Research Project 2

BIOL66132 Research Project 2 90 Semester 2 Postgraduate Taught Level 6 Andreas Prokop Unit coordinator Janine Lamb Unit coordinator John Curtin Unit coordinator Margherita Bertuzzi Unit coordinator Joe Swift Unit coordinator 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Masters/Integrated Masters P4 ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 45.0 A practical research project where the student is fully integrated within a research team. The project is assessed by submission of a dissertation, poster or oral presentation, and an assessment of research performance. Research project 2 is a major part of the MSc programme. The duration of the research project is 25 weeks research work with 2-3 weeks of additional writing-up time. This is a full time project and students are expected to spend 5 full days per week working on it with the exception of attendance at other timetabled taught sessions which may still be running. The research project may be laboratory or clinically based.  The aims of RP2 are to:<ul><li>Equip students with knowledge, practical skills and a thorough understanding of processes of scientific research to enable them to pursue their independent research career.</li><li>Develop skills to communicate their own work in written, oral or poster form.</li><li>Equip students with the above skills and understanding as well as a valuable portfolio of own work to substantiate future job applications</li></ul> Students should:<ul><li>Have gained a robust understanding of a chosen area of research.</li><li>Have become familiar with the theoretical and practical basis of research methods and techniques.</li><li>Have acquired practical experience of developing research questions and using research methods to answer them.</li><li>Have gained practical experience of presenting scientific research in written, oral and/or poster form.</li></ul> Gain knowledge, practical skills and research experience to pursue a research career  focused on the field of the chosen MSc programme:<ul><li>Understand scientific method together with the philosophical contexts within which  research is conducted in the field of the chosen MSc programme.</li><li>Be familiar with the theoretical and practical basis of the research methods and  techniques used in the major sciences basic to medicine.</li><li>Have acquired an understanding of the theory and practise of research methods and  techniques.</li><li>Be aware of the practical issues and problems associated with conducting high quality research in medicine, including ethical issues; informed consent; storage of patient  information both summative and formative</li><li>Have a detailed and systematic understanding of a chosen area of medical science </li></ul> Understand the theory behind different techniques so they can be applied and altered as required.<ul> <li>Adopt a reflective and inquisitive attitude to the analysis and evaluation of research in the field of the chosen MSc programme</li> <li>Recognise, define, formulate and prioritise research questions that are pertinent to the field of the chosen MSc programme</li> <li>Analyse, interpret, objectively evaluate and prioritise information, recognising its limitations</li> <li>Understand and be able to critically appreciate methodology, including the appropriate selection of quantitative or qualitative methods</li> <li>Recognise the importance of rigour in collecting, analysing and interpreting data</li> <li>Exhibit creativity and resourcefulness in their professional learning, scientific endeavour and research formulations</li></ul> <ul> <li> Apply appropriate methodologies to specific research questions</li> <li> Demonstrate competence in practical laboratory or clinical skills to enable sound and reproducible collection of data</li> <li> Present information clearly in written, electronic and oral forms, and communicate ideas and arguments effectively</li> <li> Retrieve, manage and manipulate information by all means, including electronically</li></ul> <ul> <li> Effectively manage time resources and set priorities</li> <li> Monitor and realistically evaluate their own performance and personal capability</li> <li> Be aware of career opportunities and begin to plan a career path</li> <li> Demonstrate scholarship in research</li> <li> Demonstrate a capacity for self-directed, independent learning and adopt the principles of reflective practice and lifelong learning</li> <li> Deal with uncertainty and work within a changing environment</li></ul> Analytical skills Ability to interpret experimental data and devise follow up experiments Group/team working Being able to work as part of a team Leadership Being able to work independently Project management Good time management and ability to prioritise work objectives Problem solving Ability to seek and act upon advice Research Awareness of research health and safety Written communication Presenting experimental data to colleagues Other Having practical skills relevant to the relevant research area of the programme 0 Other 15% 4 Dissertation 70% 7 Oral assessment/presentation 15% <ul><li>Written dissertation (70%) </li><li>Research performance (15%) </li><li>Poster or oral presentation (15%)</li></ul> There are a series of (timetabled) meetings with the Programme Director and Project  Supervisor to discuss progress. Dedicated meetings are recorded on a form (signed by all  present) and are held by SBS Assessment.  In addition the student is expected to take an active part in all their research group's lab  meetings, which would normally be held weekly.   MSc life science programmes (Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Cancer Research and Molecular Biomedicine, Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Nanomedicine, Neuroscience):<ul><li>Satisfactorily attended BIOL62000 Postgraduate Training Programme</li><li>Passed or compensated BIOL60210 Tutorials and Workshops</li><li>Passed or compensated BIOL60330 Scientific Communications</li><li>Passed or compensated BIOL65161 Statistics & Exp Design</li><li>Passed or compensated BIOL66111: Laboratory Skills</li><li>Passed BIOL66121 Research Project 1 (supervisor-led)</li><li>pass the Research Project 1 (with referral if required)  </li><li>pass the Research Methods unit (with compensation or referral if required) OR  </li><li>pass the Clinical Masterclass unit (with compensation or referral if required</li><li>pass the Practical Skills unit (with compensation or referral if required),and  </li><li>pass the Tutorial unit (with compensation or referral if required)  </li><li>pass the programme-specific unit (with compensation or referral if required) </li></ul> MSc Biological Sciences MSc Biological Sciences PGDT Taught Component Mandatory MRes Tissue Eng for Regen Medn MRes Tissue Eng for Regen Medn PGDT Taught Component Mandatory MSc Developmental Biology MSc Developmental Biology PGDT Taught Component Mandatory MSc Cell Biology MSc Cell Biology PGDT Taught Component Mandatory MSc Biochemistry MSc Biochemistry PGDT Taught Component Mandatory MSc Neuroscience MSc Neuroscience PGDT Taught Component Mandatory MSc Cancer Res and Molecular B MSc Cancer Research and Molecu PGDT Taught Component Mandatory MRes Infection Biology MRes Infection Biology PGDT Taught Component Mandatory MSc Precision Medicine MSc Precision Medicine PGDT Taught Component Mandatory MSc Tissue Eng for Regen Medn MSc Tissue Eng for Regen Medn PGDT Taught Component Mandatory MSc Infection Biology MSc Infection Biology PGDT Taught Component Mandatory N 0 0 900