Onboarding

Welcome to our team! Below is a list of activities to complete in your first few weeks at UniSC to ensure you hit the ground running.

To-do list

Tip

For HDR students (i.e., masters and PhDs:
- Check the MY HDR tab on UniSC student portal for all information and instructions relating to milestones and requirements, candidate support, domestic/international travel, fieldwork and labwork, important HDR contacts and info on the Graduate Research School.
- The Graduate Research Development Program offers a range of options to develop your skills to help you undertake your higher degree by research and become graduate job-ready. Whilst the GRDP is offered on an “opt in” basis, you are strongly encouraged to take time to audit your skills, and identify and participate in development opportunities that will support your success.

  • Create a Github account, and ask Kylie to add you to the team’s shared repo. This is our primary method for sharing and archiving R code.
  • Ask someone to be added to the Lab’s Slack workspace. This is our main method of communication. Ensure you join all available channels (i.e., not just the defaults) by clicking Channels -> Manage -> Browse Channels.
  • Ask Kylie to be added to the team Google Drive. All shared materials from our group (i.e., conference presentations/posters, confirmation proposals, theses, manuscripts etc.) are available here.
  • Get your Student ID card through UniSC Student Central (ground floor, C Block, Sippy Downs campus). You’ll need this to get discounted lunches at the Brassarie!
  • If a full-time HDR student, you can request a HDR desk in one of the study spaces. Most of the marine science students at UniSC Sippy Downs are based in the HDR room in Building H1.2 and H1.1. Email the Academic Support Unit (asure@usc.edu.au) to set that up. Part-time HDRs and honours students have the option of using any of the hotdesks available in Building H1.
  • Apply for a HDR support grant. The HDR Support Grant provides funds to each HDR Candidate to assist with some of the costs of doing research. There are also equivalent schemes for Honours and SRP students. Talk to Kylie for more information.
  • If not already a member, ask Kylie to be added to the UniSC Animal Ecology Seminar Series email list. Seminars occur monthly, and spotlight researchers within the ecology/environmental science domains at UniSC. Let Kylie know if you’re ever keen to present. There is also a student-run Animal Ecology Facebook group via this link.
  • Join the UniSC Postgraduate Student Association (PSA). The PSA represents the postgraduate student voice, and hold monthly meetings. To get in touch with the PSA with ideas and opportunities, email psa@usc.edu.au.
  • Depending how you choose to travel to campus, you might want to purchase a parking permit. UniSC Sunshine Coast is a regulated parking area Monday–Friday, 8am–6pm all year (excluding public holidays). All other times are free. You can either pay daily ($3 for 4 hours, or $5 a day) at a ticketless parking meter, or buy a 6 month or 12 month permit here. Free parking is also available at Claymore Road, opposite Chancellor State College (~15 minute walk).
  • Set up a Google Scholar profile and ORCID ID. You’ll need these for when you start publishing your work (if you haven’t already!)
  • Request storage space on UniSC’s R Drive. Whilst most of us don’t use R Drive for day-to-day operations, it’s handy to have as (i) a backup location for important files, and (ii) a secure space for storing commercial in-confidence/confidential data (if your project requires it). See the Welcome to UniSC page for more information.