====== Research Planning ======

At the beginning of any research, there are always questions addressing something unknown - properties, underlying mechanism, functionalities, possibilities etc. Hence, the research planning at MCh starts by asking these questions - each PhD student will define with JMS three RQs that will become the main pillars of their future work.

Once formulated, it is up to the PhD to properly describe these RQs, and come up with possible ways that would lead to answering them. This is done by describing each RQ and the means to answer it in a written form consisting of less than 250 words. Once done, such descriptions ("RQ.doc") need to be saved in [[https://rwth-aachen.sciebo.de/login|sciebo]] in RQs folder corresponding to the PhD student. The manuscript file name syntax is to be used for names of these files to allow easy orientation. Of course, these descriptions are not set in stone - they will be refined over time taking new knowledge from the PhD and their colleagues into account. The PhD student needs to make sure their RQs description is always up-to-date.

RQs being the main pillars of the PhD's work, they always need to be at the beginning of all internal research presentations - after all, answering them is your main task during your stay at MCh. Besides this, each manuscript compiled by the PhD has to have the corresponding RQ - which is being answered by the content of the manuscript - put at the very first page.

Since the plans tend to evolve not necessarily within the expected boundaries, the following ensures any derailed plans are put back on tracks:
  * at least one planning meeting per year (1-on-1 format with JMS)
  * at least one meeting with an external advisor per year (all PhD students have an external advisor)

For the meetings, use the MCh presentation template. Additionally, update your RQ file at least 14 days prior to the planning meeting and bring it with you.

<WRAP round info center>
Quick summary:
  - PhD and JMS define three RQs
  - each RQ and how PhD plans to find answer to it is described in less than 250 words
  - PhD saves RQ.doc in [[https://rwth-aachen.sciebo.de/login|sciebo]] in their respective RQs folder using manuscript file name syntax
  - all internal presentations start with RQs
  - the first page of a manuscript contains the corresponding RQ
</WRAP>

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