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Module

MMB8098 : MRes Project

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Simon Bamforth
  • Deputy Module Leader: Dr Phillip Aldridge
  • Owning School: Biomedical, Nutritional and Sports Scien
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 2 Credit Value: 55
Semester 3 Credit Value: 55
ECTS Credits: 55.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

The aims of the module are to:

1.       Allow students to undertake a general training in research methods and management within a first class research environment involving an appropriate project exploring one or more aspects of biosciences, health sciences and/or behavioural sciences.

2.       To allow intercalating students to experience medical research first hand.

3.       Within these aims, the students will experience a range of cutting-edge research within biosciences, health sciences and/or behavioural sciences either in the University, in another higher education institution or in Industry.

4.       To enable students to make informed choices about their further career development either medicine, science or business.

5.       To enable students to develop a range of professional and key skills, which will enable them to engage in teaching and/or research at an advanced level in higher education or in a senior professional capacity in other fields of employment.

Outline Of Syllabus

Students will be able to choose from a list of projects offered by academic supervisors within the University and out-with the University or (intercalating Newcastle MBBS students) arrange their own project under the supervision of an appropriate member of the academic staff of the University.

Projects are approved by the degree programme director or their nominee(s).

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion110:0010:00Preparation of lay abstract
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion125:0025:00Preparation of Poster
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion145:0045:00Preparation of oral presentation
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion1150:00150:00Writing of Project Dissertation
Guided Independent StudyProject work1820:00820:00Supervised and independent research including engaging with activities of research group
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDissertation/project related supervision150:0050:00Time with supervisor & other members of the research team related directly to the research project
Total1100:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Students will carry out guided but independent original research, through which they will apply and develop skills in planning and recording research, in addition to data recording and analysis. Students will be guided to plan their own research activities, which will require them to develop, through reading and dialogue with the research group, an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the broader topic of their research. This engagement in the research project embeds all of the intended knowledge outcomes and practices and develops skills 1-5. Writing the dissertation, with feedback from supervisors, develops skill 6. Preparation of poster, and lay abstract and preparation and practice of oral presentation, develops skills 7 and 8.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Dissertation3M737500 word dissertation based on research carried out during the student project
Poster3M11Poster based on project
Prof skill assessmnt3M11Present in person oral presentation based on student project
Report3M5Lay abstract as prelude to oral presentation
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The assessments all test skills that are key attributes of the professional bioscientist, and are also transferrable to many other careers.

The dissertation tests: the student’s ability to write in a style suitable for publication in the scientific literature; critically evaluate their own data and the published literature; to present analyse and discuss their own work and data.

The poster and oral presentation assess the student’s ability to prepare and deliver short summaries of their project using different methods and appropriate software in clear and concise formats. Oral presentations are present in person, time limited, and to an audience of peers and assessors. Following their presentation, students answer questions on it provided at the time by the audience.

The lay abstract assesses the student’s ability to prepare a short summary of their research accessible by the general public. Computer literacy is assessed in the dissertation, poster and oral presentation.

Reading Lists

Timetable