Introductory description

The project represents approximately three months enquiry and data collection, and one month of write-up.

Students will have a choice of:

Dissertation based on work relevant to the MSc
Student led work placement or Lab-based research project (not organised by the department). Supervision will be through the department, and may in some cases be collaborative with other organisations (where applicable).

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

The project represents approximately three months enquiry and data collection, and one month of write-up.

Students will have a choice of:

• Dissertation based on work relevant to the MSc
• Student led work placement or Lab-based research project (not organised by the department). Supervision will be through the department, and may in some cases be collaborative with other organisations (where applicable).

For dissertations:
A supervisor will set a suitable topic for research and introduce the student to appropriate sources of information, analysis and interpretation. It is the student’s responsibility to derive a research question, an aim and a set of objectives, or hypothesis and to conduct independent research appropriate to the field of study.

Lab-based projects and work placements are the responsibility of the student and are dependent on the availability of a suitable supervisor (both from the department and from the placement).
For lab-based projects:
Students may canvas departmental staff for lab based projects, and where these are available they will be conducted in ongoing departmental research programmes with defined laboratory space. The student may have a discrete project and after appropriate training will be involved in design, analysis and execution of all appropriate experimental work. The student will write up the dissertation. Supervisors will be responsible for instruction and training on a day-to-day basis.

For work placements:
The student will undertake to work to a project plan agreed with a workplace-based line manager and a departmental supervisor. They will collect experience, examples, data, and/or viewpoints as a dataset to include in a placement dissertation. On placements, day-to-day responsibility will be held by the local line-manager, who will liaise regularly with a placement supervisor in the department. The departmental supervisor will also visit the placement and talk to all parties at least once during its duration.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• By the end of the module it is expected that students will be able to evaluate current academic and industry knowledge from relevant literature, and present insights into biotechnology (medical and/or bioprocessing) and business management associated with the topic.
• By the end of the module it is expected that students will be able to choose appropriate methods for studying and presenting an unbiased research output.
• By the end of the module it is expected that students will be able to write and submit a 15,000 word dissertation to a professional standard, utilising the Harvard citation and referencing system.
• a) For non lab-based projects: collate data & findings derived from the literature and appraise findings related to a well-developed research question or an aim using a variety of methods. b) For lab-based projects: collate data; formulate and test concepts and hypotheses; derive practical strategies and recommendations using a variety of methods. c) For Work or Project-placement projects collate data; demonstrate advanced interpretation of business need; derive practical strategies and recommendations using a variety of methods.

Indicative reading list

Specific subject based literature varied due to the nature of topics.

Biggam, J. (2015). Succeeding with your master's dissertation: a step-by-step handbook Third edition. OUP

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Research element

Research project.

Subject specific skills

Evaluate current academic and industry knowledge from relevant literature, and present insights into biotechnology (medical and/or bioprocessing) and business management associated with the topic.

Transferable skills

Collate data; demonstrate advanced interpretation of business need; derive practical strategies and recommendations using a variety of methods.