2023/24 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

BLGY3345 Biology Integrated Research Projects

40 creditsClass Size: 180

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

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

Pre-requisite qualifications

Progression through Level 2 study

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The final year Integrated Research Project provides students with the opportunity to become fully engaged with their research discipline. With guidance from an academic supervisor, students have the opportunity to both develop a research question and then to devise the means to undertake independent research to answer that question. This requires the ability to generate hypotheses and then test them through data generation or collection based on appropriate methodologies (usually prescribed but may be student-led within guidelines) and to critically evaluate and synthesise/ analyse this data to address the original hypothesis. These results are then presented in a report that outlines the context of the research, the approaches taken, conclusions made and future work, including the potential applications of the research findings.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to demonstrate the ability to plan, execute and report on a research investigation either based on their own experimental data or other available data.

Learning outcomes
On completion of the module students will be able to:
- design, plan and execute a research project (field, computer or literature based);
- collate, analyse and present scientific data/ literature, including the use of computer packages;
- prepare a detailed report, in a scientifically acceptable format.
- use library resources, including computer based search tools and online databases such as ISI Web of knowledge, Medline and PubMed appropriately and selectively;
- read critically a scientific paper and to identify the key features of the study; including the ability to write a scientifically suitable abstract for a research paper;
- interpret data presented in scientific papers and to assess them critically in order to draw appropriate conclusions.

Skills outcomes
- Project formulation, data collection (raw and/ or from literature) and analysis, writing and visual presentation skills.

Skills outcomes
As a result of the regular meetings with the project supervisor students should
- understand the objectives set;
- demonstrate ability to organise your time to achieve the objectives;
- demonstrate ability to report on your achievements and discuss outcomes.

As a result of the practical work, students should be able to:-
- understand the methodology used;
- demonstrate ability to execute independent research;
- demonstrate ability to record data appropriately;
- demonstrate ability to appreciate the risks and undertake the necessary safety assessments as appropriate.

On completion of your project introduction, students should be able to:-
- demonstrate the ability to access relevant literature sources;
- demonstrate an understanding of the relevance of the study against published work;
- demonstrate ability to produce a written account using skills developed in previous years.

In your project report, students are expected to:-
- demonstrate ability to present your results in an appropriate form;
- demonstrate appropriate statistical or other analyses of data;
- demonstrate ability to make appropriate conclusions and comments;
- identify potential applications for research findings.

Syllabus

Individual research project leading to the production of a written report.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	3	1.00	3.00
Independent online learning hours			317.00
Private study hours			80.00
Total Contact hours			3.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			400.00

Private study

Private study will include planning and implementation, analysis and writing up to 80 hours.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will have regular meetings (averaging every week or so) to set objectives and to reflect on what has been achieved since the previous meeting. These meetings may involve other members of the research team.

Students will be provided with sufficient resources for achieving agreed project aims. While appropriate guidance will be provided, students will need to demonstrate that they can work independently.
Two days (that’s 16 hours weekly) of working time is expected.

One draft of the project report is submitted to the supervisor for formative feedback. Regular progress meetings provide informal formative feedback on knowledge, understanding and progress throughout the project.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Report	(see additional notes below)	90.00
In-course Assessment	Process mark: Overall performance, engagement, planning, organisation and attendance at meetings.	10.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

1. Lab/Field/Data project. Project report (90% of total assessment) in the format of a scientific paper with a word limit of 5,000 words. This excludes figures/tables, figure legends, abstract, references and supplementary information. Process mark for student performance (10% of total assessment). 2. Literature/library project. Integrated project reports to have a limit of 7,000 words and students will also be required to complete an extension exercise (e.g., Grant proposal) with a word limit between 1,500-2,000 words/4-5 pages. Project report plus extension exercise + 90% of total assessment. Process mark for student performance is 10% of total assessment.

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 28/04/2023 14:47:51

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