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2020/21 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

BIOL5382M Extended Research Project

90 creditsClass Size: 40

Module manager: Dr Kenneth McDowall
Email: k.j.mcdowall@leeds.ac.uk

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

Year running 2020/21

Pre-requisite qualifications

Continued progression on MBIOL from Level 3 to Level 5 ( achieve an average of at least 65%, in the level 3 project components and an overall credit weighted year average, normally of at least 65%)

Pre-requisites

BIOL3398Research Tools and Applications
BIOL3399Extended Research Project Preparation

Co-requisites

BIOL5394MSpecialised Research Topics and Skills

Module replaces

BIOL5380M

This module is not approved as an Elective

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able
- to conduct an individual extended research project;
- to experience working in a research group and interacting with research scientists;
- to continue to develop skills in searching and analysing the scientific literature;
- to gain experience in the analysis and presentation of scientific ideas and data;
- to prepare a grant proposal and justify the broad objectives and specific aims prior to commencing research;
- to report scientific findings through the preparation of a final dissertation and a research poster;
- to defend research methods and conclusions at a viva.

Learning outcomes
Students will be expected to have:
- gained knowledge of the process of project management including project preparation, organisation and implementation;
- completed a research project demonstrating competent use of a range of practical research techniques applicable to their topic area;
- gained experience in experimental planning, execution and analysis and presentation of research data including the use of appropriate statistical tests;
- prepared and submitted a dissertation in a scientifically acceptable format;

The dissertation should include an appropriate summary of relevant literature, an outline of aims of the project, descriptions of the methods used, details of the results obtained, conclusions drawn from these results and indications for future studies that might be undertaken. There is an expectation that material from the dissertation would be of a quality suitable to contribute to scientific publication.
- developed sophisticated skills in the appropriate and selective use of electronic literature search tools such as Web of Science and PubMed;
- given presentations of the project and its findings and answered questions on the subject of the project work.
- presented work in poster format.


Syllabus

A 6-month independent research project on an original topic with an appropriate focus for the individuals host programme. The research will be conducted within one of the Faculty research teams, sometimes in combination with outside agencies.

The experimental project will be based on a researched grant proposal on a topic agreed with a named supervisor(s). The proposal, which will be assessed, will be written by the student. The proposal will be written early in Semester 1, and will normally be within an area that formed part of the literature review undertaken as part of BIOL3399 (Extended Research Project Preparation). The proposal will detail the use of facilities (and relevant costs) that students were introduced to as part of BIOL3398 (Research Tools and Applications), as appropriate.

There will be regular meetings with a project supervisor(s), normally on a weekly basis, with the student maintaining a pro forma record of the outcome of meetings.

Guidance on the writing of the final dissertation will be provided. Marks will be awarded for a research proposal, the dissertation, an oral examination (combined with a poster presentation) and practical execution.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Poster session12.002.00
Supervision Meetings151.0015.00
presentation11.001.00
Practical858.00680.00
Independent online learning hours40.00
Private study hours162.00
Total Contact hours698.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)900.00

Private study

This includes associated reading, project planning analysis of experimental data, dissertation, viva and poster preparation.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

- Semester 1: weekly meetings with supervisor via MS TEAMS
- Weekly group meetings / lab journal club.
- Semester 2: Grant proposal and experimental planning. Students to analyse experimental data previously obtained in the lab (if available) or do research project on data analysis/bioinformatics.
- Research in labs full-time in Semester 2. (11 Jan - 26 March). Student can continue project in Easter break if agreed with supervisor.
- Project supervision meetings.
- Supervisors to comment on one complete draft of grant proposal and written report.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
ReportProject Report in the style of a scientific paper50.00
PracticalExecution, originality, diligence15.00
Research ProposalGrant proposal10.00
VivaPoster presentation followed by a viva10.00
In-course AssessmentData analysis exercise15.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

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

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 13/11/2020 08:18:59

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