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Research Project MSci Biomedicine

Overview

Module description

This module represents the research component of your MSci year, complementing the taught component. It offers the opportunity to join an academic research group in the school and/or the Institute of Structural Molecular Biology, and to embark on a research project that you will execute independently and which will be substantially of your own design.

As a member of the research group, you will be expected to attend, and actively participate in, all relevant activities such as lab group meetings and research seminars relevant to the group's work and preparing internal reports. You will undertake extensive hands-on practical work in the laboratory and conduct in-depth research into the literature, developing core laboratory skills and scientific judgement, and gaining insight into high-level scientific research as a possible career.

Indicative syllabus

  • Planning laboratory work
  • Keeping an acceptable record of your investigations
  • Intensive practical work using techniques and procedures relevant to the demands of the experimental plan
  • Recovering information from relevant databases
  • Extensive and critical review of the literature on a material related to the practical work

Learning objectives

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • demonstrate a sound knowledge and understanding of structural molecular biology and its practical applications in the context of a selected topic(s)
  • carry out the appropriate literature and data searches
  • critically assess current literature relevant to the selected topic
  • formulate a suitable plan of work for the project research, selecting the most appropriate methods and experimental designs
  • re-assess and modify the research plan as needed throughout the duration of the project
  • show practical competence in the laboratory by being able to competently perform appropriate manipulations, biochemical and physical assays
  • understand the techniques employed by correctly analysing and presenting your data
  • demonstrate a critical and professional approach to the analysis of results and realise when mistakes have occurred and how they may be rectified.