Career Plan),
• provide guidance in preparing a personal study plan for doctoral studies in such a way that the plan meets the objectives of the degree, the personal aims of the doctoral researcher, and the doctoral programme’s curriculum,
• submit, without undue delay, the doctoral researcher’s study attainments for registration,
• familiarise the doctoral researcher with the ethical issues of conducting research, good scientific practice, and the principles of managing research data,
• commit to supervision: discuss the elements of the doctoral research, provide the doctoral researcher with constructive feedback, and support the research inquiry and the progress of the doctoral studies,
• facilitate the doctoral researcher’s integration into the national and international scientific community and encourage them to create a peer support network,
• support the doctoral researcher in applying for funding, and write recommendation letters and statements in timely fashion,
• ensure that the research meets the context- and form-based criteria required of a doctoral dissertation before it is submitted for review or pre-review,
• go through and evaluate the comparative results provided by the plagiarism detection system on the manuscript of the doctoral dissertation.
• The Supervision Plan, Career Plan, and the Personal Study Plan all aim to support the supervision teams (doctoral researcher and the supervisors). The courses that the doctoral researcher takes provide a great opportunity for the team to elaborate on research and field specific ethics, data management, safe and responsible use of AI, etc., and engage in mutual learning during supervision meetings.