1. Demonstrate advanced skills in locating and reviewing appropriate scientific literature and assessing its impact on scientific study design.
Analysis
Enquiry
Knowledge and Understanding
Learning

2. Demonstrate the ability to plan, execute and then communicate the findings of an extended piece of original research.
Enquiry
Learning
Communication

3. Collect high quality data and carry out appropriate analysis and interpret results in the context of current literature.
Analysis
Application

4. Present work in different formats and defend the scientific basis of study design, research question design and data interpretation.
Knowledge and Understanding
Learning
Analysis

1. A review article (30 %) written in the format required for submission to a named journal (to be agreed upon with supervisor). 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 4000 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 and 4)

2. 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 2, 3, and 4)

3. A conference style oral presentation (30 %) will be given at the end of the module. (20 minutes in length plus 10 minutes for questions). 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 (10 % of the 30 %) will be contributed by peer assessment of your presentation. (Learning outcomes 4) (FINAL ASESSMENT)

Acting as a full time 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.

Experience life in a dynamic research environment. Acting as a full time 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.

During the course of your research you will have a series of meeting 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. It is expected that you will bring your laboratory book in which you make contemporaneous notes of all the work carried out on the project to these meetings. The lab book 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.

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.

There are no core texts for this module but you will be expected to identify any specialist texts of relevance to your particular area of study.

You will be expected to make extensive use of primary literature.

Access to appropriate laboratory facilities and IT facilities (depending on the project, this may include some specialist software).