BIOL4022: BIOCHEMISTRY RESEARCH PROJECT

• Satisfactory completion of 60 credits of level 3 Biosciences modules to include Stress and Responses to the Environment (BIOL3491) and Biochemistry and Biotechnology (BIOL3601).

• Bioactive Chemistry Research Project (CHEM4272), Bioactive Chemistry 4 (CHEM4211), Biomolecular Analysis L4 (BIOL4011).

• Research Skills L4 (BIOL4121), Workshop L4 (BIOL4111), Field Course L4 (BIOL4101), Research Project MBiol (BIOL4094).

• To provide an introduction to bioactive chemistry research and to impart new experimental, analytical and theoretical skills.
• The project includes laboratory work and the writing of a research report.
• This module can only be taken in conjunction with a 40 credit module from Chemistry. The project is the sum of both modules. Only one set of module assessments is carried out, and the same marks used in both modules.

• Health and Safety Induction programme.
• A supervised research investigation of an area within biochemistry where knowledge obtained by laboratory experimentation is important.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• On completion of this module, undergraduates should be able to:
• demonstrate an ability to evaluate current research critically, assess the relevance of their own research project and propose hypotheses and explanations for their results;
• describe and critically analyse the literature precedent and background of the research project.
• demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the specific topic of their research project.

Subject-specific Skills:

• construct risk assessments for proposed research in collaboration with project supervisor;
• show skill in designing a poster presentation of the project that will communicate key aspects clearly and concisely;
• construct a well-structured abstract and report;
• deliver a clear lecture presentation, appreciating the level of presentation appropriate for the target audience;
• demonstrate expertise in research by oral examination.

Key Skills:

• develop expertise in relating modern literature to a specific area of research;
• apply and develop problem solving skills (experimental and-or theoretical) appropriate to the particular research project identifying suitable techniques, methods and equipment;
• define key problems and the tasks needed for their solution and develop a timetable to undertake and complete these tasks developing and applying appropriate data analysis methods;
• develop interpersonal skills through working in a research group and calling on the assistance of others and interacting with service providers;
• demonstrate and apply written communication skills in writing an extended research report;
• search the scientific literature using both paper-based and online facilities;
• use appropriate specialist databases.

• Teaching will begin with a compulsory Health and Safety course. Project supervisors will arrange appropriate formative research training.
• Once ethics and risk assessments have been completed and approved, students will undertake a research project under joint supervision within the research groups led by members of the Boards of Studies in Biosciences and Chemistry. The research supervisors will have been allocated by the Chemistry Education Committee during Epiphany Term of Level 3 in consultation with the Biosciences Education Committee.
• During the project students will submit, and receive formative feedback from their supervisors on draft project chapters. Students will also receive regular formative feedback, usually verbal, from their supervisors on the progress of their project.
• Students will normally have the opportunity to attend, and present at, research group meetings, developing their presentation skills introduced in Level 3.
• The project will be assessed by a project report, including abstract, literature survey, results and discussion. Students will give a lecture presentation and defend a poster. The student will be examined on their research in an oral examination by two examiners and a moderator.
• The written report will assess the communication skills learnt.
• Oral examination will test the knowledge and understanding of the project by the undergraduate.
• The ability to deliver a clear lecture presentation, appreciating the level of presentation appropriate for the target audience is tested by the summatively assessed presentation.

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