Research Project
| Module title | Research Project |
|---|---|
| Module code | BIOM560 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 90 |
| Module staff | Dr Alison Hill (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 0 | 6 | 18 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 20 |
|---|
Module description
This module introduces you to all of the processes required for undertaking an independent, but supervised, research project at Masters level in the field of Biological Sciences. Research projects are all individual, and can be based on laboratory work, field work, or in silico (e.g. computer modelling, bioinformatics). You can either select your project based on existing projects advertised within Biosciences, or based on your own design of project. However, for self-designed projects you must find a supervisor who agrees to approve the project design. Both group-based and individual projects may be offered.
This module is for students on the MSc Advanced Biological Sciences programme.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to put into practice the knowledge and skills acquired from the taught (lecture and practical) elements of the programme. It will give you experience of many aspects of research work including processes for experimentation and laboratory/data analysis, statistical analysis, data interpretation, presentation and discussion of results in five formats (literature review, grant proposal, oral presentation, poster, and writing a scientific report).
Students on this module will be fully immersed in a professional setting for three months, which will strongly prepare you for life after university. You will develop and enhance your employability skills for future careers through both generic and biosciences-related skills training. The module will train you in time management, professional interactions and communication skills.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. In the format of a scientific research report, demonstrate an in-depth knowledge and critical understanding of the background literature within a chosen area of the research project that leads to the hypotheses and/or aims of the project
- 2. Design a research hypothesis to be tested within a proposed research project, and document and justify the financial requirements of carrying out that project
- 3. Execute all the developmental phases of a research project which will include technical aspects, data collection, statistical analysis, as well as critical analysis and ultimately presentation of the results and conclusions both orally and in written scientific formats
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Demonstrate through oral and written assessments a systematic understanding of knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights in a sub-discipline of Biological Sciences, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of the field of study
- 5. Describe in detail some techniques applicable to research in a sub-discipline of Biological Sciences
- 6. Apply knowledge with originality and explain how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in the discipline
- 7. Develop through oral and written assessments a conceptual understanding that enables you to evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in the discipline, evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of them and, where appropriate, propose new hypotheses
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 8. Deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate your conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences
- 9. Tackle and solve problems with self-direction and originality, and act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional or equivalent level
- 10. Demonstrate self-direction in advancing your knowledge and understanding and in developing new skills to a high level
- 11. Put into practice good oral presentation techniques for communicating science to an appropriate audience
Syllabus plan
A list of project areas and potential supervisors will be distributed during the first semester. You will choose, in consultation with potential supervisors, a project by the middle of January. Once a project has been selected you will commence work on the literature review, project definition and grant proposal, with a submission deadline before Easter.
You must present a research talk and poster on your project roughly 2-3 weeks after the project submission deadline to obtain feedback from research staff and other students. A timetable of talks and poster presentations will be provided by the module coordinator during the early part of the summer vacation, in consultation with students, supervisors, staff and the external examiner.
A project report presented in the form of a paper or review to a specified journal, as agreed by the student and supervisor, with a deadline usually around mid-August.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 90 | 810 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 40 | Experimental design and interpretation |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 50 | Demonstration and implementation of experimental techniques |
| Guided independent study | 810 | Independent study (including directed reading, literature searching, laboratory/field work, learning techniques, preparation for assessments etc) |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research strategy meetings with project supervisor | 12 hours | 1-10 | Oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 84 | 0 | 16 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Literature review | 17 | 4000 words | 1, 4-10 | Written |
| Grant proposal | 17 | 4000 words | 2, 4-10 | Written |
| Poster presentation | 8 | 10 minutes | 3-11 | Oral and written |
| Oral presentation | 8 | 15 minutes | 3-11 | Written |
| Research report | 50 | 8000 words | 1-10 | Written |
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Literature review | Literature review (17%) | 1, 4-10 | August Ref/Def |
| Grant proposal | Grant proposal (17%) | 2, 4-10 | August Ref/Def |
| Poster presentation | Poster presentation (8%) | 3-11 | Next available assessment period |
| Oral presentation | Oral presentation (8%) | 3-11 | Next available assessment period |
| Research report | Research report (50%) | 1-10 | Next available assessment period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons that are approved by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. If deferred, the format and timing of the re-assessment for each of the summative assessments is detailed in the table above ('Details of re-assessment'). The mark given for a deferred assessment will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral - if you have failed the module (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) and the module cannot be condoned, you will be required to complete a re-assessment for each of the failed components on the module. The format and timing of the re-assessment for each of the summative assessments is detailed in the table above ('Details of re-assessment'). If you pass the module following re-assessment, your module mark will be capped at 50%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Appropriate reading will depend on the research project selected/designed and will be agreed between supervisor and student. It is likely to include the most recent papers and articles in the field as well as additional background reading.
For information on generic aspects of writing a paper and giving presentations:
- Alley, M (2013). The Craft of Scientific Presentations: Critical Steps to Succeed and Critical Errors to Avoid. Springer.
- Schimel, J (2012). Writing Science: How to Write Papers That Get Cited and Proposals That Get Funded. Oxford University Press.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
| Credit value | 90 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 45 |
| Module pre-requisites | BIOM509 Professional Skills |
| Module co-requisites | none |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 23/05/2013 |
| Last revision date | 24/03/2024 |
