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BB50198: Research training & support skills

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2014/5
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Biology & Biochemistry
Further information on credits Credits: 12
Further information on unit levels Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Academic Year
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 50%, PR 50%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Critical Analysis (CW 50%)
  • Practical Molecular Biology (PR 50%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:

* To provide a practical knowledge of advanced molecular biology research skills used for the characterisation of gene structure and gene expression, with an emphasis on analytical systems and problem solving.
* introduce the skills required for safe and effective research and to understand the place of the research in national and international contexts.

Learning Outcomes:
After taking this course the student should be able to:
* Demonstrate technical, analytical, interpretative and literature-accessing skills in the undertaking and presentation of the project;
* Rationalise methodology based on research literature and design their own experiments;
* plan and organise carrying out a scientific research project;
* Identify the intellectual, time- and resource-management and technical requirements for productive, rigorous and responsible scientific investigation and reporting.

Skills:
Learning and studying T/F/A, Written communication T/F/A, Oral communication T/F/A, Numeracy & computation T/F/A, Laboratory skills T/F/A, Information technology T/F, Problem solving T/F/A, Information handling & retrieval T/F/A, Working independently T/F, Career preparation T/F.

Content:
The course involves two components:
a) Practical Molecular Biology: A series of linked practicals that form a mini-project on eukaryotic gene expression analysis.
b) Research training skills: Selection and definition of a problem that can be investigated effectively within constraints of safety, time and resources; strategic planning; gathering, processing, analysis and interpretation of information; literature searching and reviewing; scientific writing and presentation. Other generic research skills include radiological protection, risk assessments (GMOs, microorganisms, chemicals, radiation, etc.), safety legislation, time management, planning work, obtaining information, academic writing, making effective presentations, poster preparation; demonstrating in laboratories; issues of confidentiality, ethics, attribution, copyright, malpractice and plagiarism; ownership of data and the requirements of the Data Protection Act; intellectual property rights, spinouts and licensing; science policy, funding and evaluation; bibliographic databases; personal development planning.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

BB50198 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Biology & Biochemistry
Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2014/15 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2015/16 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2014/15.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.