| Unit name | Exploratory Research Projects |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PHYSM0014 |
| Credit points | 30 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Hayden |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | School of Physics |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
This unit consists of two, laboratory- or theory-based assignments designed to increase students' awareness of the breadth of condensed matter physics. The aim to instil a multi-disciplinary approach to problem-solving and inform their main project choices, while learning new experimental and theoretical techniques. Exposing students to a specific short-term project will broaden a student's research experience, stimulate innovative working practices and develop the students ability to think "outside the box" in their subsequent PhD project. Examples of Exploratory Research Projects include: using nanofabrication techniques for developing new probes capable of measuring the purest micron-sized single crystal samples or calculation of the quasi-particle properties of a new material.
On successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:
The unit will take place in research labs alongside post doctoral research fellows and students already engaged in PhD research. The students will undertake the Exploratory Research Projects in pairs, with the pairs chosen so that the students have complementary backgrounds and can thus learn from each other.
Each student will prepare one formal laboratory report (about 1500 words) for one assignment (50%) and a 30 minute presentation for the other (50%).
References and reading will be provided by the academic members responsible for each Exploratory Research Project.
