MMB8099 : MRes Project
- Offered for Year: 2022/23
- Module Leader(s): Dr Simon Bamforth
- Deputy Module Leader: Dr Phillip Aldridge
- Owning School: FMS Graduate School
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 50 |
| Semester 3 Credit Value: | 50 |
| ECTS Credits: | 50.0 |
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 outwith the University or 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). Students may choose from any of the current areas of research in the Faculty and are advised to explore the Faculty website for information on the full range of current activities.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 20:00 | 20:00 | Preparation of Poster |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 40:00 | 40:00 | Preparation of oral presentation |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 130:00 | 130:00 | Writing of Project Dissertation |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 10:00 | 10:00 | Preparation of lay abstract |
| Guided Independent Study | Project work | 1 | 760:00 | 760:00 | Time spent on supervised & independent research including engaging with activities of research group |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Dissertation/project related supervision | 1 | 40:00 | 40:00 | Time with supervisor & other members of research team related directly to the research project |
| Total | 1000:00 |
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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dissertation | 3 | M | 70 | 7000-8500 word dissertation based on the student project |
| Prof skill assessmnt | 3 | M | 12 | Oral presentation based on student project |
| Poster | 3 | M | 12 | Poster based on project |
| Report | 3 | M | 6 | Lay Summary 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, and their ability to present and analyse data and discuss their own work in a written format.
The poster and oral presentation assess the student’s ability to prepare and deliver short summaries of their project using a number of different methods and appropriate software in clear and concise formats. Oral presentations are live, 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 summary assesses the student's ability to prepare a short summary of their research accessible by the general public. Computer literacy is assessed in the thesis and oral presentation.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- MMB8099's Timetable