Module Specification
The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title RESEARCH METHODS AND APPLICATIONS IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (OFF-CAMPUS)
Code LIFE631
Coordinator Dr MJ Horsburgh
Functional and Comparative Genomics
M.J.Horsburgh@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2016-17 Level 7 FHEQ Whole Session 15

Pre-requisites before taking this module (other modules and/or general educational/academic requirements):
Entry into the MBiolSci, MRes (ASCR, PGSC) or MSc (ASCT) programmes  

Modules for which this module is a pre-requisite:
 

Co-requisite modules:
 

Linked Modules:
 

Teaching Schedule
  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 16

 8

       6

 30
Timetable (if known) On-lIne lectures (8 x 2h sessions)
  		Attended at host institute
  		         
Private Study 120
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment
EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
             
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
Coursework  8 x 200 words   2  20  1 further opportunity  As University policy  Assessment 1 
Coursework  1 or 2   2  20  1 further opportunity  As University Policy  Assessment 2 
Coursework  1000 words  1 or 2  20  1 further opportunity  As University policy  Assessment 3 
Coursework  N/A  1 and 2   0  Multiple opportunities  N/A  Assessment 4 
Coursework  800/1000 words   1 or 2  20  1 further opportunity  As University policy  Assessment 5 
Coursework  10min  2  20  1 further opportunity  As University policy  Assessment 6 Notes (applying to all assessments) Continuous Seminar Synopsis Assessment 5 will be 200 word synopses of 8 seminars that the student attends.MCQ and EMI Assessment 1: will be an A0 poster (prepared in Powerpoint) on one of a choice of topic sessions that involve modelling/computational biology. This will be electronically submitted.Ethics Report Assessment 2: will be a dissertation that discusses ethical considerations of scientific research Continuous On-line assessments for each session Assessment 6: these will be a series of objective assessments (e.g. multiple choice, short answer and extended matching questions), for each session that the student is registered. Students must achieve a satisfactory mark (80%) for each of these assessments and have multiple opportunities to achieve this. These assessments carry no summative scores but students must pass all sessions. Continuous news and views article Assessment 3: will be a report written in a "News and Views" style on a recently published paper. The style should be understandable to a general scientific audience.Continuous Presentation Assessment 4 will be 10 min oral presentation plus 5 min of questions. Students off campus will use an on-line conferencing system (e.g. Go To Meeting) which will allow Liverpool staff to view the Powerpoint slides on screen and see a webcam of the presenting student: Liverpool staff will assess the presentation. This presentation will describe their project and include the hypothesis to be tested.  

Aims

This module is designed to:

  1. Provide students with an understanding of the processes required for the successful planning and delivery of research projects;
  2. Introduce students to the latest, cutting edge technologies in their research field of interest;
  3. Develop in students the transferrable communication skills that will enable them to disseminate their findings to both scientific and general audiences.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this module, students will be able to:

  1. Develop hypotheses and design a series of experiments that would allow these hypotheses to be tested;
  2. Critically review the legal and moral frameworks within which scientific research must be conducted, in particular research ethics and current legislation;
  3. Effectively communicate research findings using writing styles for different audiences, including the scientific and lay communities, and to understand the need to promote the public understanding of science;
  4. Understand why and when it is appropriate for biologists to engage with mathematicians, computer scientists and physical scientists to obtain more quantitative, holistic or systems-based approaches to studying biological processes;
  5. Critically review the latest scientific d iscoveries in their research field, and understand the principles underpinning cutting edge technologies that may be applied to their area of scientific investigation;
  6. Synthesise information, critically review evidence to support conclusions, and define complex problems by applying appropriate knowledge and skills.

Teaching and Learning Strategies

Lecture -

On-lIne lectures (8 x 2h sessions)

Seminar -

Attended at host institute

Other -


Syllabus
1  1

Core component

Experimental design and hypothesis testing

Research Ethics

Popular science writing and public understanding of science

Mathematical modelling

Optional components (students choose 4 topics, with guidance from project supervisor). Topics include:

Genomic technologies

Transcriptomics and arrays

Proteomics

Advanced microscopic techniques

Flow cytometry

Molecular ecology

Meta analysis

Model species

Observational sampling/questionnaire design

Obtaining Research Ethics approval

Students must also attend (and write a brief report on) at least 8 seminars presented within their host department, institute or University


Recommended Texts
Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.
Explanation of Reading List: