1. Postgraduate Training through
International Networking
Carsten P. Welsch
Learning & Teaching Conference 2010
Liverpool, UK

2. C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010
Outline
 Introduction to DITANET
– What are Marie Curie ITNs ?
– Who are the partners in this initiative ?
 Postgraduate Training within DITANET
– At each network node;
– Network-wide events;
– Secondments
 Opportunities and Challenges

3. C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010
A „typical“ Accelerator Diagnostics
Multi-disciplinary field !
Camera
OTR Light
 Material sciences
 Thermodynamics
 Electro-Magnetism
 Optics
 Mechanics
 Electronics
 Nuclear Physics
 …

4. C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010
What is DITANET ?
 One of the largest Marie Curie Initial Training
Networks ever funded by European Union !
 Funding for 21 fellows(18 ESR and 3 ER)
 Gives industry an important role !
 Recognition of importance of beam diagnostics at
European level !
(in physics top 11, 2007 – under extreme competition)
Different understanding of role

5. C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010
The DITANET Consortium
Network Participants
Associated Partners

6. C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010
Including Partners From Industry

7. C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010
Adjunct Partners
 Part of a long term strategy – DITANET is growing

8. C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010
Training – at each Network Node
 Training through cutting edge research projects
(Compare: Aims of Russell Group)
 In accordance with national PhD regulations
 Provide trainees with broad skills base
 Expose to the other sector
 Promote knowledge exchange and collaboration
across the network
 100% focus on research project

9. C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010
Example: Janusz Harasimowicz
 2006: University of Warsaw, Faculty of Physics
 Specialization: Medical Physics
 M.Sc. Thesis title: Derivation of medical accelerator
electron beam energy spectrum using inverse Monte
Carlo method
 Soltan Institute for Nuclear Studies, Physics
Group Leader
 MPI-K, Germany, Graduate Researcher
 Since March 2009: DITANET ESR in Liverpool
Janusz Harasimowicz

10. C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010
USR – Diagnostics
Janusz Harasimowicz
 Position
 Profile
 Intensity
Harasimowicz, J., et al.
Hyperfine Interact. (2009)

11. C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010
Training – at each Network Node
 Example: CNA/U Seville, Spain – Ziad A. Haidar
Workshops
- Oct 2008 : Workshop on Electronics for Novel Nuclear Physics Detectors at CNA
- Dec 2009 : Workshop on Hadron therapy at CNA
Doctoral Courses
- Dec 2008 : Nuclear Structure (1 week)
- Jan 2008 : Applied Nuclear Physics (1 week)
- Feb 2008 : Experimental Nuclear Physics (1 week)
- Mar 2009 : Nuclear Reactions (1 week)
- May 2009 : Intermediate Energies (1 week)
Schools, Mini Courses and Conferences
- Mar 2009 : 2 day course on Gas Ionization detectors : principles and recent developments
- July 2009 : International School of La Rabida on Basic concepts in Nuclear Physics: theory, experiments and
applications (Poster participation: Development of a Tracking System of Exotic Nuclear Beams for FAIR)
- Sept 09 : Biennial of Physics (Spanish Royal Society of Physics) (Poster participation: Development of a Tracking
System of Exotic Nuclear Beams for FAIR)
Other
- Tested and learned about several electronics equipments for detectors and data acquisition systems
- 2 semesters of Spanish courses (level 1 and level 2)
- Participated in a contribution to the GSI Annual Report of 2009 : “Fast timing with DSSSD detectors”

12. C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010
1st DITANET School, March 2009
 Beam Diagnostics, held at RHUL, UK
 > 70 participants and lecturers
CERN Indico: 55242
March 2011

13. C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010
2nd DITANET School, March 2010
 Complementary Skills, with help from UoL Grad School

14. C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010
Feedback from Participants (Examples)
 Detailed assessment of school being carried out –
might help further improving PGR trainings at UoL
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
1 2 3 4 5
NumberofTrainees
Differential Scale: 1 = excellent / 5 = poor
Example Session
Content was well
organised
Content was interesting
Aims were clear
Session was helpful to
you
„The workshop was
not only useful, but
exciting !“
„I hadn‘t really
thought of myself as
a project manager
until today“
“Recording every person was
very useful to understand
common mistakes.”

15. C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010
1st DITANET Topical Workshop
 Low Energy, Low Intensity Beam Diagnostics
 Hirschberg, Germany – Nov 24th/25th 2009
 Good mix of DITANET and external researchers
 Discussion of state-of-the-art and future developments
CERN Indico: 93294
Next workshop: July 12th/13th – option for trainees.

16. C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010
Secondments
 Each trainee realizes a secondment to an industry
partner
 Improve understanding of how research is done –
allow for improved planning of own career
 All projects require collaboration between
universities and industry partners/research centres

17. C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010
Trainee Interaction
 Trainees created a list of common interest topics:
– Similarities in their research projects
– Possible support for each other
– Exchange of knowledge and past experiences
 Informal meetings
 Possibility is given to organize mini-workshops, etc.
 Online forum and blog

18. C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010
Trainee Support
 Career Development Plans discussed during kick-off
meeting, later finalized with trainees
 Mentor for female trainees
 Internet Blog (VOCAL)
 Facebook group (trainee-triggered)
 Arrangements exist for regular contacts via schools,
workshops and additional meetings

19. C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010
Trainee – Supervisor Relationship
 Contact across country borders
– Cultural and language barriers
– Intervalls between direct contacts
 Work within international team
– Joint management of resources
– Time management
– Different expectations
 (Open) Feedback highlighted as key to success
– Problematic for both sides
„Supervisors should
also go to the
(complementary skills)
course“

20. C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010
Advantages of International Collaboration
 Status of Marie Curie Fellows
– Prestige
– Salary
– Social security
– Pension
 Extensive training program in form of schools,
workshops, conferences, etc.
 Secondments across sectors
 Daily interaction with experienced researchers
 Contact to wider field, not only research projects

21. C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010
Challenges from International Collaboration
 Bringing together different education systems
 Management is resource and time-consuming
 Professional managers required to supervise overall
training effort (graduate school)
 Make partners „stick to the plan“
 Extensive use of new media (video conferencing,
internet, etc.) – challenge to tech. infrastructure

22. C.P. Welsch – Learning & Teaching Conference 2010
Conclusion
 Research and training through joint effort between
research centers, universities and the private sector;
 See PhD as part of professional career as
researcher;
 Structured training program across institutional and
country borders;
 Goal: Improved career perspectives.
Many thanks for your attention !