RESEARCH DISSERTATION - 2020/1
Module code: BMSM023
Module Overview
This module will follow as a natural development from the grant proposal project, undertaken at level 6 in BMS3048.
In this modules students will execute a planned period of in depth research to address a biochemical research problem. Students will undertake this research entirely in semester 2 ; designing and undertaking the research in conjunction with their supervisor. Students will analyse and evaluate the results appropriately and discuss them in a critically evaluative manner. Students understanding of the research and their findings will be assessed by production of a written scientific paper, presentation of the project and an oral viva voce examination at the end of the project.
The supervisor will evaluate the student based on their engagement with the research project and provide an assessment of their competency in the research field.
Module provider
School of Biosciences and Medicine
Module Leader
BAILEY Ian (Biosc & Med)
Number of Credits: 60
ECTS Credits: 30
Framework: FHEQ Level 7
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Independent Learning Hours: 600
Module Availability
Year long
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
BMS3048 Research Project
Module content
• Lists of project titles and ideas will be provided to students at level 6, where they will have developed and submitted a grant proposal project for BMS3048.
• This grant proposal will contain the planned skill development portfolio, assessed in BMSM024 Developing as a Scientist: Advanced Techniques in Biochemistry, which will be completed in semester 1 of level 7.
• The skills sign off completed in BMSM024 Developing as a Scientist: Advanced Techniques in Biochemistry will lead directly into the project, enabling the student to begin the research project as soon as possible in semester 2 of level 7.
• Project progress will be monitored with weekly supervisory meetings.
• The reporting of the project findings will be via a written research paper developed over the course of semester 2, and in conjunction with the assessment portfolio for BMSM021 Developing as a Biochemist: Effectively Communicating Science in Modern Society.
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Written Scientific Paper | 50 |
| Oral exam or presentation | Viva Voce oral examination | 20 |
| Project (Group/Individual/Dissertation) | Presentation of project | 20 |
| Project (Group/Individual/Dissertation) | Supervisor Assessment | 10 |
Alternative Assessment
N/A
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate cognitive and analytical skills, scientific writing and communications skills.
Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:
• Written scientific paper (50%).
• Presentation of project (20%).
• Viva voce oral examination (20%).
• Supervisors mark (10%).
Unit of assessment and Weighting
Module Learning outcomes met
Written scientific paper (50%)
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Presentation of project (20%)
5
Viva voce oral examination (20%)
5
Supervisors mark (20%)
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Formative assessment
Supervisory meetings in which the student will receive feedback on performance and which will have direct impact on the day to day activity of the student in the lab.
Feedback
Laboratory and supervisory feedback, feedback on Written scientific paper, presentation of project and oral examination.
Module aims
- • Aims To build on experience in information retrieval relevant to a specific topic of research
- • To acquire and develop specific practical research skills
- • To develop and expand the student's capacity for independent investigation
- • To develop written presentation skills applicable to the publication of original research findings in the scientific literature
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | ||
| 001 | Use literature data search fascilities to undertake in depth literature evaluations of a research area | |
| 002 | Criticaly interpret, assess and appraise the rigour and quality of scientific literature | CPT |
| 003 | Plan, execute and evaluate a scientific research project with support from a supervisor | |
| 004 | Produce high quality scientific literature from the literature, methods and results obtained | |
| 005 | Explain, present and defend research findings |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The learning and teaching strategy is designed to: develop independent research skills and competencies and provide a structured framework to enhance and develop critical and analytical skills.
The learning and teaching methods include:
Completion of a research project during semester 2 (January-May) which will be spent in active research. Tutorials may be scheduled with module leadership team to ensure students are progressing, and the supervisor will meet regularly with the student to ensure they are progressing satisfactorily.
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: BMSM023
Other information
None
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.