At the Motor Learning and Neurorehabilitation Lab, you have access to many resources, including equipment and the knowledge of a multidisciplinary group of passionate researchers :)
This guide will provide tips that can help you reach your final defense at the top of your comfort level (i.e., what should you do? When and why do you contact your supervisors? Your budget for experiments, rules about accessing the lab, using the equipment, borrowing utensils, using 3d printers, etc.).
If you need help or support with your project (i.e., ethical application, difficulties with programming or statistical analysis, experimental design, etc.), please ask your peers first - use the SLACK CHANNEL (this channel is accessible only for MSc students).
If you need additional help or support, please contact the staff.
Robot page(what are the robots in the lab + pictures)
!!! WORKING IN PROGRESS !!!
Information on the rules of the Lab (Lab room number, How to get access to the lab with your campus card?, Scheduling experiments and booking lab + equipment, What to do when you need to borrow a robot/VR headset/utensiles?, etc.)
You are the leader of your own project, so own it!
Have a critical mindset: carefully review your supervisors' suggestions - your supervisors are humans too!
Be a good lab citizen! (i.e., proactive attitude during meetings, helping out your peers, cleaning up the lab after use, good communication, etc.)
Be self-sufficient: try to solve your problems by yourself > ask your peers for help (i.e., peer reviews, coding) > contact your daily supervisor(s).
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Communication and Meetings
You are responsible for arranging meetings and sending reminders: use Outlook and its scheduling assistant function before sending an invite to a meeting - always send an invite!
We recommend you schedule regular meetings with your supervisory team together.
Be prepared and prepare your supervisors for any meetings (e.g., research protocols, meeting agenda, minutes of the sessions, questions to ask, etc.)
Discuss communication protocol/channels with your supervisors, e.g., how and when they can be contacted.
Participate in the mandatory meetings (e.g., Pulse, MSc meetings, etc.)
Give feedback to your supervisors, including on the content of the project or mentoring style.
Approach your project with a realistic timeline perspective: engage in discussions with your supervisors to align expectations effectively and set priorities and goals.
Be prepared to defend your decisions: ensure a comprehensive understanding of your rationale and show supporting evidence - this is in preparation for your defense.
If you have any conflicts with your supervising team, discuss these with other members of your supervision team, other lab members, department/program advisors, or, if necessary, the confidential advisor - feel free to talk with whoever you feel more comfortable with!
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Research skills
Set and agree to deadlines/timelines with your supervisors (be aware the project's schedule will change across the months).
When having medical issues, talk to your supervisors: they will be understanding and can help adjust the timeline
Set up data management (Data Guidelines) at the beginning of your project; for example, request drive access and share ownership with supervisors.
Manage your budget - Depending on the department, you can have up to 200 euros.
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Daily supervisor(s)
Has regular progress meetings (every 1-2 weeks) with you to discuss the small problems you face.
Gives feedback about your progress and personal development.
Guides you through the process and is the first supervisor you should go to with problems/questions.
Advises on the scientific and technical aspects of the project: helps you shape your research project outlines, and has information on tools and resources (i.e., protocol, workshop, people/companies, website, etc.).
Advocates for you in meetings with other committee members who do not know your work/effort well; therefore, be very open with your daily supervisor (i.e., grades, delays, medical concerns, mental health and well-being, vacations, job prospects after the master, etc.)
Discuss and share documents for IP transfer, data sharing, and non-disclosure agreement (ONLY FOR THOSE WHO WORK ON FUNDED PROJECTS)
Guides you in preparing the documentation for the TU Delft Ethical Committee (HREC).
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Main supervisor
For example, Laura Marchal-Crespo
S/he is responsible for administrative tasks (forms for graduation, signatures, finding a committee, etc.)
S/he needs to approve everything: research proposal, research questions, literature study, experimental protocol, pilot study, greenlight, and defense, budget.
S/he is very busy: you need to be well-prepared during meetings and be efficient in communication.
S/he will attend all milestone meetings: literature kick-off, project kick-off, mid-term, green light, and defense (see Master's Project Cycle). Important: the defense occurs 4 weeks after the green light approval. These vary by department as well.
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External supervisor(s)
They can play an additional role by giving new perspectives and feedback to your project
They can be from other departments, faculties, and Institutions.