GSA Seminar: Introduction to Postgraduate Research; 14 April

2009

Development of a research
project

Dr Ahmad Tarmizi bin Abd Karim,

Associate Professor,
Faculty of Civil & Environmental Engineering,
Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM)
Parit Raja
 Masters vs PhD (SPS UTM, 2001)
The degree of Master is to The degree of PhD is to be regarded as
be regarded as supervised research training (research
representing an extension apprenticeship). The test of success or
and further development the training is assessed through a thesis
of knowledge beyond which is expected to provide evidence of
the Bachelor’s degree some originality and thereby make some
significant contribution to knowledge at
least some of which might be publishable
later
The Research Master’s The PhD dissertation fulfills 2 major
degree would include purposes:
initial training in „It is an extensive, highly professional
research methodology training experience, the successful
and, as such, can be a completion of which demonstrates the
preparation for the candidate’s ability to address major
successful pursuit to the intellectual problem and arrive at a
PhD successful conclusion independently and
at a high level of professional
competence, and
„Its results constitute an original
contribution to knowledge in the field
 Expectation of the Master & PhD award
Before recommending the
award of the MPhil. (2 yr
course), the examiners
shall satisfy themselves
that the thesis is clearly
written, that it takes due
account of previously
published work on the
subject, and it represents a
contribution to learning
Before recommending the award of
the PhD degree the examiners shall
satisfy themselves that the
dissertation is clearly written, that
it takes due account of previously
published work on the subject, and
that it represents a significant and
substantial contribution of
knowledge, e.g. through the
discovery of new knowledge, the
connection of previously unrelated
facts, the development of new theory,
or the revision of older views.
Examiners are asked to bear in mind
that the subject of a PhD candidate’s
research is approved in the light of
what it is reasonable to expect a
student to complete within three
years full time research
Research Higher Degrees – Getting it Right; University of Queensland,
Australia Model

(6) Success
ful MPhil
/PhD

(5) Right Time (5) Able to devote adequate time

to the research & maintain regular
& effective contact.
(4) Right Place

(3) & (4) Research proposal

developed in collaboration
(3) Right Resources
with potential school and
supervisor
(2) Right Project
(2) Suitability of research
topic & research interest
(1) Right People
(1) Compatible between
candidate &
Before enrolled as a research student supervisor(s)
Characteristics of a successful PhD
students
Successful PhD students tend to:
„ Enjoy learning for learning’s sake
„ Be willing to work very hard for
many years with only a possible
payoff later
„ Be persistent (never give up)
„ Like intellectual challenges
„ Enjoy an academic environment
„ Enjoy scholarly discussions
„ Have excellent command of
undergraduate coursework
„ Be willing to give up some parties
and other pastimes to do research
„ Be willing to live on a tight budget
for many years or have outside
income
Do you have these characteristics?
(The Princeton Review, 2009)
 10 tips for doing your PhD
OK you are a PhD student: What next?
„ Talk to your supervisor(s)

„ Stay focused

„ Start with a plan

„ Be flexible

„ Stay sane while researching

„ Set yourself achievable deadlines

„ Stick to your achievable deadlines

„ Know when to stop

„ Choose tough but friendly examiners 20/7/08

„ Think about the next step

Career development - http://www.jobs.ac.uk

 Research Cycle/Process: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Con-
clusion & Intro-
Opening Up duction
Recommen
dations Sharing
Write up, report, Reflect, read, question,
thesis, publish. stand back; look closely,
resist quick decisions. Focusing in
Identify the question,
hypothesis or focus.
Analysing the data Aim for clarity of terms
Modelling, verifying accuracy,
Result &
Ana-lysis Lit.
Opening up again Rev.
Review the literature. Look Opening up again
at the focus again. Review the literature. Look
at the focus again.

Method- Focusing In
Measuring & Collecting
ology Design the Research Proposal.
the data
Purpose/rationale and aims
Audience.
Question, hypothesis or focus.
Entering Literature review.
Description and justification of
Gaining access to the method.
research site. Means of data collection and
Observing ethical analysis.
protocol. Ethical issues.
Being transparent. Means of dissemination.
 (1) Methodology
Process Raw Physical, chemical & mineral
samples characterization of raw sample

Prepare conta- Mixing NaCl & 0.5% As, Cd, Pb, Cr,
minated samples Cu & Zn oxides to matrix

S & S of contaminated Water-cement = 0.5 & with variable

samples opc & ash ratios

Physical Tests UCS, Absorption & Permeability Tests

Leaching Tests Standard Tests: TCLP, SPLP, ANC,

DLT.
Gerald had begun to think that his
methodology was too detailed.
Raw sample processing & preparation of contaminated samples
 Mass of compound (metal) added to 100g sampel

Metals Mass of Concentra- Normal or Pollutant

metal (g) tion (mg/kg) background ratio
conc.
(mg/kg)
As2O3 0.66678 5000 10 500
CdO 0.57689 5000 0.5 10000
PbO 0.54408 5000 50 100
Cr2O3 0.73816 5000 100 50
CuO 0.64554 5000 30 167
ZnO 0.62874 5000 50 100
NaCl 1.27739 5000 -
Soil 94.9 -
Total 100 -
S & S Experiments
Physical & Leaching Tests
 Results: Leachability of metals wrt pH
Purata Pb Purata Na Purata Cd Purata Cr Purata Zn
Purata Cu Purata As

10000000.00
Na
1000000.00
Kepekatan (ug/L) .

Zn Cd
100000.00
As
10000.00
Cu
1000.00 Cr
Pb
100.00

10.00
1.00 3.00 5.00 7.00 9.00 11.00 13.00

pH

For pH < 5, Na ≈ Cd > Zn ≈ Cu > Pb > As > Cr (very soluble to

insoluble);
pH = 6, Na ≈ Cd > Zn > As > Pb > Cu > Cr
pH = 7, Na > Cd > Zn > As > Cu > Pb > Cr
7 < pH < 10, Na > Cd > As > Cu > Zn > Pb ≈ Cr
pH = 12, Na > Cd > Zn > Pb > As > Cu > Cr
 Empirical Models of Leaching of metals with respect to pH

Metal Model: Regression

log (metals) = α pH3 + β pH 2 +γ coeff.,
pH + δ R2
Cd log (Cd) =8106.1 pH3 – 169884 90.9
pH2 + 796020 pH + 839066
Zn log (Zn) =4635.1 pH3 – 91755 89.1
pH2 + 392716 pH + 497130
As log (As) =936.7 pH3 – 19062 pH2 92.7
+ 84464 pH + 119447
Pb log (Pb) =1652.7 pH3 – 28485 87.1
pH2 + 77888 pH + 391496
Cu log (Cu) =1572 pH3 – 16893 pH2 88.0
- 113975 pH + 1000000
Cr log (Cr) =1.3533 pH3 – 18.97 90.7
pH2 – 49.083 pH + 1036.5
 10 tips for getting through
your viva voce
„ Submit a thesis you are proud of
„ Choose the right examiners (and know their
work)
„ Put down your thesis for as long as possible!

„ Know your argument

„ Realize what you could have done differently

„ Relax the night before

„ Dress to impress

„ Take a copy of your thesis to the viva

„ Relax and enjoy it!

„ Take on board any comments and criticisms

Career development - http://www.jobs.ac.uk

Papers presented:
1. Ab. Aziz bin Abd Latiff, Ahmad Tarmizi bin Abd Karim and Mohd Raihan bin Taha (2003)
“Solidification and Stabilization research: Characteristics of soil used in the research” Proceedings
of the Research Colloquim at KUiTTHO 16-17 April 2003. PPPB, KUiTTHO.
2. Ahmad Tarmizi bin Abd Karim, Mohd Raihan bin Taha and Ab Aziz bin Abd Latiff (2003)
“Variation of pH of Soils Stabilized with Ash and Cement” NARED 2003 Conference, Kuching Hilton,
25-27 September 2003, UNIMAS, NREB (Sarawak) & DOE (Sarawak) (Poster presentation)
3. Ahmad Tarmizi bin Abd Karim and Mohd Raihan bin Taha (2003) “Rawatan Tanah Tercemar
dengan Kaedah Pemejalan dan Penstabilan Menggunakan Abu Kulit Kayu Getah dan Simen
Portland” Prosiding Seminar Siswazah Fakulti Kejuruteraan UKM, 15-16 Oktober 2003, NIOSH
Bangi, Selangor Malaysia.
4. Ahmad Tarmizi bin Abd Karim, Mohd Raihan Taha and Ab Aziz bin Abd Latiff (2004)
“Enhancement of pH of Contaminated Soil Stabilized with Ash and Cement” Proceedings of the 4th
BGA Geoenvironmental Engineering Conference, Stratford upon Avon, England, 28th-30th June
2004.
5. Ahmad Tarmizi bin Abd Karim, Mohd Raihan bin Taha and Ab Aziz bin Abd Latiff (2004) “pH
enhancement and buffering capacity of stabilized residual soil” Proceedings of the Malaysia-Japan
Symposium on Geohazards and Geoenvironmental Engineering: Recent Advances, Universiti
Kebangsaan Malaysia and Kyoto University Dec 13-14, 2004
6. Ahmad Tarmizi bin Abd Karim, Ab. Aziz bin Abd Latiff and Mohd Raihan bin Taha (2005) “The
remediation of lead contaminated soil by the Solidification/stabilization method” Proceedings of the
KUiTTHO Research Seminar 2005, Dewan Tunku Ibrahim KUiTTHO 16-18 Feb. 2005
7. Ahmad Tarmizi bin Abd Karim, Ab Aziz Abd Latiff, Mohd Raihan bin Taha, and Lajakarek Mohd
Amin (2005) “Chromium adsorption in kaolinite and meta sedimentary residual soils” Proceedings
of NACEC2005, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, KUiTTHO, 19-20 Dec. 2005
8. Ahmad Tarmizi bin Abd Karim, Ab Aziz Abd Latiff, and Mohd Raihan bin Taha (2006)
“Solidification of lead contaminated residual soil” Proceedings of the 5th International Congress on
Environmental Geotechnics, 26-30th June 2006, Cardiff, Wales, UK
9. Ahmad Tarmizi bin Abd Karim, Ab Aziz Abd Latiff, and Mohd Raihan bin Taha (2006) “Leaching
behavior of lead, chromium, copper, zinc, arsenic and cadmium in solidified/stabilized
contaminated residual soil” Proceedings of the Brownfield Asia 2006 International Conference, 5-7
Sept 2006, Kuala Lumpur
10. Ahmad Tarmizi bin Abd Karim, Ab Aziz Abd Latiff, and Mohd Raihan bin Taha (2007)
“Leachability of heavy metals from residual soil and cement: a comparison”. The 1st seminar on
Geotechnical Engineering (SGE) 2007: Expanding the frontiers of Geotechnical Engineering.
RECESS and UTHM. 27 Dec 2007
11. Ahmad Tarmizi bin Abd Karim, Ab Aziz Abd Latiff, and Mohd Raihan bin Taha (2008) “Dynamic
“I don’t care what you think”, George said,
“my paper is dynamic and stimulating.”
THANK YOU
Q&A