DID Student Manual - Graduate Research

Welcome from Head of Department - Prof Sharon Lewin

Profile Image of Sharon Lewin (Head of Department)
Sharon Lewin (Head of Department)

Dear Graduate Researchers,

Welcome to the Department of Infectious Diseases! Our department is focused on clinical and translational research for all infectious diseases. We welcome graduates from all disciplines including medicine, allied health, public health, epidemiology and microbiology. We believe that solutions to the most complex problems are solved through evidence generation and multi-disciplinary and diverse teams. We are committed to training the next generation of clinician scientists and for all our graduates to be critical and creative thinkers and committed to their research having a global impact. Our researchers are superb role models as well as mentors and we hope you are inspired by each of them in your post-graduate journey with us!

Professor Sharon Lewin
Head of Department and
Director, Doherty Institute

General Information

  • The Department of Infectious Diseases joined the Melbourne Medical School (MMS) in 2020, bringing together the outstanding translational and clinical expertise of infectious diseases researchers based at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and MMS. The Department of Infectious Diseases is the academic home of clinical and translational research in infectious diseases and will provide opportunities to enhance the success of our clinician-scientists as world leaders in infectious diseases. Our researchers come from diverse backgrounds, including discovery research and basic scientists, clinician researchers, epidemiologists, public health physicians and microbiologists. Research within the department encompasses all infectious diseases, the department has significant strengths and critical mass in antimicrobial resistance and healthcare associated infections, malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, influenza, viral hepatitis, sexually-transmitted infections, skin pathogens and emerging infectious diseases such as COVID-19.

  • Students are required to behave in an appropriate manner towards faculty, tutors and other students. In particular, they must avoid “peppering” staff or tutors with emails, posting inappropriate content on discussion forums and making derogatory or inappropriate comments either in public forums, such as tutorials, or in surveys, such as SES.  They must not attempt to intimidate, harass, or bully staff or other students. It is never appropriate for students to vent their frustration or anger at staff or other students.

    Additionally, students may not take photographs, video or audio recordings of lectures, tutorials, rehearsals, performances or practical classes without the express written permission of both the staff member supervising the activity (or the subject coordinator) and the written permission of the identifiable individual, or their legal guardian.

    The University’s policy on appropriate behaviour can be found here: https://policy.unimelb.edu.au/MPF1324

Important Contacts

  • Department of Infectious Diseases

    Home page: https://medicine.unimelb.edu.au/school-structure/infectious-diseases

    Enquiry Email: Mrs Marinella Serafim and Ms Hong Nguyen admin-infectiousdiseases@unimelb.edu.au
    Student Enquiry: Ms Hong Nguyen rhd-infectiousdiseases@unimelb.edu.au

    To keep informed about upcoming events, please check the Doherty Minutes email circulated every Monday.

    Below is the contact information for the relevant academic and professional staff:

    Academic Graduate Research Convenor - Prof Stephen  Rogerson

    Email: sroger@unimelb.edu.au
    Room 5054, Level 5
    Peter Doherty Institute

    Responsibilities:

    • Selection and organisation of Chair of advisory committee.
    • Point of contact for students wanting to discuss any concerns about the PhD.
    • Approval of confirmation and progress reports
    • Approval of requests associated with change of candidature (time fraction, study abroad, supervisor addition/removal etc.)
    • Point of contact for Fellowship and grant application advice and mentoring.
    		Stephen Rogerson 
    Chair of Examiners - Prof Sharon Lewin

    Email: Sharon.lewin@unimelb.edu.au

    Responsibilities:

    • Assessing the suitability and independence of potential examiners
    • Determining whether the thesis meets University expectations for authorship integrity and contributions, is of sufficient quality to proceed and has been prepared in accordance with University Preparation of Graduate Research Theses Rules.
    • Reviewing the examiners' reports and advising the candidate and supervisors of any required corrections to the thesis
    • Deciding if any changes requested by the examiners have been met and may seek advice from the candidate’s supervisors, or clarification from the examiners.
    • Maintaining appropriate records of decisions taken during the examination and in response to the examiners' comments
    • Where relevant, ensuring the candidate has complied with any conditions specified prior to the award of degrees.
    		Sharon Lewin 
    Graduate Research Coordinator - Ms Hong Nguyen

    Email: rhd-infectiousdiseases@unimelb.edu.au  
    Department of Infectious Disease
    Melbourne Medical School

    Responsibilities:

    • Respond to Research Higher Degree enquiries.
    • Assist with Graduate Research applications school assessment (processed by MDHS Graduate Research Team).
    • Assist with Annual Review forms and Confirmation Forms (processed by MDHS Graduate Research Team).
    • Assist in Funding Request approvals.
    		Hong Nguyen

  • Academic Skills Unit
    https://students.unimelb.edu.au/academic-skills

    Counselling and Psychological Services                                        

    Phone: (03) 8344 6927                                      https://services.unimelb.edu.au/counsel/home

    Central Student Portal:

    http://students.unimelb.edu.au/ provides a single point of access to a number of important online resources.

    The student portal will allow you to:

    • Access timetable and class registration information
    • Access learning management tools (e.g. LMS/Blackboard)
    • Access your student email account
    • Access your library borrowing records and the library home page (where you can search multiple library databases and catalogues)
    • View your enrolment details/study plan, enrol, change or withdraw from subjects
    • View your exam timetable and recent results
    • Apply for scholarships and grants; pay fees
    • Update your personal details
    • Obtain information regarding housing, health and welfare, jobs and employment, social and cultural activities, academic services and financial advice

Master of Philosophy (MPhil)

  • The MPhil is an internationally recognized Masters course (by research) degree. It is designed for students to develop advanced skills in carrying out independent and sustained research. The thesis demonstrates a critical application of specialist knowledge and makes an independent contribution to existing scholarship within the area of research.The normal period of candidature is 18 months for full-time candidates.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Course Information

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

    The degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences) at the University of Melbourne marks a student’s admission to the community of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences scholars. It signifies that the holder has undertaken a substantial piece of original research which has been conducted and reported by the holder via thesis.

    The submission must be a careful, rigorous and sustained piece of work demonstrating that a research 'apprenticeship' is complete.

    The PhD will demonstrate authority in the candidate's field and shows evidence of command of knowledge in relevant fields. The thesis must make a distinct contribution to knowledge and is judged on originality of approach and in some cases, the discovery of new facts.

    The thesis demonstrates an ability to communicate research findings effectively in the professional arena and in an international context. In scope, the PhD thesis differs from a research Masters thesis chiefly by its deeper and more comprehensive treatment of the chosen subject.  It is written succinctly, in English, unless approval has been given for the thesis to be written in a language other than English. All candidates for the degree will be examined on the basis of their thesis which is examined externally.

    PhD course within the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences is course code DR-PHILMDH. Students undertaking a PhD in Infectious Diseases are enrolled in subject MEDI80017. This is a time-based subject that requires a minimum commitment of 40 hours of research per week for full time candidates, or 20 hours per week for part time candidates. The expected duration of the course is 3 years (full time equivalent). If there are documentable and justifiable reasons for delay, extensions may be requested to extend candidature up to an absolute maximum of 4 years (full time equivalent).

    Students are expected to attend the University in order to benefit from planning, conducting and writing up their research throughout their candidature.  All PhD candidates are required to complete a minimum of 12 months full- time research at the University.

  • Here is a brief outline of the activities you should complete at each stage of the PhD process (more detail on each of these steps in the remainder of the manual):

    Before you Start

    When you Start

    • Review resources available to you as a DID PhD student (see Resources section of this manual)
    • Review policies and procedures relevant to you as a DID PhD student (see Policies section of this manual)
    • Contact Graduate Research Coordinator to be assigned a PhD Committee Chair
    • Consider joining a student society (see Resources section of this manual)

    Preparing for Pre-confirmation (3-6 months in)

    • Complete the Commencement form
    • Complete the faculty Supervisory Agreement form
    • Schedule your Pre-confirmation meeting
    • Prepare your Pre-confirmation meeting documentation (see PhD Milestones section of this manual)
    • Submit Pre-confirmation form (link sent to your University email account)

    Preparing for Confirmation (by 12 months)

    • Schedule your Confirmation meeting
    • Prepare your Confirmation meeting documentation (see PhD Milestones section of this manual)
    • Create an ORCID
    • Prepare an iThenticate similarity report
    • Complete RIOT (research integrity) training
    • Submit Confirmation form (link sent to your University email account)

    Progress Reviews (18-36 months in)

    Prior to Submission

  • All research higher degree students must have at least two supervisors. The primary supervisor and co-supervisor(s). Primary Supervisor must be an appropriately qualified academic within the Department of Infectious Diseases. It is not advised to have any co-supervisor listed as having less than 10% responsibility.

  • Enrolled PhD candidates must establish a Thesis Advisory Committee within six weeks of commencement. The Committee will oversee Pre-Confirmation and Confirmation and will meet regularly throughout a student’s candidature to discuss progress. The Committee has both a formal role in monitoring progress of the research project and an informal role in providing support and advice.

    The Committee should comprise at least 3 people including all listed supervisors and the Advisory Committee Chair.

    Further information about Advisory Committee meetings, especially the pre-confirmation and confirmation meetings, can be found under the 'PhD Timeline Checklist' (below). Agenda Templates: Pre-confirmation report template and Confirmation report template for these meetings are also available.

    You will be informed once a Chair is assigned to you.

  • Graduate Research Training Policies can be found at https://policy.unimelb.edu.au/

    The list includes:

    Additional important information about your responsibilities as a PhD Candidate can be found here. This page includes information about:

    • Your responsibilities, including expected work commitments during your degree;
    • Managing progress, including the confirmation process;
    • Preparing your thesis for submission

  • Any change to your candidature; such as Change of Supervisor, Change of Research Project Details, getting sick or personal circumstances requiring to take Leave of Absence; requires an application via the Graduate Research website:

    https://gradresearch.unimelb.edu.au/being-a-candidate/making-changes

    Once the change of candidature is assessed by the MDHS Graduate Research Team, the outcome of change of candidature application is communicated to you via email.

DID Resources

  • Department of Infectious Diseases Funding Support

    Conference and Travel Funding Policy for Postgraduate Students

    Graduate Researchers (PhD, MPhil) in the Department of Infectious Diseases may apply for up to $1,500 in funding during their candidature (post-confirmation) to assist them in attending international conferences; and up to $500 for local conferences.

    DID students are eligible to only access one of the schemes per year, i.e. funding support for one domestic or one international meeting or conference.

    RhD students are encouraged to apply for external funding to support conference travel, and there is an expectation that individual supervisors will support travel beyond the agreed Department allocations

    Eligibility

    The following RHD candidates are not eligible for conference funding assistance:

    1. Candidates who have met their degree requirements or had their degree awarded.
    2. Candidates who are beyond the maximum candidature period (i.e. >4 years for PhD or >2 years for MPhil).
    3. Candidates who are not presenting a talk or poster at the conference (i.e., are only attending).
    4. No funding is approved while candidate is on Leave of Absence.

    Criteria for RHD Conference and Travel funding:

    • Students must have an accepted abstract to attend a conference and receive funding support;
    • Students must be enrolled through the Department by a principal supervisor who has their primary appointment (Honorary or salaried) through the Department;
    • RhD students prior to their confirmation and students that have a lapsed candidature are not eligible to apply for conference financial support;
    • Funding is contingent upon 80% attendance at Department or Doherty Institute seminars in the last 12-month period, and presentation of data at Department or relevant Institute Symposiums;
    • The amount of funding outlined above is for in-person conference presentation only;

    To apply, please submit an application via the Department of Infectious Diseases- Graduate Research Funding Form.

    Department of Infectious Diseases- Graduate Research Funding Form

    You will be prompted to provide your name, your student ID, the amount you are applying for and to upload copies of the following:

    1. Talk/poster abstract.
    2. Invitation to speak or letter of acceptance from the conference organizers.
    3. Progress Overview Form showing that you are on track with you current thesis timeline.
    4. Written approval from primary supervisor to attend this conference.
    5. Progress review form.
    6. Budget form.

    Incomplete applications, or those not endorsed by the Principal Supervisor will not be accepted for consideration. Applications for conference funding are assessed and processed on an as-received basis.

    Conference and Travel Support for Masters Students (e.g. MBiomedSci)

    Masters Students in the Department of Infectious Diseases may apply for up to $400 in funding during their candidature to assist them in attending a single local conference to present their research data. The eligibility criteria and application process are equivalent to those for PhD students, above.

    Student Type

    Support Allocation

    Masters

    1 x Domestic Conference Registration up to $400 during candidature

    Conference and Travel Support for Virtual Conferences

    Should there be any restrictions imposed on in-person conferences and international travel in future, or if you wish to attend a virtual conference, the amount of funding support will be reduced to the amounts listed below.  The usual eligibility criteria will apply.

    Student Type

    Support Allocation

    PhD

    Students are eligible for up to $500 to be spent on presentation of research    data at a national or international virtual conference. These funds are not cumulative – they are for use within the year of allocation and will form part of the total overall funding allocation provided to students during their candidature.

    Masters students

    Students are eligible for up to $500 to be spent on presentation of research    data at a single national or international virtual conference.

  • https://intranet.doherty.edu.au/committees/possiim

    • All students will be part of the student society group Postgraduate Student Society for Infection and Immunity (POSSIIM).
    • POSSIIM, comprises all Graduate Researchers and Honours students at the Doherty Institute within Infection and Immunity.

    What they do:

    As per the constitution, POSSIIM strives to:

    1. enhance the academic and professional life of the Doherty Institute graduate researchers;
    2. provide academic support to fellow graduates and thus foster communication of research ideas and collaborations;
    3. promote interaction, welfare and cohesion between graduate researchers, and
    4. support the academic endeavours of graduate researchers by acting as a representative group of graduates within the Doherty Institute.

    POSSIIM endeavours to run at least one event per month, with a diverse range of activities that cater to the wide variety of demographics at the Doherty Institute, and meet the aims of the constitution. Furthermore, POSSIIM runs a biennial student retreat occurring during odd years.

University Resources

  • http://gradresearch.unimelb.edu.au/
    The Graduate Research hub offers guides for all current graduate researchers with resources and information to get you from orientation through to graduation. It provides guidance on:

    • Getting started
    • Roles and Responsibilities
    • Being a Candidate
    • Developing Skills
    • Preparing your Thesis
    • Examination
    • Planning your future
    • Getting Support
    • Surveys

    Please refer to the Graduate Research website: Get Started at Melbourne for Graduate Researchers. The website hosts information regarding all University services available to you, including, library access, skill workshops, and how to get your student card and log onto your student portal “My.unimelb”.

  • There are over 150 student clubs and societies representing all interests and activities. Whether you want to share common interests or hobbies, voice ideas, engage in debates or just socialise, there’s an extensive range of clubs for you to join.
    https://umsu.unimelb.edu.au/getinvolved/clubs/

    Graduate Student Association


    The Graduate Student Association (GSA) represents the interests of all postgraduate students at the University. It offers services in areas such as:

    • Representation
    • Study & Work
    • Community and Social Events
    • Facilities

    It runs The Graduate Researcher Network, a SSAF-funded program designed to help graduate researchers succeed in their candidature while building new friendships and connections across disciplines.

    It includes regular seminars to highlight resources and strategies to help you through your candidature.

  • Opportunities for Professional Development for Graduate Researchers are not faculty or discipline-specific, but they assist in gaining transferable skills in communication, interpersonal area, leadership critical thinking, project management as well as access to networking experiences. They are offered by: The Melbourne Centre for the Study of Higher Education (CSHE), Academic Skills, The Library, Graduate Student Association.

    A range of professional development opportunities offered by the University of Melbourne across categories including:

    • Communication and writing
    • Managing my graduate research project
    • Wellbeing events
    • My career
    • Tech skills and tools
    • Researcher essentials

    See what’s available and register at: https://gradresearch.unimelb.edu.au/developing-my-skills

  • Website: https://library.unimelb.edu.au/

    The University of Melbourne library is one of the oldest and largest academic libraries in Australia. The collections housed at 22 branches cover all the subjects taught at the University. You will have access to 3.5 million books, journals, electronic resources, maps, music scores, audio and video recordings, rare books, archival records and other resources for research. Library staff provides guidance to the collections and run courses in study skills to help you make the best use of the Library’s resources.

    Resources and services that support researchers and graduate researchers through the complete research lifecycle to maximise your research outcomes:

    • Ideas & opportunities
    • Getting the Grant
    • Managing Information
    • Publishing and sharing
    • Measuring impact
    • Preserving and archiving

    The Library offers workshops to develop library research skills.

  • Tel: +61 3 8344 6995
    See: http://www.scc.ms.unimelb.edu.au/

    Statistical Consulting Centre staff have a wealth of knowledge to share, either in their courses or one on one consulting.

  • IT requirements are supported by the University’s Information Technology Services. Requests can be made through: https://unimelb.service-now.com/it or Tel: 834 40888

    Major software and equipment developments will not be undertaken directly for student research. Student research projects should make use of facilities already existing in the supervisors’ laboratory or research arsenal or check the list of software accessible to students in libraries as well as to their personal computer at https://studentit.unimelb.edu.au/software

    Information on computer facilities on-campus check http://www.studentit.unimelb.edu.au/

  • Promotes personal safety and theft prevention. Security Escort service from campus buildings to the nearest local public transport point. https://www.unimelb.edu.au/security

    Contact University Security at any time by calling 834 46666 or 1800 246 066 (free call)