The project is designed to allow you to demonstrate your development as a scientific practitioner and is viewed as a culmination of your discipline expertise and professionalism.
This substantial project provides the opportunity for you to draw together all the practical experience, knowledge and critical understanding you have acquired within previous studies.
You are required to study a topic relevant to your award from an idea generated by yourself in discussion with an academic adviser.

You will be required to complete 2 pieces of summative assessment. There is also a 0% weighted element which is the submission of an abstract to a student conference (GradEx).
A minimum of 40% in BOTH assessments is required to pass the module.
1. A 5000 word research paper (Learning outcomes 1, 4, 5 and 6) Weighting 70%
2. A 20 minute viva voce examination (Learning outcomes 2, 3 and 6) weighting 30%
Additional Assessment Details (including formative feedback / assessment):
The research paper will present the project methodology, data and outcomes in a professional style allowing for their integration within the context of other published studies.
The viva voce examination will focus on the student's rationale for the particular practical approaches that they adopted, any particular practical difficulties encountered and how they circumvented them.
Formative Assessment:
1. Individual tutorials with project supervisors will focus on students' development as professional biologists and their progress with their investigative work. Such discussion will provide continuous feedback to students and help prepare them for the viva voce examination.
2. Students are encouraged to submit a draft of the Introduction section of their research paper to their individual tutors for formative feedback of their writing style prior to the summative submission of the whole paper.

• 2 hours of workshop to highlight specific logistically important components of the module
• 12 hours of individual supervisory tutorials to provide practical work guidance, to develop practical, data analysis, data presentation and data interpretation skills and to provide feedback and guidance concerning the summative assessments
• 10 hours participation in an end of year capstone student conference event
• 106 hours of indirectly supervised practical work
• 25 hours of tutor guided reading indicated in the lectures and supervisory tutorials
• 75 hours of independent analysis and interpretation of practical findings involving a mixture of data handling activity, self-directed reading and reflective writing
• 70 hours assessment preparation involving a mixture of self-directed reading, note taking and scientific writing including your submission of an abstract.

Barnard, C.J., Gilbert, F.S. and McGregor, P.K. (2007). Asking Questions in Biology. Pearson Education Ltd, Harlow.
Knisely, K. (2009). A Student handbook for Writing in Biology. Sinauer Associates, Inc., Massachusetts.
Luck, M. (1999). Your Student Research Project. Gower Publishing Ltd, Aldershot.
Jones, A.M, Reed, R. and Weyers, J.D.B. (2003). Practical Skills in Biology. Pearson Education Ltd, Harlow.

Networked PC's with the current student image and access to Blackboard.
University Library and the Sciences Learning Resource Centre.
Appropriately equipped laboratory

None.

1. Gather, synthesise, summarise and critically evaluate information and evidence including current research and then use that information to support and develop arguments
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING, LEARNING

2. Safely and ethically execute appropriate practical techniques to conduct a pharmaceutical investigation with minimal guidance and indirect supervision
APPLICATION, ENQUIRY, REFLECTION

3. Explain the scientific principles underlying the methods and techniques used and evaluate their limitations and alternatives including consideration of relevant safety and ethical issues
APPLICATION, KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

4. Apply appropriate techniques to test hypotheses and demonstrate an awareness of their assumptions and the limitations of the tests used
LEARNING, APPLICATION, ENQUIRY

5. Confidently and proactively employ IT skills as an integral tool to support learning
ENQUIRY

6. Communicate in the format and style appropriate to a professional pharmaceutical scientist
COMMUNICATION