Student must be registered on the MSci Forensic Science award

The assessment will consist of the following elements.
1. An extensive literature review (20%) of the area written in the form of a scientific review article. This review should be no more than 15 pages (6000 words) in length (excluding the reference list). 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.
2. A manuscript (weighted at 50%) written in the style of an article submitted for publication of no more than 20 pages (8000 words). This must achieve a pass mark for the module to be passed.
3. A hardback A4 laboratory book (20%) 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.
4. A conference style presentation (10%). This can take the form of either a 30 minute verbal conference style presentation to an audience of staff and students or a poster (including a 30 minute question and answer style defence) covering an appropriate aspect of the work undertaken.

Acting as a full time research assistant you will plan, execute and report on a substantial research project which is of relevance to the forensic sector. This will include carrying out initial literature surveys on the topics of interest and completing the ethical and risk assessments for the work. The subject matter of the project will, where possible, be developed in conjunction with external providers who have topics of interest which they wish to explore in depth.

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

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.

You will need to access the library and information facilities. You will need access to the appropriate laboratory facilities and equipment at the University.
You will have access to an academic supervisor and technical support.

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.
To assist you with the planning and writing of the report you should consult texts such as:
The Research Project: How to Write it – R. Berry Routledge 1994
How to Write Dissertations and Reports - K McMillan and J. Weyers Prentice Hall 2011
Reading the guidelines for authors of forensic journals will give you a good idea of the styles of presentation required for manuscripts.
Information for Science and Justice can be found at http://www.scienceandjusticejournal.com/authorinfo
And Forensic Science International at http://www.fsijournal.org/authorinfo