BIO6045 - Research Project

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Undertake and communicate an independent piece of biomedical research.
Apply appropriate research methods to test a hypothesis.
Problem-solve research methods and their application.
Generate individual data and evaluate the statistical significance of findings.
Critically present their own data in the context of published material.
Defend thesis in a viva-voce examination.

Content:

This module will enable students to perform an individual piece of research, generating their own data and then analysing the significance of findings. Projects will be offered in biomedical science areas involving either Laboratory research, Bioinformatics or Computer modelling. As part of the process students will consider the relevant risk assessments, COSHH requirements and ethics required for the work being undertaken. In the event of the research requiring ethical approval this will be obtained at the correct level, either School, Faculty or University.

The content of this module has been mapped to the IBMS QAA Benchmark requirements for:
- Research Skills including research design, methodologies, planning and execution of hypothesis-based research and scientific writing; generation, recording, collation and statistical techniques for the analysis of quantitative data and/or qualitative analytical techniques for the interpretation of non-numerical data.
- Research Project - an honours level project based in biomedical science is a mandatory component of an IBMS accredited degree programme. Assessment regulations must require a pass standard to be achieved for the project at honours level that must take the form of an independent project and can be a laboratory-based, a systematic review including statistical analysis and evaluation, or bioinformatics-type project but not a literature review.
- Generic and subject-specific skills including awareness of the need for compliance with health and safety policies, good laboratory practice, risk and COSHH assessments, the Human Tissue Act, other relevant legislation and the importance of quality control and quality assessment.
- Key transferable skills, including communication, IT, numeracy, data analysis.

Learning and Teaching Information:

The 4 x 2h Lectures will cover key essentials for research during the first four weeks of semester 1. Students will undertake the practical work for data generation for their project either in the Laboratory or in a computer suite for up to 120h in semester 1 and up to 72h in semester 2, during these times laboratory and/or computer facilities will be available to the full cohort. Tutorials and Tutor meetings will take place with allocated project supervisors in the form of 20 x 1h meetings over the two semesters (1 per week).

Lectures
Hours: 8
Intended Group Size: Full Cohort

Practical sessions or Computer sessions
Hours: 192
Intended Group Size: Full Cohort

Tutorials and Tutor meetings
Hours: 20
Intended Group Size: Max 15

Guided independent study
Hours: 230

Further details relating to assessment
The Poster Presentation assessment will consist of a single page Powerpoint slide with diagrams and text to illustrate the research undertaken plus key findings. Feedback on the poster will be provided to assist students with the completion of the Research Project write up. The Poster Presentation assessment will be submitted mid-semester 2, following completion of all the data generation in the laboratory or on computers.

The Research Project assessment will be a write up of 5,000 words in the form of a thesis covering an introduction to the area of biomedical science research studied to generate data, detail of the research methods employed, presentation plus statistical analysis of the data generated followed by a discussion of the significance and relevance of the results. The Research Project assessment will be submitted in the second Exam week of Semester 2.

The Project Viva-voce Exam assessment will be a 15 min verbal defence of the thesis in front of the supervisor and another member of staff. The Viva-voce Exam will take place in week 15 of Semester 2 just prior to the end of Level 6 in the University timetable.

Other Information
The Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) professional body requires a pass mark of 40% to be achieved for the honours project and take the form of an independent research project. This can be a laboratory or non-laboratory project, but not a ‘literature review’ under their regulations.

Assessment:

Fact File

Module Coordinator - PRS_CODE=
Level - 6
Credit Value - 45
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered -

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