Department of Geological Science

PhD Research Proposal

(6 months post-enrolment)
All PhD students must:
 Complete and submit this Research Proposal within six months of enrolment as a provisional doctoral
candidate. The Proposal must be developed in consultation with your supervisor(s).
The proposal will be reviewed by a nominated independent reviewer, and returned, if necessary, for revision.
The Research Proposal is a requirement for continuation of your PhD.
 Complete a Doctoral Supervisory Agreement. This form is to be completed and submitted at the same time as
your proposal within 6 months of enrolment as a provisional doctoral candidate.
 Complete a Doctoral Confirmation (a written report and oral presentation) at approximately 12 months.
(Applicants are advised to read the General Course and Examination Regulations in the University Calendar.)

The Research Proposal itself should be presented in sufficient detail for the supervisor(s) and Head of
Department/School to be able to comment on its suitability. It should include a realistic planned timetable including
deadlines, a list of objectives, description of methods to be used, and it should provide details of any special supervisory
arrangements (e.g., provision of alternative supervision in the case of a supervisor taking study leave; arrangements
for meetings with external supervisors). There should be statements about who has been consulted about the project,
including general staff whose assistance may be required in the course of the work.
If the research is dependent on the approval of the University's Human Ethics Committee or Animal Ethics Committee,
or any other committee or organisation, the approval should normally have been obtained prior to registration of the
proposals. Aspects of the research which require approval from an Ethics Committee shall not proceed until the
approval has been acquired.

Please complete the form and return to the Departmental Administrator by email attachment.
We strongly advise students and supervisors to keep a copy of the form for future reference.

Part A: Project Information Date: Click here to enter a date.

Family/Surname: Given Name:

UC Student Number:

Local Residential address:

Enrolment status: ☐ Full-time ☐ Part-time

Name of any scholarships held:

Home Phone: Cell Phone:

Email address:

Four letter code for thesis subject (i.e. GEOL. ENGE, DRRE):

Date of Enrolment for PhD:

Thesis Working Title:

Page 1 of 14 Date issued: 1-Sep-19

Introduction (and literature review):
 Present the problem and the significance of the problem in a manner appropriate for publication in a scientific
journal.
 The introduction is expected to put your proposal in the context of current scientific literature and should not
exceed 2,000-4,000 words (excluding list of references). The Introduction is expected to be appropriately
referenced with figures and maps if applicable. This should lead up to your key research objectives given in the
Project Objectives section.
 10 point font should be used with 2 cm margins.

Methods: Outline the methods by which you will conduct your research. The Methods should include relevant
references, figures and tables and should not exceed 500 – 1,000 words (excluding figures, tables and references).

Project Objectives: Outline your key objectives as bullet points.

Meetings and Feedback

Include here any special supervisory arrangements e.g. meetings with external supervisors and how
communication will be maintained during periods of leave.
i. Formal supervision meetings will occur at intervals of not less than Choose an item. months.
NB: These meetings should occur at intervals of between one and three months. It is recommended that written summaries of
formal meetings be kept by student and supervisors.

ii. The student and supervisors will establish an agreed, and documented, timeline and schedule for work to be completed
and submitted to the supervisory team for comment.

iii. Senior Supervisors will provide feedback on written work within Choose an item. weeks of the work being
submitted.

iv. Specific meeting and feedback expectations e.g. students and supervisor(s) to provide written feedback on meeting
actions points.

Research Timeline:
 Provide an outline timetable for the next 2 years, leading to completion of the thesis, and a detailed timetable
for the next twelve months, including the date for your Doctoral Confirmation Oral Presentation and
written assessment at approximately 12 months from thesis enrolment. Your plan should include clear
milestones including deadlines for reports, meetings with funding agencies, etc.

Location, Equipment and Funding:

 Indicate the practical feasibility of the research project.
 Where will the research be conducted?

Page 2 of 14 Date issued: 1-Sep-19

 List the major equipment requirements. If the equipment is not available in the Department, include information
on how you will gain access to this equipment.
 Estimate the cost of your research including consumables and travel and indicate the sources of funding to be
used.

TURNITIN Thesis Checking (TURNITIN is a software package which analyses for plagerism)

Turnitin check for theses (http://learn.canterbury.ac.nz/mod/assign/view.php?id=274896)

Please check the TURNITIN website via Learn for updates on the information below.

All files uploaded will be submitted to the plagiarism detection service Turnitin.
Please follow these guidelines to ensure that your file is uploaded to Turnitin successfully.

 You must save your assignment as one of the following file formats.
Make sure that you include the '.' and the 3 or 4 letter extension.

o Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx)

o Plain text (.txt)
o Adobe Acrobat PDF (.pdf)
o Rich Text Format (.rtf)
o PostScript (.ps)
o HTML (.html, .htm)

 Your file must be less than 20MB in size.

 Open Office and Libre Office users - saving as .doc won't work with Turnitin; please save your file as Rich
Text Format (.rtf)

The student has submitted their Research Proposal to TURNITIN, and we have discussed the concept of plagiarism
and there is no significant plagiarism in the proposal
Yes ☐ No ☐

Is the students written and spoke English acceptable to complete a PhD? Yes ☐ No ☐
If no, what action will be taken?
Is the student required to complete any courses? Yes ☐ No ☐
If so, what courses?

Is Maori consultation appropriate? (http://www.research.canterbury.ac.nz/maoriresearch/index.shtml)

Yes ☐ No ☐

If an international student, less than 12 months research will be overseas?

Yes ☐ No ☐

Page 3 of 14 Date issued: 1-Sep-19

Geological Sciences Departmental Catalogue:
The candidate and senior supervisor should reach agreement about access to data, especially where the candidate’s
research is part of a wider research project. The candidate and supervisor are responsible for detailing and
depositing rock and prepared materials into the Geological Sciences Departmental Catalogue.
This agreement should be documented if necessary below.

Technical Staff Assistance:

 Indicate clearly what assistance from technical staff you are likely to require, e.g., training in use of equipment,
design and building of equipment, field supervision, etc.
 Which technical staff members are involved?
 You must discuss your potential needs with all of the relevant staff including the Departmental Technical
Services Manager, and indicate with whom you have discussed your plans, before you submit your proposal.
Approval of your Research Proposal will be delayed if you have not discussed your Technical Staff support with
Technical Services Manager

Page 4 of 14 Date issued: 1-Sep-19

Part B: Supervisory Team (To be completed jointly by student and supervisor)
The regulations require at least one supervisor other than the Senior Supervisor. The Senior Supervisor should be a
member of the UC continuing academic staff.
New Academic staff members must complete the New Thesis Supervisors Course prior to being appointed as a Senior
Supervisor for a doctoral candidate. For details see
https://intranet.canterbury.ac.nz/ld/dev_plan/thesis_supervision/index.shtml
Please list below the proposed members of the supervisory team and summarize the intended role of each
supervisor. This should include details regarding the expertise of the supervisor, involvement in supervisory
meetings and provision of feedback to the student.
It is acknowledged that, in many cases, a student’s interaction will be more frequent with the senior supervisor than
with other supervisors. However, regular meetings (at least every 3 months) involving all members of the
supervisory team are strongly encouraged.

Senior Supervisor:

Name

Affiliation:

Email Address:

Supervisory Contributions:

% EFTS for UC Geological Sciences staff only

Co-Supervisor:

Name

Affiliation:

Email Address:

Supervisory Contributions:

% EFTS for UC Geological Sciences staff only

Associate Supervisor(s) (if applicable):

Name

Affiliation:

Email Address:

Supervisory Contributions:

% EFTS for UC Geological Sciences staff only

independent Reviewer (Not a member of direct supervisory group):

Name

Email Address:

Supervisory Contributions: Proposal Confirmation. External scientific advice. Independent science mediator between
student and supervisory team.

Page 5 of 14 Date issued: 1-Sep-19

Part C: Signatures
Student:

☐ I understand and accept the arrangements specified above

Typed name or Esignature: Date: Click here to enter a date.

Supervisors:

☐ I support the student’s continued candidature and am happy with the arrangements as specified above
☐ I do not support the student’s continued candidature, for the reasons specified below
☐ I would like to bring the following issue(s) to the attention of the HoD/S or nominee and/or Dean of
Postgraduate Research

Senior Supervisor Date: Click here to enter a date.

Typed name/Esignature:

Co-/Associate Supervisor Date: Click here to enter a date.

Typed name/Esignature:

Co-/Associate Supervisor Date: Click here to enter a date.

Typed name/Esignature:

Co-/Associate Supervisor Date: Click here to enter a date.

Typed name/Esignature:

Health & Safety Manager: Date: Click here to enter a date.

Typed name/Esignature:

Departmental Health and Safety induction has been completed Yes ☐/No ☐
Yes ☐/No ☐
4 Wheel drive certification required/completed
Yes ☐/No ☐
Field Activities Plan discussed with Health & Safety Manager

Technical Services Manager: Date: Click here to enter a date.

Typed name/Esignature:

Independent Reviewer: Date: Click here to enter a date.

Typed name/Esignature:
(Independent Reviewer to be nominated by student and supervisors)

Page 6 of 14 Date issued: 1-Sep-19

Part D: Field Activity/Fieldwork

 Discuss your field activity requirements and field activity plan with both your supervisor and
Departmental Health & Safety Manager.

 The Geological Science’s Health & Safety webpage contains all appropriate Health & Safety
documents: http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/science/schools-and-departments/geological-
sciences/health-and-safety/

 Further documentation and guidelines are available from the UC Health & Safety Toolkit -
https://intranet.canterbury.ac.nz/hs/toolkit/03_risk/index.shtml

An example of the Field Activity Plan is attached to this Proposal.

Page 7 of 14 Date issued: 1-Sep-19

Field Activity Plan Commented [CF1]: Do we need a preamble here
saying that this must be completed in conjunction with
supervisor and Matt Cockcroft, Dept H&S manager?

Human Resources
Activity Leader
Full Name
Work Area
Email Phone

Signature Date

Deputy Activity Leader (if required)

Full Name
Work Area
Email Phone

Approval to Undertake the Field Activity (for completion by Manager/Head or delegated

authority i.e. Departmental Safety Officer, Academic Supervisor)
I consent for this Field Activity to be run to the specifications of the plan.
Full Name
Date

Signature

Field Activity Details

Paper/Course
Purpose of Field Activity
Start Time and Start Date
Finish Time and Finish Date
Return from activity method of
notification (who you will notify and
how you will notify them)
Location Contact Address
Location Contact Phone
Accommodation
Map Reference (if no contact address)
Intended Programme
Provide brief description of the daily field activities, including location of activities, distance from field HQ, planned route and
transportation

Page 8 of 14 Date issued: 1-Sep-19

Emergency Contacts (please complete Safety Equipment List on page 4 if required)
Mobile Phone Number
Field First Aid Kit Yes No
List names of qualified First Aiders
attending the Field Activity
(if none, consult the Health &
Safety Manager)
UC Security (anytime) 0800 823 637
UC Emergency Name
Contact
Position
Phone
Field Station Name Jenny Ladley
Manager Mobile 027 68 67 260
(if relevant)
Office 6433695504, Internal ext. 95504
UC Health and Steve Hunter (contact anytime 24/7 re notifiable event or high risk
Name
Safety Manager event)
Mobile 027 742 8689
Office Phone DDI +6433695594 Internal extn 95594
Jaime MacDonald (contact anytime 24/7 re notifiable event or high
Name
risk event)
UC Health and
Safety Advisor Mobile 027 836 1960
Office Phone DDI +6433694567 Internal extn 94567

Emergency Procedures
What could go wrong despite efforts to control risks? How will you manage the emergency? Consider:
 prevention of further harm or injury
 communication
 access to emergency services
 emergency equipment

Participant Health (group field activities only)

Attach completed Field Activity Participant Declaration and Consent Forms.

Name Description of Health Condition Controls to be applied

Page 9 of 14 Date issued: 1-Sep-19

Additional Information (complete the items relevant to your Field Activity)
Alternative Route/Plans
(for bad weather/emergencies etc)
Have you received consent/permit/access
Yes No
permission for the Field Activity locations?
If yes, specify consent/permits obtained
Are there cultural considerations, e.g.
Marae protocol, specimens not to be Yes No N/A
collected if rahui is in place?
Accommodation Name
contact person Mobile
Office Phone
Travel arrangements
UC vehicles Yes No N/A
Vehicles used for transport Rental vehicles Yes No N/A
Private vehicles Yes No N/A
Car Rental Company (if applicable)
Vehicle Details (of private vehicles only) Vehicle 1 Vehicle 2 Vehicle 3 Vehicle 4 Vehicle 5
Make
Model
Year
Colour
Current Registration

Current WOF

Vehicle First Aid Kit

Chains
Have all requirements for transportation
of hazardous goods been considered? Yes No N/A
See Land Transport for guidance.
Expected road conditions
Contingency plan for adverse conditions,
e.g. weather, rockfall
Catering arrangements, e.g. self-catered
No. of days extra emergency food
Do your participants have any special
Yes No N/A
requirements with regards to food or
If medical/allergy related, list in participant health list above.
medical requirements?
If yes, have these people been
Yes No N/A
appropriately catered for?
Are you carrying drinking water, purifier
or have access to it during the trip?
Please specify

Page 10 of 14 Date issued: 1-Sep-19

Satellite Phone / UC Mobile Phone Yes No Number
Personal Locator Beacon Yes No Serial Number
Mountain Radio Yes No N/A
Emergency Shelter Yes No N/A If yes, describe.
Wet weather gear and thermal clothing
Yes No N/A
requirements
Any other personal protective clothing
and equipment
Name(s) of qualified/experienced person
accompanying the group
Mandatory certificates, licences and
training are current, e.g. Firearms
Yes No N/A
Licence, First Aid Certificate, Driver
Licence
Overseas travel. See University Travel Yes No N/A
website for guidance.
(Provide the destination, visa and vaccination
requirements, travel insurance, and security
arrangements for risk destinations. Attach the
travel itinerary to this plan)

Safety Equipment List

(complete for safety equipment taken, ensure equipment is maintained and relevant training is received)
Type of Equipment Checked/Maintained Quantity Serial Number (if relevant)

Page 11 of 14 Date issued: 1-Sep-19

Hazard Risk Assessment and Management

Use this form for hazard assessment of short term work or activity.

Work/Activity Details /Risk Assessment

Type of work or activity : Location BEIMS No.
(if applicable)

Risk assessment Date: Time:

conducted by:

Hazard Consequence If Hazard Likelihood Consequenc Risk Rating Controls Residual Risk Rating Hazard
(An actual or potential source of Not Controlled (L value) e (L x C) (i.e. Eliminate, Substitute, (The remaining level of risk Eliminated
harm, including behaviour) (i.e. Injury, Illness, Incident, (C value) Guarding, Training, after controls have been or Minimised
Property Damage, etc) Administrative, PPE) implemented) (E or M)

Person in Control of Work/Activity …………………………………………………………………… Name ……………………………………………………………………

Position …………………………………………………………………… Position ……………………………………………………………………

Signature …………………………………………………………………… Date ……………… Signature …………………………………………………………………… Date ………………

Human Resources – hs_chk07 Page 12 of 14 Date issued: 3-Oct-16

 Hazards not eliminated on completion of work must be recorded on Hazard Register

How to use this form:

1. List all the known or potential hazards associated with the proposed activity.
Identify the potential consequences if the hazard(s) are not controlled.
Consider the likelihood of it occurring and the consequence rating if it did occur. Hazard Control Key:
Use the Risk Rating Matrix below to rate the hazard risk.
E = Eliminate the Hazard
Identify suitable control options for the hazard that will reduce the risk levels.
Use the Risk Rating Matrix to calculate the residual risk. M= Minimise the likelihood the hazard will cause harm
Record the residual risk rating score against the hazard.
Determine if the controls eliminate or minimise the hazard.

Human Resources – hs_chk07 Page 13 of 14 Date issued: 3-Oct-16

 Risk Rating Matrix
Risk Matrix
Result Minor (1) Moderate (2) Severe (3) Major (4) Catastrophic (
Likelihood (first aid only) (Notifiable Event) (permanent 5)
disabling injury)
(Loss of life, > $1m
costs)

Rare (1) Low (1) Low (2) Low (3) Low (4) Medium (5)
Unlikely (2) Low (2) Low (4) Medium (6) Medium (8) High (10)
Moderate (3) Low (3) Medium (6) Medium (9) High (12) High (15)
Likely (4) Low (4) Medium (8) High (12) High (16) Critical (20)
Almost certain (5) Medium (5) High (10) High (15) Critical (20) Critical (25)
Risk Categories
Critical & High Risk treatment strategies to be approved by Supervisor/Manager.
Medium Risk treatment strategies to be implemented by Person in Control of
Work/Activity and any specialist support as required. Strategies to be
approved by persons with specialist knowledge or experience.
Low Risk acceptable – to be managed under normal control procedures (e.g.
planning, training, information, supervisor and review).
Risk: the chance of something happening that will impact on your work.
Residual Risk: The levels of risk remaining after all control measures have been implemented.

Human Resources – hs_chk07 Page 14 of 14 Date issued: 3-Oct-16