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2020/21 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

BLGY3395 Advanced Research Skills and Experience

20 creditsClass Size: 20

Module manager: Professor R Elywn Isaac
Email: R.E.Isaac@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2020/21

Pre-requisite qualifications

Continued progression on MBIOL from Level 2 to Level 3 (minimum average of 65%)

Co-requisites

BLGY3396

Research Literature Review

Module replaces

BLGY3398: Research Project and Manuscript

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Objectives

- To provide an introduction into how scientific research is carried out;
- To help develop the personal and intellectual skills required to become producers as well as consumers of scientific data and ideas;
- To provide experience of working in a research environment (laboratory, computer lab, field etc.), using a range of biological methods and interacting with research scientists;
- To provide experience in planning experimental research;
- To provide experience of analysis and presentation of scientific data;
- To provide experience of discussing research in depth with other researchers;
- To provide experience of research processes, including formation of initial ideas.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will have:
- gained experience of techniques and analytical approaches, including some computer packages, that are appropriate for a laboratory, field, or a computer based research project;
- developed skills in the appropriate and selective use of library resources, including computer based search tools such as ISI Web of knowledge, Medline and PubMed;
- prepared and submitted a detailed report, in the form of a project proposal that forms the basis of the Level 5 extended project. This proposal should include the following: The background and context of the project (which should include the relevant literature), the aims of the project, hypotheses to be tested, descriptions of the methods and analyses to be used, including analysis and results of preliminary experiments as appropriate, predicted outcomes, GANTT chart, and data management.
- prepared and submitted a poster that outlines the background/context of the project, rationale and justification of approaches, possible outcomes, wider significance.

Skills outcomes
Project formulation, building upon existing research skills and developing new skills appropriate for an extended research project, presented in the form of a project proposal. A poster will be produced, which will be the basis of a discussion about context, rationale, justification of approaches etc.

Syllabus

Students will become familiar with research methods that combine project planning, designing experimental protocols, literature searching, critical reading and reviewing and project proposal writing.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Supervision	10	1.00	10.00
Independent Learning	0	0.00	32.00
Practical	16	8.00	128.00
Private study hours			30.00
Total Contact hours			170.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Students should note that the following information is for guidance only. The actual time required for the various elements will vary between students, especially for those doing different types of projects (e.g. laboratory based vs field or computer based).
Private study will include planning and implementation, analysis and writing up to 30 hours.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Project supervision meetings normally weekly. Supervisors to comment on one draft of written project proposal.

Feedback about progress and areas that could be developed (e.g. understanding of context, suitable techniques and application of methods) will be provided by supervisor as appropriate at regular meetings. Feedback will be provided on one draft of the project proposal.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Research Proposal	Project proposal - Student writes a project/grant based on lit review and incorporates techniques used by the student & preliminary data/analysis. BBSRC/ NERC style grant proposal.	85.00
In-course Assessment	Research experience: supervisor assessment of performance.	15.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 21/01/2021 14:27:52

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