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Research Project

Module description

Learning to conduct original scientific research is essential for your scientific training, employability potential and future career. In this module, you will gain hands-on experience of conducting cutting-edge scientific research under the guidance of professional researchers. This involves conducting an independent research project that is of personal interest to you. You will be supervised by a member of staff and be expected to take responsibility for designing, planning and implementing the study, as well as analysing the data and reporting on the research project. It is hoped that the project will lead to a scientific conference presentation and/or publication in an academic journal. As such, this project provides valuable experience of managing an original scientific research project, from its inception through to completion.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aims of this module are:

• To familiarise you with the existing scientific literature in your study area and teach you to assimilate this knowledge succinctly and critically.
• To give you experience in undertaking a substantial research project and to put into practice the knowledge you have acquired from your previous undergraduate stages and the taught elements of the programme.

By the end of the module, you will have reviewed and assimilated a substantial portion of the existing literature on your study area and carried out a piece of original research (or research which extends our knowledge on a topic), analysed the results using appropriate methods and learned how to disseminate the results in an appropriate manner.

In addition the module will allow you to further develop the following academic and professional skills:

• Problem solving: linking theory to practice, developing your own ideas with confidence, being able to respond to novel and unfamiliar problems
• Managing structure: identifying key demands of the project, setting clearly defined goals, responding flexibly to changing priorities
• Time management: managing time effectively individually and within a research group
• Collaboration: taking initiative and leading others, potentially maintaining group cohesiveness and purpose.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Critically and independently assess the field in which your research project will be conducted
• 2. Follow and execute the phases of a research project, i.e. experimental design, data collection, data analysis and report writing using methods and techniques agreed by the supervisor

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Analyse and critically evaluate essential facts and theory across a sub-discipline of the biosciences, and embed research-informed examples from the literature in written work
• 4. Identify and apply, autonomously and with originality, appropriate methodologies and theories for solving a range of complex and demanding problems in the biosciences

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Devise, and sustain independently, a logical and reasoned argument with convincing conclusions
• 6. Effectively communicate arguments, evidence, and conclusions in a range of complex and specialised contexts using a variety of formats to specialist and non-specialist audiences both in the written report and in an oral presentation
• 7. Analyse and evaluate appropriate data and complete a range of research tasks independently
• 8. Reflect effectively and independently on learning experiences and evaluate critically personal achievements

Syllabus plan

You will receive introductory sessions on how to prepare for your project, as well as health and safety training.  Support sessions will also be run each term by the module convenor. During stage 3 a list of projects and potential supervisors will be distributed. Alternatively, you may also choose to generate your own project, in consultation with an appropriate supervisor. Following the allocation of an academic member of staff as your supervisor, and the primary source of guidance on the project, you will then work with them to design and conduct your project. Experimental work and data collection extends over both term 1 and 2 during stage 4, with supervisory meetings held regularly by arrangement.

You are required to submit your final project report, in the form of a paper, which could be submitted to a specific scientific journal.  You will also complete a 3000-word literature review covering the background of your research project field. In addition, you will participate in a ‘3-minute thesis’ event towards the start of your project presenting your project goals, plus the annual Biosciences student conference during which you will give a short presentation on your completed project.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

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

Basic reading:

As agreed between you and your project supervisors. Reference will be made to the most recent articles and reports in the field and will focus on the primary literature.

Also of use when planning and writing up the project will be:

• Ruxton, G.D. and Colegrave, N. (2006) Experimental Design for the Life Sciences. OUP. ISBN 01992 52327
• Barass, R (2002) Scientists Must Write: A Guide to Better Writing for Scientists, Engineers and Students

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE page

Key words search

Independent research, data analysis, experimental design, literature review, data collection, project management, time management, research methodologies, critical evaluation