ME50376: Thesis formulation project
[Page last updated: 03 August 2022]
| Academic Year: | 2022/23 |
| Owning Department/School: | Department of Mechanical Engineering |
| Credits: | 30 [equivalent to 60 CATS credits] |
| Notional Study Hours: | 600 |
| Level: | Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7) |
| Period: |
|
| Assessment Summary: | CW 60%, OR 40% |
| Assessment Detail: |
|
| Supplementary Assessment: |
|
| Requisites: | To have completed semesters 1 and 2 on the MRes AAPS and obtain an average of at least 60%. |
| Learning Outcomes: | On successful completion of this unit the student will be able to:
* apply systems thinking in an automotive propulsion context * create and explore new opportunities in which your technical discipline can advance the state-of-the-art of automotive propulsion systems * create a new problem statement and challenge current viewpoints * create and deliver engaging communications that cover a depth of information whilst being accessible to a diverse audience * create a research methodology to address a problem statement * evaluate a range of published literature covering a broad range of topics with a focus on a new problem statement * write a concise technical/research paper capturing the main findings from a substantial piece of individual research. |
| Aims: | The aim of this unit is to train students in:
* problem formulation * assessing the suitability of research methods for a particular application * identifying research to address gaps in current methodology * planning a substantial research project * writing a research proposal. |
| Skills: | * Self-organised learning * Independent study * Leadership * Oral communication * Proposal writing * Written communication * Reflection on prior learning * Critical thinking * Ability to construct an argument * Data and information analysis of complex systems * Application of own expertise with an understanding of the systems implications * Dealing with incomplete data * Problem solving * Problem formulation, * Planning of research to solve an applied problem * Data sourcing and collection. |
| Content: | In this course, each student will create a research proposal for tackling an applied problem, typically presented by a scientist or industrialist at an integrative think tank (ITT) earlier in the year. The aim here is not to solve the problem but rather to define a plan of research that will ultimately lead to a solution. Exploratory work and experimental computations on selected aspects of the problem will be carried out in order to assess the applicability of existing methodology. If shortcomings are identified, extensions of the underlying theory and methods to deal with these issues should be included in the research proposal.
The output from this course unit will be a thesis formulation report describing a possible PhD research project. This report will provide background to the problem, a literature review, and a discussion of the academic and broader impacts of the proposed research. Initial development of methods and introductory computations will be exhibited in detail. Prior to this course, the student is expected to assemble a supervisory team and members of this team will monitor preparation of the report. The co-directors will oversee the process of assembling this supervisory team. As suggested by the unit title, it is anticipated that students will pursue the research project defined in their thesis formulation report when they continue to the next stage of the CDT-AAPS doctoral training programme. |
| Programme availability: |
ME50376 is Compulsory on the following programmes:Department of Mechanical Engineering
|
Notes:
|