PhD in Geosciences

The course will facilitate the understanding of research planning and development, while enhancing the PhD student skills for reading, interpreting, writing and presenting his/her scientific and technical ideas to the peer community. The course will also deliver theory and examples of a variety of research methods and ethical principles associated to them.

Course learning outcomes
1. Identify the core responsible conduct of research topic areas.
2. Recognize the roles of professional ethics, integrity, responsibility and accountability.
3. Understand research profile.
4. Demonstrate effective scientific communication oration skills.
5. Understand how to conduct mentorship and collaboration with integrity.

This course will provide PhD students with advanced knowledge about the geology and natural resources of Central Asia, as well as emerging prospects. The course comprises a series of modules taught by all geoscience instructors and includes topics related to their ongoing research in the region, which allows students to get familiar with potential supervisors and areas of interest. The range of topics includes geodynamic evolution, plate tectonics, evolution of sedimentary basins and their resources, structural and stratigraphic controls on oil and mineral occurences, Geology of Ophiolite belts of Central Asia and related ore deposits; Geology and Distribution of Rare Earth Element and Li Deposits in Kazakhstan; Formation and Distribution of Skarn Deposits in Kazakhstan; Subduction-related porphyry deposits in Central Asian Metallogenic Belts (CAMB); Felsic magmatism and related mineralization in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB); Natural Hydrogen Potential, Geology and exploration of gold deposits; Rare earth elements in non-traditional deposits such as coal, Geospatial and space earth observation applications for petroleum and mining industry, Water Resource Systems, and Environmental Change in Central Asia  including a GIS and Remote Sensing Perspective, Petroleum and Geothermal Systems, and Sedimentary Hosted Mineral Systems (Uranium, Copper, Lithium Brines).

Course learning outcomes
1. Actively engage in broader scientific discussions beyond the field of their thesis topic specialization.
2. Apply cross-disciplinary skills in new geological settings.
3. Interpret the interdependence of geological processes and the occurrence of natural resources.

This course will help PhD students to become more familiar with the iterature of the research direction and the research topic they chose for their PhD thesis. Main outcomes in the field, research methodology, and gaps in the literature will be studied and analyzed by each PhD student. This course will help students to prepare their research proposal. Each student will work under the supervision of an expert faculty member in the research area of the student. At the end of the course, a report will be submitted by the student to the corresponding faculty.

Course learning outcomes
1. Evaluate and critique existing research sources and materials in their field;
2. Construct a coherent literature review organized in themes and appropriate sub-topics;
3. Articulate a clear and focused research question;
4. Present a well-argued rationale for the selection of a particular methodology and combination of methods.

The Thesis Research course fulfills the requirement for continuous registration and is designed to support the student to take ownership of her/his research progress. A research plan is developed by the student in collaboration with the Program Advisor or Research Supervisor at the start of the semester outlining the research goals to be accomplished. At the end of the semester the student files a research report which is graded (IPS/IPU) by the Program Advisor or Research Mentor (when selected). The “in-progress” grade is submitted and maintained on the student’s transcript; credit is awarded on successful completion of thesis requirements. The research reports and Advisor/Supervisor comments are maintained on file by the School to serve as a permanent record of research progress. The provided student workload represents an approximate number of hours that students are expected to spend on their research during one semester. It is expected that throughout their studies students spend approximately 4500 -5400 hours on completing their thesis research.

Course learning outcomes
1. Discover and pursue a unique topic of research in order to construct new knowledge.
2. Design and conduct an original research project.
3. Develop skills in designing a discipline specific research methodology.
4. Develop a working knowledge of relevant literature in the thesis discipline.
5. Practice academic writing appropriate to the discipline and learn how to participate in the peer review process.
6. Plan research activities.
7. Prepare accurate research progress report
8. Discuss research and other topics with academics in the thesis discipline.

This course will present the fundamentals and applications in the Geosciences of the different analytical techniques used for minerals, rocks, and geological fluids (including natural waters, gases, as well as petroleum fluids):
• electron microscopy (SEM and TEM);
• electron microprobe;
• X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence;
• ICP-MS and ICP-AES;
• ion chromatography and gas chromatography – mass spectrometry;
• Rock-Eval pyrolysis;
• fluid inclusion analyses

Course learning outcomes
1. Explain the physical/chemical principles behind the different analytical techniques.
2. Compare the capabilities and limitations of each analytical method.
3. Design the analytical workflows involving sampling strategy, separation, and preservation; Implement quality control (QC) protocols (control charts, drift correction) and quantify uncertainty and propagation of error.
4. Operate core instruments safely and effectively.