Must have studied the 'Research Skills and Project Management' module or equivalent.

1. IDENTIFY A RESEARCH QUESTION AND DESIGN/PLAN A RESEARCH PROJECT TO ANSWER IT.
2. PERFORM PRACTICAL PROCEDURES COMPETENTLY INCLUDING METHOD DEVELOPMENT AND PROBLEM SOLVING.
3. ¿RESEARCH, SUMMARISE AND CRITICALLY EVALUATE PUBLISHED DATA AND SCIENTIFIC OPINION IN THE SUBJECT AREA OF THE PROJECT.
4. PRESENT AND ANALYSE DATA APPROPRIATELY.
5) COMMUNICATE SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS EFFECTIVELY IN THE PRODUCTION OF THE MASTERS PROJECT DISSERTATION.
6) CONTEXTUALISE SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS IN THE LIGHT OF OTHER PUBLISHED LITERATURE INCLUDING THE DISCUSSION OF EXPERIMENTAL LIMITATIONS AND THE IDENTIFICATION OF FURTHER REQUIRED WORK.

The topic of the project will be discussed with, and agreed by, the student in consultation with their university supervisor. Some examples of suitable topics are:
A comparison of immunocytochemistry and quantitative RT-PCR for the detection of the expression of the fragile histidine triad gene
Quantification by real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) of the BCL-2 gene in cisplatin sensitive and resistant small cell lung cancer cell lines
The detection of a wheat germ glutenin gene in wheat-maize mixture using PCR-ELISA.
The phylogeny of the genus Conidiobolus as inferred from restriction fragment polymorphism of enzymatically amplified nuclear small subunit ribosomal DNA.
Mutation of the HXT1 gene with hydroxulamine in order to gain postassium ion transport function in trk1/trk2 deleted strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
The association between colicin production and the pathogenicity of septacaemic strains of Eschericia coli.
A comparison of antibiotic resistance plasmids in Salmonella species of porcine and human origin.
The effect of retinoids on adhesion of transformed mouse fibroblasts in vitro.
Trinucleotide microsatellite loci for a social wasp Vespula vulgaris.
Characterisation of beta-lactaminases in E. coli and other bacteria in the intestinal flora of calves.
Mutation detection within the mitochondrial genome using denaturing high performance liquid chromatography.

For students in relevant employment, projects may be carried out in their place of work subject to discussions and written agreement between the employer and the university. Other students may undertake university-based projects. Within either type of project shorter 'placements' in specialised facilities may be included for specialised training. These will be subject to written agreement between the collaborating parties. Details of overall project management arrangements are provided in the student handbooks. For full time students the module normally occupies a minimum of 15 weeks Interim progress reports, prepared by the student researcher, form an integral part of the project. They both enable formative feedback and monitor progress on a regular basis. Students will be fully advised of submission deadlines at the start of their project.

A research project reflecting your area of interest wherever possible. Projects will be designed in consultation with a university-based supervisor and can be conducted either at your place of work or here at Staffordshire University.

You will plan and execute a programme of investigative practical work, analyse the data you thus obtain and write a clear concise and informative dissertation presenting your findings in the context of other published studies.

Due to the varied nature of MSC Molecular Biology Projects, the following should serve as a guide to the management of student learning by supervisors. A timetabled series of meetings will be arranged between the student and supervisor. Dependent on the circumstances the meetings may be either in person or by telephone or e-mail. These meetings should include a review of project progress, problems and results/data, but may also be used, if appropriate, to schedule specialist training, liaison with collaborators and meetings with workplace supervisors. The regularity of these meetings should be governed by the time course of the research work and by mutual agreement of all involved parties.

Appropriate, largely primary, literature will be dependent on the Project topic

Access to suitable laboratory and equipment during the scheduled period of study. Access to computing facilities and library for literature searching and dissertation writing.

There are three pieces of summative assessment. A PROJECT PLAN weighted at 0% to assess learning outcomes 1 & 2. A VIVA approx 30 minutes to assess learning outcomes 2, 4, and 6 weighted at 0%. A DISSERTATION length 20000 WORDS to assess learning outcomes 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 weighted at 100%.