11  Graduate students

All graduate students are expected to apply for scholarships (e.g., NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR, OGS, or other relevant opportunities). We will determine the most appropriate funding agency for your research together. In the absence of external awards, I will support you through my research grants, provided that you are meeting the expectations of the program and the lab.

Additional details about your graduate program requirements (e.g., supervisory committee, timelines, funding and travel grants, etc.) can be found in the Graduate Student Handbook. It is your responsibility to review and understand the procedures and policies outlined in that document.

11.0.1 M.Sc. students

You have 2 years to complete all required coursework, your M.Sc. research, and produce a well-written thesis document. As an M.Sc. student in this lab, you will complete the following courses:

  • KINESIOL 701 - Statistical Methods in Kinesiology (taught by Dr. Christoforou)
  • KINESIOL 702 - Individual Study in Selected Topics (supervised by me)
  • KINESIOL 736 - Scientific Computing for Reproducible Research (taught by me)
  • One additional course selected in consultation with me, based on your interests and academic goals

This lab adopts a replication-based approach to M.Sc. projects because replication is a cornerstone of credible and cumulative science. Moreover, concerns about the replicability of findings in kinesiology, neuroscience, psychology, and related disciplines have been widely documented. By attempting to reproduce existing findings, you will gain valuable insight into the research process. You will also strengthen your skills in critical evaluation, methodological design, data analysis, and scientific communication. This approach not only aligns with the core research philosophy of the lab, but also with what I consider the key goal of earning an M.Sc. degree: to develop the requisite skills to answer a scientific question in a rigorous and reproducible way.

Your replication study will be designed in a way that makes it suitable for publication regardless of how the results turn out. We will work together to identify a suitable replication topic. This will involve addressing a clearly defined scientific question with a single study that may include multiple experiments (e.g., one replication and one extension) to test a specific hypothesis.

As part of your research project, you will take the lead on programming your experimental task. Our lab is not a “plug and play” environment, meaning custom task programming is required to suit the specific needs of each project. Fortunately, there are many sources of technical support within the lab, including experienced lab members and previously developed task code that you may be able to adapt for your study. You are encouraged to ask for help, collaborate, and build on existing resources as needed.

As a graduate student, you are responsible for seeing your research project through to completion. My role is to provide guidance, critical feedback, suggestions, and encouragement. The more regularly we interact, the more likely you are to stay on track. It is your responsibility to ensure that this happens by maintaining open communication and seeking support when needed.

11.0.2 Ph.D. students

You have 4 years to complete all required coursework, your comprehensive examination, your Ph.D. research, and produce a well-written dissertation document. As a doctoral student in this lab, you will complete the following courses:

  • KINESIOL 713 - Directed Readings in Kinesiology (supervised by me)
  • KINESIOL 730 - Experiential Learning in Kinesiology (supervised by me)
  • KINESIOL 736 - Scientific Computing for Reproducible Research (taught by me)
    • if you completed your M.Sc. at a different institution

We will work together at the start of your doctoral studies to develop a general scientific question that will guide the design of your subsequent studies. A Ph.D. typically involves 3 studies, each of which may include multiple experiments and should be suitable for publication in high-quality, peer-reviewed journals. The overarching question should build on the existing literature and be of clear interest to researchers in sensorimotor neuroscience and related fields.

A Ph.D. is the highest academic qualification one can earn in a discipline. One of its defining goals is that your research makes a theoretical contribution that advances knowledge in the field. This requires not only technical and analytical competence, but also creativity, persistence, and the ability to think critically and independently about complex problems.

As a doctoral student in the lab, you are expected to develop increasing independence in all aspects of the research process. You will take the lead on programming your experimental tasks, identifying appropriate methods, and executing your studies. Our lab is not “plug and play”—most tasks are custom-built—so you will be expected to leverage internal resources, including technical documentation, existing task code, and the expertise of other lab members. You are encouraged to collaborate, seek help when needed, and continuously refine your skills by building on existing tools and feedback.

I am here to support and guide you through this process, but you are responsible for driving your Ph.D. research forward. Over time, your role will evolve: while we may initially work closely to define your research direction, the goal is for you to reach a point where you are generating new ideas, conducting pilot experiments, and bringing me the results of your own exploration. You should not expect me to provide you with fully formed research questions. Instead, you can and should rely on my experience to help you shape, evaluate, and refine your ideas into feasible and impactful projects.

The balance of initiative will shift over the course of your studies. In the early stages, I may play a more active role in project direction. By the midpoint, however, you are expected to be leading the way by proposing new directions, defending their importance, and grounding your ideas in theory, existing literature, and data. I will continue to offer guidance, feedback, and encouragement, but it is your responsibility to ensure that we meet regularly to discuss your ideas and progress.

Some final thoughts to share. You should enjoy the day-to-day process of earning your Ph.D.—reading, thinking, experimenting, troubleshooting, writing—not just the anticipated outcomes such as the title, recognition, or career advancement. If you do not find fulfillment in the work itself, the process will feel much more challenging, and it may be difficult to succeed. Your passion for your research is not only what will sustain you, but also what will lead to meaningful and original contributions to the field.

Although the roadmap to a Ph.D. is well laid out, the journey is rarely without detours. Unexpected challenges, setbacks, and breakthroughs are all part of the process. Learning to navigate these highs and lows is part of what builds resilience as a scholar.