Admission requirements
Bachelor's degree in science
Description
This course is geared toward students at the MSc and PhD levels who want to learn how to successfully manage scientific projects. The course deals with the entire life cycle of a project from initial scientific vision to the operational phase. Course subjects include the formulation of scientific visions and strategies, competitive proposal writing skills, establishing of scientific requirements, collaboration with project managers and engineering teams as well as formal approaches to successfully organizing, planning, and executing a scientific project.
The following topics will be covered in lectures and exercises:
Scientific projects
Scientific vision and strategy
Project definition
Science requirements
Proposal planning and organization
Work breakdown structure
Cost and schedule estimates
Team formation and hiring
Project organization and control
Schedule and time management
Risk management
Communication
Typical project problems
Course objectives
Students will understand the methods of project management and will be able to successfully apply them to scientific projects.
Soft skills
In this course, students will be trained in the following behaviour-oriented skills:
Problem solving (recognizing and analyzing problems, solution-oriented thinking)
Analytical skills (analytical thinking, abstraction, evidence)
Structured thinking (structure, modulated thinking, computational thinking, programming)
Project management (planning, scope, boundaries, result-orientation)
Responsibility (ownership, self-discipline, bear mistakes, accountability)
Motivation (commitment, pro-active attitude, initiative)
Self-regulation (independence, self-esteem, aware of own goals, motives and capacities)
Verbal communication (presenting, speaking, listening)
Written communication (writing skills, reporting, summarizing)
Collaboration (teamwork, group support, loyalty, attendance)
Flexibility (adaptability, dealing with change, teachability, eagerness to learn)
Critical thinking (asking questions, check assumptions)
Creative thinking (resourcefulness, curiosity, thinking out of the box)
Integrity (honesty, moral, ethics, personal values)
Timetable
See Schedules Astronomy master 2017-2018
Mode of instruction
Lectures
Practical classes
Assessment method
Written exam: 60%
Practical classes participation: 20%
Homework assignments: 20%
Retake exams will be oral. Homework assignments and presentations will still count for the final grade.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used to send emails to students. To have access, you need an ULCN account. More information:
Reading list
The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management, Verzuh (4th edition), ISBN 9781118073773 (recommended)
Registration
Via uSis. More information about signing up for your classes can be found here. Exchange and Study Abroad students, please see the Prospective students website for information on how to apply.
Contact information
Lecturer: Prof.dr. C.U. (Christoph) Keller
Assistant: Eleonora Zari
Course website: Project Management for Scientists (will be online at the start of the course)
Remarks
PhD students, postdocs and faculty of Leiden University are welcome to attend.