PhD Research Proposal
The boxes will expand as you type. Keep the document to around 10-12 pages. When
completed please send to Bettina Jensen: bettinaj@hum.aau.dk
Please separately attach a brief CV.
Name:
Current affiliation:
Correspondence (including Email):
Title of project:
1. Description of the Project
a) Purpose and Aim (include Research Questions):
b) Background context and motivation for the proposed study:
c) Relevant Literature (be selective and elaborate those which directly bear upon the
proposed study):
d) Theoretical approach underpinning the study:
e) Methodological approach (use subheadings such as sample participants; data collection
instruments; research ethics; analytical framework):
f) List of relevant literature:
2. Time Schedule
Provide a tentative time schedule of your proposed PhD study (3 years full time/ 4-5 years
part time; in case of part-time indicate how much time on annual basis you will spend in
Aalborg).
3. Supervision
State your tentative needs for supervision (physical meetings, email communication, skype,
etc.).
4. PhD Courses
List credit bearing courses you already have completed or plan to undertake during your
PhD enrolment.
5. Participation in active research environments
Indicate a tentative plan for participation in active research environments, including
seminars, workshops. For instance, the following may be of relevance (DIHM Research
Forum; DIHM Summer School; DIHM Publishing Workshop; DIHM Healthcare Hub – visit
www.dihm.aau.dk for details).
6. Knowledge dissemination
Outline how you plan to publish and disseminate your research findings.
7. Finances
Clearly state how you wish to financially support your study.
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Point no. 2 – Time Schedule: the example below is indicative of 4 years part time
(This section to be removed before submission)
1st period. Six months (XX.XX.XXXX – XX.XX.XXXX)
Activities planned for this period:
 Writing final Ph.D.-plan.
 Courses:
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1. Doctoral workshop in Organizational and Professional discourse: Theories and Methods (5 days, 5
ECTS)
2. First DIHM Summer School: Analysing communication in healthcare settings (3 days, 3 ECTS)
3. Academic Writing in English (4 non-consecutive days, 3 ECTS)
4. Health Scientific Searching and Publishing (2 days, 1,6 ECTS)
5. Workshop on Publishing in International Journals (3 days, 2 ECTS)
Fieldwork:
1. Gaining access and making appointments with the hospital wards, clinics and general
practitioners.
2. Gaining access to patients through patient-organisation for individual interviews.
Reading literature.
Applications for funding.
2nd period. Six months (XX.XX.XXXX – XX.XX.XXXX)
Activities planned for this period:
 Half-year evaluation before XX.XX.XXXX (yearly since I am a part-time student)
 Courses.
1. Planning 1-2 doctoral workshops eq. 5-8 ECTS
 Fieldwork:
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1. Interviews with patients to get an idea of the patients’ perspective.
2. Gaining access and preparing fieldwork at hospital ward, clinic and general practitioner.
Writing:
Systematic Review of the Literature. (First publication)
Reading literature.
Applications for funding.
3rd period. Twelve months (XX.XX.XXXX – XX.XX.XXXX)
Activities planned for this period:
 Half-year evaluation before XX.XX.XXXX
 Courses: 2-4 doctoral workshops (8-12 ECTS)
 Reading literature.
 Fieldwork: Audio recordings of clinical encounters, fieldwork and interviews at hospital ward,
clinic and general practitioner.
 Writing:
1. Transcribing and analysing audio recordings, interviews and field notes.
2. Presentation of preliminary results at Comet Conference.
3. Methodological article. (Second publication)
 Participation in international conference: Comet Conference on Communication, Medicine and
Ethics. 2016 in Aalborg.
 Applications for funding.
4th period. Six months (XX.XX.XXXX – XX.XX.XXXX)
Activities planned for this period:
 Courses: 1-2 doctoral workshops (5-8 ECTS)
 Participation in international conference if possible
 Writing:
1. Analysing audio recordings.
2. Analysing interviews and fieldwork
3. Writing articles based on findings in audio recordings. (Third publication).
 Applications for funding.
5th period. Six months (XX.XX.XXXX – XX.XX.XXXX)
Activities planned for this period:
 Half-year evaluation before XX.XX.XXXX
 Participation in international conference.
 Writing:
1. Analysing audio recordings, interviews and fieldwork.
2. Writing article based on findings in audio recordings and interviews. (Fourth publication).
3. Writing framing summary article for the Ph.D.-thesis
 Applications for funding
6th period. Twelve months (XX.XX.XXXX – XX.XX.XXXX)
 Activities planned for this period: Half-year evaluation before XX.XX.XXXX
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Participation in international conference.
Writing:
1. Finishing Ph.D.-thesis
Pre-defence (mm.yy)
Submission of PhD-thesis and Ph.D.-defence (before mm.yy)