Resources for Chemistry Postgraduates
Getting Started
- Borrowing & Renewals: postgraduate entitlements
- Exam papers: access point for online papers.
- Program Documents: access point (Library PIN required).
- Research theses are viewable via DIT's Institutional Repository ARROW.
- Taught postgrad Dissertations are available in hardcopy at the library desk up to 2013. Click here to find your course.
- Taught postgrad e-Dissertations are available in pdf from 2014. See the How to find Online Dissertations Library Guide.
- How to use the Library: full helpguide listing
Literature Reviews
A literature review is part of the introduction to an essay, research report, or thesis. It provides an overview and critical analysis of relevant published scholarly articles, research reports, books, theses etc on the topic or issue to be investigated.
See the Kevin St Library guide Getting started with literature reviews, the textbooks at 808.042 in Bookstack 10 or some of the following links:
The Royal Society of Chemistry has some useful academic writing guides for postgrads:
Databases
Databases for Postgraduates & Researchers
| Journal Citation Reports | Proquest Dissertations & Theses: Worldwide |
| Incites Research Analytics | SCOPUS (impact factors and metrics) |
Subject Databases for Chemistry
| Academic Search Complete | Chemicalize | ChemSpider |
| Knovel Library | PubChem | Royal Society Publishing |
| Standards: IS, EN and ISO | Science Direct | Web of Science |
- See also the full DIT Library database subscription listing.
- To access the fulltext databases outside the DIT network see Off Campus Access
Search Engines
SearchAll/Summon@DIT
What does Search All/ Summon@DIT search? It's is a search engine that provides relevance ranked results from DIT Library's online collections in a one single search. It includes records and citations from DIT Library's catalogue, databases, eJournals, eBooks and theses collections.
Search All/Summon@DIT and Google Scholar search different bodies of scholarly content. There is overlap, but there is content in Summon not in Google Scholar, and vice-versa. Results in Summon are reflective of DIT Library's collections and as a registered DIT Library patron, you have access to most full-text you can find in SearchAll/ Summon.
Google Scholar
Some features unique to Google Scholar:
- Cited by information e.g. “Cited by 43 publications"
- Google Books content
- Set your Google Scholar Preferences to Dublin Institute of Technology Find @DIT to link to DIT subscribed full-text.
- Issues accessing full-text not subscribed to by DIT Library. See Inter Library Loans for more information.
- For more information see the Kevin St Library guide How to use Google Scholar
Science Search Engines
- ScienceResearch
- WorldWideScience
- Zanran (numerical data)
eJournals
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The DIT Library eJournals can be searched by journal title or subject. Search the entire journal collection including hardcopy titles on the Library Catalogue using Journal Title Search. Or use the Kevin St Library guide Finding fulltext journal articles
- To access the eJournals from outside the DIT network you need a current DIT student number and a DIT Library PIN. See the Off Campus Access link.
eBooks 
- See the Library eBooks - most of the chemistry eBook titles are in the Knovel and MyiLibrary sections. Or carry out a specific title search on the Library Catalogue and click on the ebook content links.
Fulltext Options & Other Academic Libraries
- If DIT journal subscriptions do not cover the articles you require you may apply for an Inter Library Loan.
- Alternatively postgraduates may apply for an ALCID and /or a SCONUL card to visit another academic library.
- To search other academic library catalogues for titles not held in DIT Library click here.
Open Access Resources
What is Open Access? 
- Open Access is unrestricted access to publically funded online scholarly information via digital and institutional repositories.
Advantages of Open Access:
- Greater visibility and impact of research
- Increased opportunity for collaboration and innovation via the digital environment
- Easier and faster access to research information than traditional publishing
Information about Open Access:
- Open Access Scholarly informaton Sourcebook (OASIS)
- SPARC Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition
- Open Access Overview
- Types of Open Access
Open Access Science Resources
- BioMedcentral
- BioRXiv Biology PrePrints
- Directory of Open Access Journals
- ePrints
- PLoS
- PubMed Central
- Europe PubMed Central
Institutional Repositories
| Arrow: DIT's theses & publications | RIAN :Irish Research Portal |
| DART-Europe E-Thesis Portal: full text research theses from 276 unis | OpenAire: European Research |
| ROAR : Registry of Open Access Repositories (international) | RSC Chemical Sciences Repository |
Current Awareness & Professional Networking
Journal article/ author aggregator tools help you keep up with research trends and new publications in your subject area. Use one or more to get automated and personalised updates on your topic or key authors:
- Microsoft Academic
- PubChase (biomedical and life sciences)
- ScienceOpen
- Sparrho (science)
- JournalTOCs
- CiteUlike
- Use Feedly (website or app) to save, download or bookmark favourite urls and pdfs)
- ORCID
- Researcher ID (Access via Web of Science, DIT Library Databases)
- ResearchGate
- Figshare
Research Metrics & Impact Factors
Amongst the most commonly used bibiometric measures used to assess the impact of a particular journal publication are Impact factor, Eigenfactor and SCImago The impact of a specific reseacher can be measured by h-index, e-index and Times Cited (amongst others). Some tools to assist with this are:
- Altmetrics
- Cited Reference Search (access via Web of Science, DIT Library Databases)
- Journal Citation Reports (access via DIT Library Databases)
- Scopus (access via DIT Library Databases)
- Incites Research Analytics (access via DIT Library Databases)
- Publish or Perish (downloadable software)
- Research Smarts: DIT Library FAQs on Bibliometrics
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Kevin St Library guide Bibliometrics & Research
Digital Skills and Research Hub
For guidance and information on research communication, publishing and impact see the new DSRH resource.
Referencing, Citing & Endnote
Citing and referencing the information sources used in research is essential to avoid plagiarism. Each subject has its own citation style and the School of Biological Sciences often uses the Harvard (author date) style. See this introduction to the Harvard Referencing Guide (DIT Library Kevin St)) or check with your supervisor as the appropriate style and version for your work
Journal Abbreviations
Abbreviated journal titles may be required depending on the citation style you use. Some useful tools which 'translate' the full journal title into the abbreviated version are:
Bibliographic citation software
Various freeware options enable you to store, manage and share your references using a choice of citation styles:
Information Skills Help
- Kevin St Library Information Skills Guides
Summer Services
Kevin St Library offers the following services to postgraduates during the months of July & August.
- Postal Loans Postgrad Postal Service Application Form
- Photocopying Service
- Inter Library Loans
- Family borrowing with a letter of consent
