As a research assistant you will plan, execute and report on a substantial research project related to an active area of research within the department. This will include carrying out an initial literature review on the topic of interest, completing the ethical and risk assessments for the work as well as giving oral and written reports on your findings.

The module runs for a single semester during which you will work exclusively on all aspects of the project.

A portfolio, weighted at 100 %, which will comprise all of the individual components below, submitted over the course of the module. Each individual component must be passed.

1. A review article (30 %) written in the format required for submission to Bioscience Horizons – it is anticipated that many of you will submit your article to the journal at the end of the module. This article will be a focused review of the literature surrounding the topic on which your research project will be based. The main body of the text, including all figure legends, must not exceed 5000 words (references do not count towards this word limit). The review should cover the wider background to your study to show its context to the general area in addition to indicating the more specialised literature of direct relevance to your study. (Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6)

2. You will be expected to take part in ‘Work-in-Progress’ talks during which you will give short presentations to your peers regarding the progress of your work. It is anticipated that these sessions will be formative and help you prepare for giving a longer conference-style presentation upon completion of your work. These sessions are mandatory but zero-weighted (Learning Outcomes 2, 4, 5, 6).

3. A hardback A4 laboratory book (10 %) in which you make contemporaneous notes of all the work carried out on the project. This should include not only details of primary results obtained and any appropriate preliminary analysis based on them, but also details of the literature searching and any other information retrieval activities associated with the project. (Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 6)

4. A dissertation style report (40 %) will be completed at the end of the research project. This report should be no more than 6000 words in length. Learning outcomes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6)

5. [FINAL] A conference style oral presentation (20 %) will be given at the end of the module. It is anticipated that you will be asked questions on your work which you should be able to address in a professional and scientific manner, defending your work if needs be. A proportion of the final mark will be contributed by peer assessment of your presentation. (Learning outcomes 1, 3, 5, 6)

You may find it useful to identify a text about managing a research project, there is an example of such a text recommended below. A text cannot be recommended for each specific research project however you will be expected to identify any specialist texts of relevance to your particular area of study.

McCormack, C. (2012) Research Project Success: The essential guide for science and engineering students. Cambridge Publishing.

You will need access to the appropriate laboratory facilities and equipment at the University.

1. Demonstrate the ability to plan and execute an extended piece of original research. (Enquiry, Learning).
2. Liaise effectively with academic staff in devising a series of experiments aimed at answering questions of direct relevance to research in the field. (Communication, Application, Reflection).
3. Collect high quality data and carry out appropriate analysis and record findings in sufficient details to allow others to reproduce your work. (Analysis, Application, Reflection).
4. Effectively review progress towards agreed targets and independently take any action necessary to meet aims. (Analysis, Problem Solving, Reflection).
5. Demonstrate advanced skills in locating and reviewing appropriate scientific literature and assessing its impact on the study. (Analysis, Enquiry, Knowledge and Understanding, Learning).
6. Write a concise coherent report of the work carried out and its significance in addressing the research questions posed and deliver an oral presentation summarising important aspects of your work. (Communication, Reflection).

During the course of your research you will have a series of meetings with your academic supervisor which will provide any guidance needed to ensure that the project is successfully executed. It is anticipated that these meetings will be largely a means of you updating your supervisor with progress and explaining how you anticipate continuing on the basis of the results obtained.

You will also attend weekly ‘Work-in-Progress’ Seminars during which you will update your peers of your research activity (this may include updates on written communications, practical work carried out, useful websites or books that you have read etc.). It is hoped that this will prepare you for the final conference style presentation that you will give at the end of the module.

Independent study. Examples of how you might use this time include; completing necessary paperwork to begin your experimental work; carrying out experimental work and processing data; completion of tasks necessary for the assessed portfolio.