Doctor of Philosophy in Life Sciences

Purpose

The purpose of the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) qualification in Life Sciences is to empower learners with the necessary skills that will enable them to identify, conceptualise, design and implement research projects which address complex and challenging problems within Life Sciences. Furthermore the PhD will enable learners to either develop or propose solutions through models or theoretical amendments to current Life Sciences-related problems so as to improve economic and social well-being.

The purpose of the PhD is to develop learners to be able to

• Demonstrate expertise and critical knowledge in an area related to the Life Sciences discipline.
• Demonstrate an ability to contribute to scholarly debates around theories of knowledge within specialisations of Life Sciences.
• Demonstrate an ability to develop new methods, techniques, processes, system or technologies that address a particular research area in the Life Sciences.
• Demonstrate an ability to apply specialist knowledge and theory in critically reflective, creative and novel ways to address complex practical and theoretical problems.
• Demonstrate an ability to identify, address and manage emerging ethical issues and to advance processes of ethical decision-making, including monitoring and evaluation of the consequences of these decisions where appropriate.
• Demonstrate the ability to make independent judgments about management of information or data in an iterative process of analysis and synthesis for the development of significant original insights into new complex and abstract ideas or issues within the Life Sciences.
• Demonstrate an ability to produce substantial, independent, in-depth and publishable work which meets international standards.
• Demonstrate an understanding of theoretical underpinnings in the management of complex systems.
• Demonstrate intellectual independence, research leadership and management of research and research development in the Life Sciences discipline.
• Demonstrate an ability to operate independently and take full responsibility for his or her work and, where appropriate, to lead, oversee and be held ultimately accountable for the overall governance of processes and systems.

This qualification, which consists of a research proposal and a research project, aims to contribute to Life Sciences by developing researchers who can apply specialised research knowledge and skills in order to enhance an understanding of important features of animals and plants and to contribute not only to the health and well being of plants and animals but also to their interaction with the environment.

Rationale

Specialised training within subject areas such as Life Sciences contributes towards the improvement of the health and the environment of individuals in both rural and urban areas. This is particularly important in South Africa where individuals and their natural environments are threatened by diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Malaria as well as the impacts of climate changes such as global warming and, desertification on large-scale industrial and urban development.

This situation is further exacerbated by a lack of awareness and knowledge of the potential capacity of medically active compounds in plants to improve human and animal health. Therefore there is a need to develop highly skilled life scientists to ensure the relevance of the discipline in addressing life science and health sector development. Further research is needed on novel research areas which are described as generically the "omics". Such life scientists focus on macromolecules such as Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and proteins associated with the maintenance of normal cell activity. Therefore when such areas are fully exploited, with training and research human and social well-being can be promoted.

Currently some of the above-mentioned needs are being addressed by government and non-governmental institutions such as the Medical Research Council (MRC), South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), National Research Foundation (NRF), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), tertiary educational institutions and a variety of private organisations such as biotechnology companies. However, additional researchers are required to meet the growing needs of these organisations as the NRF has identified skills and knowledge in life sciences as requirements for human capacity development, in order to facilitate the creation of knowledge, innovation and technology, including indigenous knowledge systems. The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Life Sciences will contribute to address these challenges by producing researchers that can use a wide range of specialised skills in identifying, conceptualising, designing and implementing research projects which address complex and challenging problems within the Life Sciences. Thus this qualification will develop both their research skills and their specialist knowledge in these fields.

The qualification aims to contribute to Life Sciences by developing researchers who can apply specialised research knowledge and skills in order to enhance an understanding of the basic subject areas in the Life Sciences such as botany, zoology, biochemistry, microbiology, physiology and its allied fields such as biotechnology and medical diagnostics.

The PhD in Life Sciences will be accessible to learners who have completed Master of Science (MSc) in Life Sciences and related fields; or appropriate Research Masters Degree qualification at NQF Level 9. Graduates can be employed as senior life scientists, managers, consultants and lecturers in various fields of research, education, extension and management in public and private enterprises. These graduates will be able to apply their knowledge in practical as well as in applied life science management, research initiatives and in community services to solve health and life science problems. They will also work together with local communities, as part of national and international health and life science related initiatives.

Thus, the PhD in Life Sciences has ultimately the potential to play a role in promoting the general social well-being.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Learners may be admitted if they, through a Recognition of Prior Learning process, can show that they have the requisite level of knowledge and skills. Learners who are judged to have an insufficient grounding in research skills may be required to complete one or more research-related modules. The RPL process will be conducted according to the Institution's RPL policy.

Entry Requirements

The minimum requirement for admission into the Doctoral Degree in the field of Life Sciences is a Master of Science in Life Sciences Degree and related fields; or an appropriate Research Master's Degree. In addition, eligible learners must have attained a minimum pass rate of 60% and above in the Research Masters Degree of the area of specialisation.

Learners who are assessed to have an insufficient grounding in research skills may be required to complete one or more research-related modules.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Life Sciences consists of 2 Compulsory Modules: 1 Fundamental Module at NQF Level 10 and 1 Core Module at NQF Level 10 totalling 360 Credits:

• Research Proposal, 24 Credits, at NQF Level 10.
• Research Thesis, 336 Credits, at NQF Level 10.

1. Demonstration of an understanding that the biological and material world is a complex set of related systems and that problem solving contexts do not exist in isolation and is dependent upon a fundamental knowledge of the different biological sciences.
2. Demonstration of sensitivity to area related environmental and social issues as well as an approach towards applying science to the advantage of mankind.
3. Conduct a defined advanced research project to a logical conclusion and to communicate the basic scientific facts and truths efficiently.
4. Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information related to the specific field of research and use this information in his/her studies.

• Expertise and critical knowledge in an area related to the Life Sciences discipline is demonstrated.
• An ability to contribute to scholarly debates around theories of knowledge within specialisations of Life Sciences is demonstrated.
• New methods, techniques, processes, system or technologies that address a particular research area in the Life Sciences are developed.
• Specialist knowledge and theory in critically reflective, creative and novel ways to address complex practical and theoretical problems are applied.
• Emerging ethical issues are identified, addressed and managed to advance processes of ethical decision-making, including monitoring and evaluation of the consequences of these decisions where appropriate.
• The ability to make independent judgments about management of information or data in an iterative process of analysis and synthesis for the development of significant original insights into new complex and abstract ideas or issues within the Life Sciences is demonstrated.
• Substantial, independent, in-depth and publishable work which meets international standards is produced.
• An understanding of theoretical underpinnings in the management of complex systems is demonstrated.
• Intellectual independence, research leadership and management of research and research development in the Life Sciences discipline are demonstrated.
• An ability to operate independently and take full responsibility for own work and, where appropriate, to lead, oversee and be held ultimately accountable for the overall governance of processes and systems is demonstrated.

Integrated Assessment

A completed research proposal serves as the summative assessment for the research proposal module while the completed thesis is the final assessment of the qualification.