The aim of the course is to give the PhD-students a holistic overview of food science in general, and especially to the research disciplines at DTU FOOD, including biotechnology, nutrition, food quality, food safety, food technology and environment & health, and how research is conducted in the different disciplines. The participants will also be presented with some of the general challenges they may face during their PhD study. En studerende, der fuldt ud har opfyldt kursets mål, vil kunne:

• Explain the different research disciplines related to food science
• Briefly outline the different research methodologies used in the different research disciplines
• Discuss their own research hypothesis in the context of the different disciplines in food science
• Outline the definitions and general working flow of natural science: hypothesis generation – data collection – data analysis - conclusion
• Discuss who is deciding what needs to be researched in relation to food, and how
• Discuss who is using the output from research performed at DTU-FOOD, and how
• Be familiar with the Danish Code of Conduct for research integrity
• Outline different career opportunities for a researcher
• Outline the expectations DTU has on enrolled PhD students
• Knowledge about different types of problems in a PhD study
• Discuss the relationship between research and innovation

Building up a general knowledge within the food sciences: The course will include lectures representing each division within the institute, where the different disciplines are introduced by leading researchers. Participants are subsequently encouraged to relate their own research projects and hypotheses into a broader perspective within the food sciences. The output from this exercise will be presented individually during a poster session.

Basic concepts of research in food science: We will discuss how scientific hypotheses are formulated, how research questions are addressed, how to describe methodology, putting your research into a larger context and who the stakeholders are. The participants will subsequently discuss their own research in this context, describe and discuss what they want to measure in their research, and which methods they will use. The participants will also be introduced to different driving forces for research and types of research projects with focus on researchers (assessors) and the decision makers (managers). Finally the Danish Code of Conduct for Research Integrity will be presented and discussed.

Daily life and challenges during a PhD project at the institute: The participants will be introduced to the administration of a PhD project, and what is expected of them in accordance to this. Newly educated PhD fellows will tell “their story” including ups and downs during the project and how the transition has been to their new jobs. Different possibilities to seek help during the PhD study will be outlined. Discussions on expectations from supervisors, institute and from themselves. Discussions on what they can expect from the supervisor and institute.

To pass the course, the participants must hand-in a report following a predesigned template, where they discuss their own project including research hypothesis in different contexts. The course is mandatory for all PhD students at DTU FOOD within ca. their first year of study 27. januar, 2022