PROJ08031 2019 Medical Biotechnology Project

Have the ability to plan and organise activities within the time frame of the project.

Complete and present (written and orally) a comprehensive literature survey and present a report on the results of their study.

Enhance their ability to work and study with minimum supervision.

Have applied analytical knowledge and practical skills gained during the course to solve an analytical problem.

Have gained experience in experimental design, and the selection of techniques and methods applicable to analytical problem solving.

Be capable of analysing data produced in the study and write a final dissertation.

Develop their research skills and abilities.

This module will be delivered fulltime. Advice and direction on the research project will take the form of weekly meetings. Moodle will be used as a repository of resources and as a means of assessment.

This project is focused on the individual skills of the student. Formatively, weekly round table discussions help students gain confidence in discussing scientific topics and this adds an element of peer learning along with each team member presenting relevant peer journals to the team.

Resubmission of Project

Laboratory based Team projects:

Students will undertake an in depth study of their selected project area within a team of 3-4 students.  At the outset the student will be required to submit a:

(1)    For laboratory based projects a Literature review (4-5,000 words maximum).

(2)    Each team member will submit a Project Plan including:

              •a.      Critical evaluation of the most appropriate analytical method.

              •b.      Gant chart with timelines.

              •c.      Research questions to be addressed in the investigation, and outline methodologies to implement the research strategy.

A team will be formed to work on a project decided by the supervisor of the team. Team dynamic:

Members of the team will take turns to chair team meetings.

Team meeting will be held weekly in round table format.

The members of the team will, in consultation with the supervisor define the project into parts and the team discuss and decides who will perform which parts of the project based on interests and team member strengths.

Weekly activities in semester 1:

Journal club

Method analysis and discussion

Budget and reagent needs

Ordering of reagents and materials

Discussion and identification of Health & Safety concerns

Develop ideal timelines for activities and experiments

Presentations of ideas to supervisor and external on the subject matter.

Literature Review to be undertaken in the chosen project area.

Semester 2 activities:

Maximum 6-7 week laboratory schedule beginning from week 1 semester 2. 

Literature Review to be submitted by week two of semester 2

Weekly team meetings to continue with each team member outlining activities in previous week and planned activities for the coming week.

Submission of thesis at the end of semester 2

Presentation of work at the end of semester followed by an in depth viva by supervisor and a second designated examiner.

The student will analyse their results and prepare a written dissertation on the research project (maximum 8-9,000 words for a laboratory based project, a significant portion of which will be presentation in the style of a peer reviewed scientific journal article).  Critical interpretation of data produced by statistical techniques will be encouraged in order to validate interpretations and conclusions drawn.

The project module is essentially a mix of peer learning and independent, self-directed study, reflecting the level 8 stage in the learning programme.  

Indicative Syllabus

Laboratory based projects:

Students will undertake an in depth study of their selected project area At the outset the student will be required to submit a:

(1)    For laboratory based projects a Literature review (4-5,000 words maximum).

(2)    Submit a  Project Plan including:

              •a.      Critical evaluation of the most appropriate analytical method.

              •b.      Gant chart with timelines.

              •c.      Research questions to be addressed in the investigation, and outline methodologies to implement the research strategy.

Weekly activities in semester 1:

Method analysis and discussion

Budget and reagent needs

Overlapping activities and timelines

Ordering of reagents and materials

Discussion and identification of Health & Safety concerns

Develop ideal timelines for activities and experiments

Semester 2 activities:

Maximum 6-7 week laboratory schedule beginning from week 1 semester 1.

Weekly meetings with supervisor

Submission of thesis at the end of semester 2

Poster presentation followed by a viva by supervisor and second marker.

The student will analyse their results and prepare a written dissertation on the research project (maximum 8-9,000 words for a laboratory based project a significant part of this will be in the form of a typical research article).  Critical interpretation of data produced by statistical techniques will be encouraged in order to validate interpretations and conclusions drawn.

Dry laboratory project:

Indicative Syllabus:

An individual student may perform a non-laboratory based project with similar outline to the individual project above. These project MUST however, contain a significant element of data analysis incuding statistical analysis of data. These dry projects are expected to be between 12,000-15,000 words in length.