MD3A2-30 MD3A2-30 Integrated Science Research Project
Introductory description
Students select a project in an area of their interest. The Year 3 research project is a key module, in which students bring together all the research and practical skills they have been taught in Year 1 and 2 laboratories and the tutorial program. Students select a project, keep a laboratory notebook, give an oral presentation and a 6,000 word thesis.
Module aims
The aim of the module is to give students the opportunity to utilise the research and evaluation skills developed throughout years 1 and 2 in order to produce a substantial piece of research. • Students complete a seminar based on their research project aimed at an educated lay audience. • Students complete a research project which includes:
A high quality scientific literature review of their chosen research field.
Critical appraisal of source material and statistical analysis
Construction of scientific arguments based on multiple sources
Production of a scientific abstract
Production of a discussion and conclusion which include evidence of independent thought and reasoning
Evidence of laboratory record keeping
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 students will conduct a research project in which they use an integrated science approach to address a specific research question. They will read relevant literature, acquire, analyse and interpret data and produce a thesis and oral presentation summarising their findings.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Plan and engage in an independent and sustained investigation and evaluation of a chosen research topic
- Identify and appraise relevant scientific literature using on-line literature search engines, relate this to appropriate methodologies and draw appropriate conclusions
- Maintain a research record detailing experimental procedures, observations and quantitative data from experiments
- Effectively construct scientific results and arguments, using multiple sources.
- Apply an integrated science approach to a research question drawing from tools of different disciplines to acquire, analyse and interpret research data.
- Critically review relevant research papers
- Communicate research findings orally and in writing
Indicative reading list
Each project will focus on a different research question. Therefore, bibliography is not specified as it will depend on the topic and nature of the research project and will be guided by the allocated supervisor who will provide students with an appropriate list of reviews and original research manuscripts.
For general working in the lab we recommend reading:
At the Bench: A Laboratory Navigator, Updated Edition By Kathy Barker, The Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle © 2005 • 465 pp., illus., appendices, index ISBN 978-087969708-2
The Digital Cell: Cell Biology as a Data Science, by Stephen J Royle, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 2019, 137 pp, Illustrated edition, ISBN 978-1621822783
View reading list on Talis Aspire
Research element
Advanced laboratory techniques in microscopy, molecular biology & biochemistry to acquire data
Analysis of data, including quantitative image analysis and statistical analysis
Construction of scientific arguments based on multiple sources
Production of a scientific abstract, presentation of data, critical discussion and drawing conclusion
Keeping appropriate laboratory records
Interdisciplinary
Students will use tools from physics, mathematics and computer science to address a biological problem.
Subject specific skills
Critical appraisal of source material
Advanced laboratory techniques in microscopy, molecular biology & biochemistry to acquire data
Analysis of data, including quantitative image analysis and statistical analysis
Construction of scientific arguments based on multiple sources
Production of a scientific abstract, presentation of data, critical discussion and drawing conclusion
Keeping appropriate laboratory records
Transferable skills
Critical appraisal of source material
Self directed learning
Adult learning
Public speaking
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Tutorials | 3 sessions of 1 hour (1%) |
| Project supervision | 20 sessions of 1 hour (7%) |
| Placement | 189 hours (63%) |
| Assessment | 88 hours (29%) |
| Total | 300 hours |
Private study description
No private study requirements defined for this module.
Costs
| Category | Description | Funded by | Cost to student |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment and project costs |
research consumables for the project |
Department | £0.00 |
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group A2
| Weighting | Study time | |
|---|---|---|
| Project overview talk | 20% | 20 hours |
|
Students will present their project in the form of a brief oral communication, explaining the rationale and background for the project and their approach so that it is accessible to non-specialists. They will be expected to answer a couple of questions from the audience. |
||
| Thesis | 64% | 48 hours |
|
Students write a 6,000 word thesis including an abstract, introduction, methodology, results, and discussion. |
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| Laboratory performance and research record | 16% | 20 hours |
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Students get marked for their laboratory performance (practical competence, initiative, independence, originality, commitment and organisation). They submit their lab book / research record that documents their work throughout the project as evidence. |
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Feedback on assessment
Written feedback on thesis and project performance, verbal feedback from tutor and peers for oral presentation
Anti-requisite modules
If you take this module, you cannot also take:
- MD3A2-45 MD3A2-45 Integrated Science Research Project
Courses
This module is Core option list A for:
- Year 3 of UMDA-CF10 Undergraduate Integrated Natural Sciences (MSci)