Resources for current HDR students

The ECMS Support Team for your school will help you navigate your way around the university and faculty’s services, systems and processes during your research studies. 

General support

The School Administration Officer for your area will be your main point of contact for any general administrative matters related to your area or workstation.  Our Administration Officers are a wealth of knowledge and will be able to advise you of the most appropriate service/person when you are unsure of where to seek assistance.

ECMS SUPPORT TEAM CONTACTS

Candidature support

Your supervisor
Your supervisor should be your first point of contact regarding any issues related to your research studies.  Their role is to help guide your research and assist you to develop the skills and knowledge that you will need to complete your research project within the time allowed for the degree.

The Research Student Handbook Supervision section outlines the roles of supervisors and postgraduate coordinator in more detail.

Your postgraduate coordinator
After your supervisor, the postgraduate coordinator (PGC) is likely to be your most important source of support. They are responsible for overseeing the work of all HDR students in the school.  The PGC is available to discuss any concerns or problems that you may have with your research, your supervisor(s) or any personal issues that may be affecting your research. 

For your school’s PGC please refer to the list of postgraduate coordinators for the ECMS Faculty.

Director of Graduate Studies for ECMS
If you’re unable to resolve any concerns raised with your supervisor(s) or PGC, we encourage you to contact the Director of Graduate Studies for our faculty who will be able to provide advice.

ECMS Research Development team
The ECMS Research Development team provide our faculty’s HDR students with a range of support services and opportunities, such as:

• training and development
• travel and other scholarships
• industry engagement programs
• networking and events
• help navigating the faculty and university services.

If you’re unsure where to direct your inquiry at any time during your research studies, please contact the ECMS Research Development team.
We are here to help!

There are a few important points that you need to know if you will be arranging university funded travel.

All bookings must be made through the university’s preferred travel management company – FCM Travel Solutions:

• This enables the university to maintain knowledge of the whereabouts of university travellers.
• There are some exceptions to this rule (e.g. booking accommodation as part of a conference package).
• The university does not support the use of AirBnB, however will consider exemptions in exceptional circumstances (e.g. duration of stay).
• An Administration Officer will assist you with your travel arrangements.

All travel arrangement requests are to be sent to ECMS TRAVEL for an Administration Officer to action on your behalf:

• You will need to attach a Notification to Travel Form that has been completed in full and signed by your supervisor. 
• For international travel an approved travel requisition will also be required before any bookings can be made.
• An Administration Officer will organise your travel arrangements once they have received the signed and completed Notification to Travel Form.

ECMS offer travel scholarship opportunities to support HDR students who present study-related research at peer-reviewed conferences, interstate or overseas.

Opportunities will be promoted to all HDR students when applications are open.

SEE ALL ECMS SCHOLARSHIPS HERE

Business cards are not automatically issued to HDR students, however if you need to arrange business cards to be printed, please seek approval and funding from your supervisor. Your School Office Administrator can assist with ordering these once you receive approval. 
 
University Templates
If you are representing the university at events such as conferences, seminars or external meetings and presenting your research, you will need to use up-to-date university branded templates.  

Brand guidelines  Templates and downloads

If you need to purchase items for your research project, there are a few things you need to know.

• The University eProcurement System (ePro) is used to purchase goods and services. Your supervisor can facilitate purchases on your behalf or may request for you to have access in exceptional circumstances. Please discuss your purchasing requirements with your School Business Manager.
• If you need to purchase this urgently with your personal funds, reimbursements can be managed, however you will need to:
  • receive approval from your supervisor or School Business Manager prior to the purchase.
  • present proof of purchase ie. tax receipt.
• Please refer to the University’s Finance & Procurement Services website for more information about university policies, forms and ‘how to’ guides, such as:
  • Purchasing Procedures
  • Reimbursement Procedures
  • Submit a Reimbursement
  • Forms ie. Reimbursement Form, Lost Receipt Declaration 
• Purchases that need to be delivered to campus should be sent to:
  The University of Adelaide – ECMS Store
  Gate 5 via Frome Rd, NG 33, Engineering North Building
  Adelaide SA 5005 
  Store operating times: Mon to Fri – 9am to 12pm 

Finance and Procurement services

Please be mindful of your fellow colleagues when using shared facilities.

• Staff rooms and kitchen areas are not serviced throughout the day, so please ensure to clean up after yourself.
• Workstations must be kept clean and tidy to meet the requirements of the university’s health, safety and wellbeing policy.  
• Phone calls, conversations and meetings with colleagues must be conducted in an area where you will not disturb others.
• Please use the facilities provided for any meal breaks and avoid using the office areas.

Our faculty has an established HDR Student Representative network.

If you haven’t already met the HDR Rep for your school, please introduce yourself! 

If you are a higher degree by research student with a stipend scholarship and have been enrolled in the Faculty for a period of over 12 months full time (or equivalent half-time), you are eligible to apply for support under the ECMS HDR Extended Parental Leave Scheme.

HDR extended parental leave guide

The amount of support varies from case to case depending on individual circumstances and the conditions of your stipend scholarships.  Students must seek advice from the Adelaide Graduate Centre on eligibility requirements prior to submitting an application.

For further information, please also email scholarships@adelaide.edu.au.

The Career and Research Skills Training (CaRST) Program is an opportunity for research students to develop a broad range of knowledge and skills to become a more effective and well-rounded researcher, increase your employability and prepare for careers both in academia and industry.

Throughout your candidature, you will need to discuss your skills, plans and development progress with your supervisor to ensure you gain maximum value from the CaRST program.

more information about carst

ECMS also offers training and development opportunities, facilitated by STEM researchers and industry partners, aimed towards the specific needs of our faculty’s research students.  You will be informed of any upcoming workshops and sessions.  

Any suggestions for specific training that you would like to be considered can be sent to the ECMS Research Development team who oversee the development needs of our faculty’s research students.

Contact the ECMS research development team

The University supports a number of tools that will help you build your researcher identity.

• Researcher Profiles are designed to increase the visibility of you and the valuable work that you undertake. You are strongly encouraged to create a Researcher Profile – click login to begin creating yours. 
• ORCiD is the persistent digital identifier which distinguishes you from every other researcher.

More information about researcher identities

Industry programs and placements offer exceptional opportunities for you to apply and further develop professional skills in your specific field and chosen career. 

Participation in these unique industry engagement programs will provide a strong complement to your academic studies, build skills and expertise and develop a professional network.

Industry engagement opportunities

The university supports students from all disciplines to increase employability, find opportunities and learn career-ready skills to plan for your future. 

All HDR students can access the university’s free online platform called CareerHub.

CareerHub is accessible to students from enrolment up to one year post-graduation from any degree. Here you will find job opportunities, internships and placements, upcoming events, workshops, resources and more.

Careers services