Project management for research

Dr. Pamela Alean-Kirkpatrick, alean-academics, Eglisau

A two-day course during which the participants learn and apply project management methods and instruments to their own research projects.

Goals
The participants:

• know how to structure, plan, control and document projects
• are able to apply selected project management methods and tools effectively to their own research project
• are aware of how to use aspects of project management for working constructively with others in a project environment
  

Target group

Doctoral students who are actively working on a research project. The course can be attended at any stage of the doctoral work, to greatest advantage during the first half of the project.

Contents

• What is a project and what is special about project work?
• Formulating project objectives
• How can I structure and realistically plan my project (time and capacity planning)? Where should I set milestones and why?
• Project tracking and controlling
• Stakeholder analysis and information concept
• Risk assessment and risk management
• What factors favour collaborative work with my supervisor and project partners?
• What belongs to the documentation of a project?

Requirements: No prior knowledge of project management is assumed for the course.

Methods

Short theoretical inputs, exercises, small-group discussions. Participants work on applying the theory to their ownprojects and on exchanging results of the exercises with others in the course.

The success of the course depends on the willingness of the participants to contribute ideas and share experiences from their own projects, as well as to show an interest for the questions and needs of the other doctoral students in the course.

Category: S
Number of participants: maximum 14
Location: Lausanne, Biophore building, seminar room 2213
Schedule: 9h00 - 12h30; 14h00 - 18h00 both days
ECTS: 0.5

Priority is given to PhD students of the ecology and evolution doctoral program. Depending on places availability, other PhD students, master students, Postdocs and academics can attend for free but traveling/accommodation expenses cannot be reimbursed.
The course is full!

Elisa Piaia
Coordinator of the Inter-University
Doctoral Program in Ecology and Evolution
Biophore building
University of Lausanne
Tel: +41 (0)21 692 4244
Fax: +41 (0)21 692 4165
E-mail: elisa.piaia(at)unil.ch