Projects are designed by individual members of staff in keeping with their research interests and fall into one of four categories:
• Wet/Dry Laboratory and Computing: practical research undertaken in the teaching laboratories, or on computers followed by preparation of a written report
• Dissertation: library-based research leading to production of a report in the style of a scientific review
• Business: development of a biotechnology business plan
• Communication: similar to dissertation projects but with an emphasis on presenting the scientific topic to a general, non-scientist audience
Total contact hours: 192
Private study hours: 108
Total study hours: 300
For each project type the project write and performance comprise 90% of the assessment (with different splits depending on the type of the project), with the final 10% assessed by a presentation.
Laboratory reports:
Written Project report – 6000 words maximum 80%
Project Performance – 10%
Presentation (15 minutes) – 10%
Non-laboratory reports (Dissertation and Business):
Written Project report – 11,000 words maximum 80%
Project performance – 10%
Presentation (15 minutes)– 10%
Communication Project:
Written Project report – 6,000 words maximum 60%
Communication element of report – 20%
Project performance – 10%
Presentation (15 minutes)– 10%
Reading is entirely project-specific, to be discussed with academic supervisor.
See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)
The intended subject specific learning outcomes. On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of an advanced research topic within the fields of Biochemistry, Biology, or Biomedical Science through study of the peer-reviewed primary scientific literature.
Appreciate how scientific knowledge advances through research e.g. the timescales, challenges, limitations, impact of technological advances.
Students taking wet/dry (computing-based) laboratory projects will be able to:
Understand how to design and execute a sequence of experiments to address a research question and how to record data.
Enhance their existing and acquire new experimental skills.
Identify and solve practical and theoretical problems.
Show an awareness of the safety implications of laboratory work and knowledge of good laboratory practice (wet lab projects only).
Students taking dissertation/business/communications projects will be able to:
Develop critical analysis skills, design novel experiments to address specific questions within the chosen topic and to appreciate the limitations and the practicability of the experimental process.
Students undertaking business projects will be able to::
Appreciate how scientific research may be translated into business ideas.
Understand the factors that are important in planning and preparing a business plan.
Students taking communication projects will be able to:
Demonstrate an ability to simplify complex scientific information and to adapt it to suit the audience.
Present current scientific research to a general audience making it accessible and interesting.
The intended generic learning outcomes. On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
Appreciate how research leads to knowledge.
Demonstrate a clear and concise style of scientific writing that is both informative and lucid.
Demonstrate skills in the retrieval of scientific information from journals and through electronic searches.
Acquire an understanding of how technologies may be applied/adapted to address a research question.
Develop their abilities to work independently and as part of a team - self-motivation, diplomacy, planning and organisational skills and time management.
Exhibit skills in appraising critically and integrating information.
Show skills in communicating science (oral, written or web formats) and in making and defending scientific arguments.
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