1. Apply safe laboratory practices, follow protocols accurately and perform basic scientific measurements and analyses

Application & Problem Solving

2. Select and apply digital tools to record, organise and present biological data appropriately.

Digital Literacy

3. Reflect on your developing skills, behaviours and career goals

Reflection

Personal Development & Entrepreneurship

Individual completion and demonstration of practical skills expected of a practitioner scientist at this level. Typically, this will include safe, reproducibly accurate and semi-autonomous use of complex, multi-step analytical procedures and techniques (for example advanced sample preparation (including identification of sources or error), advanced microscopy, enzyme kinetics and quantitative assays, microbiological culture and identification techniques, molecular biology techniques and cell culture maintenance and monitoring.

This assessment is a 100% weighted, zero hours, component to provide centralised tracking of competence in required practical skills that will be taught elsewhere.

In this module, you will refine the professional, analytical and technical skills required for safe and effective biomedical practice. You will engage with quality systems, advanced laboratory techniques and the research processes that underpin scientific discovery. Including:

Professional and ethical practice in biomedical science, including regulatory frameworks, accountability and governance.

Practical application of laboratory investigations across key biomedical disciplines.

Quality systems and management in laboratory settings, including QC, EQA, accreditation standards, SOPs and audit processes.

Data integrity, research skills and scientific analysis, including experimental design, statistics and interpretation of complex datasets.

Collaborative laboratory practice, communication, employability skills and reflective professional development.

What does it take to work as a confident, competent scientist in a real clinical laboratory?

In this module, you will refine the professional, analytical and technical skills required for safe and effective biomedical practice. You will engage with quality systems, advanced laboratory techniques and the research processes that underpin scientific discovery. By analysing real data, managing laboratory workflows and reflecting on your performance, you will strengthen your professional identity and prepare for the responsibilities and expectations of practice at higher levels of your degree.

Ahmed, N. et al. (2022) Biomedical science practice: experimental and professional skills. 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/borrow/2074569.

Jones, A., Reed, R. and Weyers, J.D.B. (2022) Practical Skills in Biology. Seventh edition. Harlow, England: Pearson Education Limited

Hadley Wickham, Garrett Grolemund and Mine Çetinkaya-Rundel (2023) R for Data Science, 2nd Edition. O’Reilly Media, Inc.

Blann, A.D. (2018) Data handling and analysis. Second edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/hesc/9780198812210.001.0001.

Scientific laboratory for completion and demonstration of competency