workshop for Ph.D. students 

• Don't forget to also check the OTM Conferences FAQ/Announcements page for more general issues.

Q : Why would I submit to the OTMA, and not to a workshop that really targets my subject ?

A:

In a workshop you'll get a polite discussion of a few minutes at the end of your presentation - if you"re lucky. At the OTMA, the OTMA faculty spends around fourty (40 !) minutes on you individually with comments on scientific content, presentation skills, writing style and other useful matters.  In addition, there are more general sessions on preparing a PhD and scientific reviewing.

Your academy publication goes in the same volume as the other OTM workshops, so there is no difference there for your citation track record. You also get an credit certificate (ECTS ).

In addition, you can register at a much cheaper rate and you can participate in all OTM events (conferences, workshops, ....) ! So you can  attend that workshop anyhow.

Finally, at the end of the first OTM Academy day, the participants really get to know each other and mostly hang out one with another during the rest of the conference and have fun.

So, why doubt ? :-)

Q : On the OTM website there are two sets of instructions for authors: one for conferences and one for workshops. The OTMA is not listed there. So, which set of instructions does apply to OTMA papers ?

A:

For OTMA papers, use the instructions for workshop papers. Follow this link.

Q: Do I have to submit the additional administrative information together with the abstract ? 

A:

No, it is fine when you provide the additional administrative information at the time when you upload your paper.

Q: Do you have any advice on how to prepare my contribution?

A: 

Consider the following tips and tricks when preparing your:

• oral presentation and poster presentation (made by the OTMA Integrated Communication Chair). And here is a .ppt poster template you can use.
• written paper (made by the OTMA scientific writing expert).

Q: Who is eligible for a reduced PhD subscription rate ?

A:

Only Ph.D. students who present their work during the OTM Academy can enjoy the reduced Ph.D. subscription rate, which gives them access to all OTM conferences and workshops.

Q: How much time is spent per student ?

A:

Each Ph.D. student will dispose of about 20 minutes time for his/her presentation (15 minutes of presentation, 5 minutes of questions from the audience), 20 minutes for scientific discussion and comments by (at least) two accompanying professors, and finally 20 minutes for remarks on the writing and presentation skills (in total 60 minutes)!

Q: Can I earn ECTS credits for my doctoral training programme ?

A:

OTMA gives the opportunity to PhD students to train their writing and presentation skills by addressing three coaching sessions: a paper publication with corresponding presentation, a poster presentation and a review exercise. European universities assign credits (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) for transferable skills, workshops and/or conference contributions with regard to a compulsory doctoral training program. At the back of the OTMA attendance certificate all the OTMA activities are described in detail with the expected amount of time spent by a student.

Please verify at your university how you can benefit from OTMA to obtain your credits. In case your university wants more detailed or additional information, feel free to contact us.

Q: What do you understand by poster: is this the two pages paper to be published in the OTM workshops proceedings ? Is this the usual A0 format print out ? Or both?

A:

In the context of the OTMA, the poster only means the A0 (or other format) print out. No need to prepare and send in a two pages paper as it will not be published in the proceedings. Your OTMA paper is the text that is to be published. Of course, the poster is about the work you describe in your OTMA paper.
You don't have to submit the A0 poster. You simply bring it along to the conference. During the workshop you'll present it and you'll receive comments on it. And usually it will be shown in the main conferences poster exhibition. There, a picture will be taken of the poster. As a picture we intend to integrate it into our 'Hall of Fame PhD student' pages.