| Unit name | Research Training |
|---|---|
| Unit code | BIOC30008 |
| Credit points | 40 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Robson |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
BIOC20001 - Molecular Cell Biology |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
BIOC30009 - Advanced Molecular Cell Biology |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Biochemistry |
| Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
Why is this unit important?
This unit provides research training to prepare students for the Extended Research Project in the final year of the MSci programme. Students will work in supervised groups to solve practical research problems. The Literature Review Project is a library-based research project in which an independent review of the primary scientific literature is carried out, again under the supervision of a member of academic staff. The unit is examined primarily through the writing of two dissertations.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
Students on MSci degree programmes undertake the Research Training unit as part of their penultimate year of study. The unit aims to develop key research and analytical skills in biochemistry. Students will gain experience of biochemical research and gain an understanding of scientific enquiry through the project work.
An overview of content
Two separate pieces of project work are undertaken with different project supervisors. Students have an opportunity to state preferences for the Literature Review project they wish to undertake.
A wide range of Literature Review Projects are available addressing either specific biochemical topics or wider themes.
In the research training project, students work in groups to address a scientific challenge such as the expression, purification and characterisation of a particular protein. Work is supervised by a member of staff and supported by a technical manual. The project is support by lectures and workshops before and after a period of laboratory work.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
After engaging with the unit, students should be able to:
Learning Outcomes
Learning on this unit directly addresses components of the Bristol Skills Profile, including:
Supervised research sessions and workshops
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Students will receive feedback on selected aspects of drafts of their project reports.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
The components that make up the unit assessment are:
To earn credit for this unit you must normally have made a reasonable attempt at each of the components of the unit assessment. A reasonable attempt requires a student to have undertaken the assessment activity and engaged with its purpose in the academic judgement of the relevant Unit Director, or nominee.
When assessment does not go to plan
Where required, a reassessment normally involves a second attempt at the same form of assessment.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. BIOC30008).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
