RESEARCH METHODS 1 - 2021/2

Module Overview

This module is designed to provide the student with the laboratory training and experience required to carry out their Research Project (MMIM025) in Year 2. During this module students will receive training in the process of developing a research project proposal including the management of risk and safety. They will analyse a field of research and produce a written, evidence based project proposal that has identified an area of microbiology that is not understood, and an experimental approach to investigate it.

 

Module provider

School of Biosciences and Medicine

Module Leader

STEWART Graham (Biosc & Med)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Core techniques:

• 
  Basic microbiological skills
  


• 
  Basic tissue culture
  


• 
  Working in containment level 2 and 3
  


• 
  Laboratory arithmetic
  


• 
  Keeping lab book/electronic data
  


• 
  Media preparation
  


• 
  Statistics
  

Considerations for good research practice:

• 
  Health & Safety (CoSHH, Risk Assessment, Biological Safety)
  


• 
  Working with radiochemicals
  
  Provisional timetable: 
  

Session


Staff member


Week


Hours




Health and Safety Introduction

And good laboratory practice


Health and Safety representative


Sem 1 week 1


1 hours




Risk Assessment


Health and Safety representative


Sem 1 week 1


1 hour




Biological Safety


Health and Safety representative


Sem 1 week 2


1 hours




Library and literature searches


E. Roberts


Sem 1 week 1


1 hours




Introduction to research methods


J. Ritchie/D.Beste


Sem 1 week 1


1 hours




Introduction to statistics and bioinformatics


E.Laing/A.Kierzek


Sem 1 week 1


1 hour




Research labs symposia


All academics


Sem 1 week 1


3 hours




Basic microbiology


G.Stewart/technical staff


Sem 1 week 2


4 hours




Basic tissue culture


R.Simmonds


Sem 1 week 2


4 hours




Tutorial


Academic Supervisor


Sem 1 week 3


1 hour




Tutorial


Academic Supervisor


Sem 1 week 4


1 hour




Tutorial


Academic Supervisor


Sem 1 week 5


1 hour




Tutorial


Academic Supervisor


Sem 1 week 6


1 hour




Tutorial


Academic Supervisor


Sem 1 week 7


1 hour




Tutorial


Academic Supervisor


Sem 1 week 8


1 hour




Tutorial


Academic Supervisor


Sem 1 week 9


1 hour




Tutorial


Academic Supervisor


Sem 1 week 10


1 hour




Tutorial


Academic Supervisor


Sem 1 week 11


1 hour

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Research proposal (1500 words) 70 Risk assessments 15 Lab book 15

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their competence at a range of core and specialised experimental techniques and good research practice. This will be achieved using a training development portfolio.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Risk assessments


• Assessment of lab book


• A research project proposal

Formative assessment and feedback

Students will be given regular feedback through supervision meetings with their academic supervisor in addition to instant feedback during the laboratory training sessions.

Module aims

• Provide students with practical training and experience in fundamental and basic experimental methods within the field of Medical Microbiology
• Develop a student's ability to work independently and accurately in the laboratory
• Develop students problem solving skills in the laboratory environment
• Develop ability to plan a research project that is achievable, safe and of scientific value.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to provide students with training and experience of basic and advanced experimental techniques in Medical Microbiology. Much of the training will be provided on a one-to-one basis by either the academic supervisor or a post-doctoral research assistant in an active research lab. Sufficient competence in a given technique may take time to develop, and students will have the opportunity to practice their skills with increasing independence before submitting for assessment. Competency will be measured by: evidence from the student's laboratory book, witness statements, copies of presentations in lab meetings, short written pieces of work (including self-reflective practice statements, completed risk assessments).

The learning and teaching methods include:

• 
  Lectures and class based instruction (see provisional timetable above)
  


• 
  One-to-one training (approximately 30 hours)
  


• 
  Independent practice of techniques and report writing (approximately 96 hours)
  


• 
  Regular academic supervisory meetings to assess progress (recommended to be at least once per fortnight)
  

 

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: MMIM026

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 2021/2 academic year.