TIL Scientific Assignment

This course gives the student the opportunity to conduct and participate in a concrete scientific research project in the field of Transport, Infrastructures and Logistics (TIL). Students will experience what it is to perform socially, industrially, and/or environmentally relevant TIL research within an academic setting.

A student will complete a 'mini' project dedicated to a scientific topic with all typical project stages including: problem definition, definition of research questions, problem analysis, research set-up en time plan, working out of the research plan, evaluating results and eventually coming to findings and recommendations. Literature research and, when appropriate, (small scale) empirical research, model development, case study, and analysis will be part of the approach.

Writing a draft scientific paper as well as writing a process report are essential parts of this course. A scientific researcher (PhD, researcher, professor) will supervise the student.

The mini projects either:

- relate to ongoing PhD research, research by a senior scientific

staff member: here, the student works only with the PhD or senior

scientific staff member active on the ongoing research project;

or

- fall within the scope of a coherent research program defined in

relation with external partners within the domain of Transport,

Infrastructure, and Logistics. In this case, the student will also

interact with other students working on related research questions

of the research programme and a program coordinator.

The assessment is based on two products:

- process report, including a self-evaluation

- (concept) scientific (conference or journal) paper

The products will be reviewed and assessed by the scientific researcher and the course coordinator.

Both products need to be sufficient in order to pass the course. The assessment is based on two products and the work process:

- process report, including a self-evaluation

- (concept) scientific (conference or journal) paper

The performance will be assessed on basis of the criteria: 'Focus and initiative', 'Method/Approach', 'Analysis', 'Argumentation', 'Reference list', 'Feedback process (including self-evaluation)', 'Inventiveness', 'English', 'Time (incl. timescheduling and updates thereof)' and the 'General presentation'. These criterions have an equal weight. On basis of the criterion scores, the overall mark is set.

Permitted Materials during Exam

Not applicable.