English

If sufficient demand

To provide PhD students with knowledge and understanding of how to write a PhD thesis within a multi-disciplinary subject area. The course is provided under the auspices of the MSB funded project CRITFLOW - Critical flows and supply chains under threat in transformation. The project covers multiple areas including governance, critical infrastructure, risk/resilience management, and supply chain risk management/ humanitarian/disaster relief logistics. The aim of the course is to provide students with examples of research within each of the three fields (political science, critical infrastructure, and logistics) to enhance cross-discipline understanding. Furthermore, the course aims to provide students with understanding of the differences regarding conducting a PhD thesis within the fields.

The course is based on an introductory lecture (formal requirements/traditional formats in the three involved institutions regarding a PhD thesis and the implications of doing ‘mixed-methods’/multidisciplinary/convergence research) and a seminar series that will include the following: (i) frameworks for reviewing research: how to review/oppose/discuss a PhD thesis; held by the supervisors (ii) in-depth review of one PhD thesis per student within their field of study who will present to the others and the seminar-leader, and (iii) prepare for discussion and write a reflection on two additional PhD theses presented by another student. Three relevant PhD theses, one from each of the three areas of political science, critical infrastructures, and logistics will be selected and used as study material.

understand and be able to reflect upon the requirements of a PhD thesis within their specific field - political science, critical infrastructure, logistics - and how disciplines compare on specific elements in structure and content.
demonstrate improved ability to reflect on multi-disciplinary and convergence research.
demonstrate increased knowledge about research methodologies and methods outside their own specific field of knowledge.

be able to review and discuss research in terms of strengths and weaknesses of a large research project documented as a PhD thesis.

be able to critically evaluate PhD theses and be able to present their findings both orally in group and in written format.

Lectures

Seminars

Digital if necessary. Four ‘meetings’

Written report

Written assignments

Seminars given by participants

Failed, pass

PhD-students doing cross-disciplinary research connected to supply chains or critical infrastructures.

 

• 3-4 articles on interdisciplinary/mixed methods/convergence research
• 1-2 seminal and relevant articles from each of the three fields of political science, critical infrastructure, logistics
• 3 selected PhD theses, one from each field.

MTT060F

2021-04-14

Margareta Sandahl