Research projects and library dissertations are designed to provide you with the opportunity to extensively research a set topic. This will provide insights into the ongoing scientific process and debate, and develop independent-working and critical-assessment skills.

Successful completion of this module will enable students to meet a number of key learning outcomes for the B210 programme. The two projects undertaken will provide students with specialist and in-depth knowledge in two independent topics in modern pharmacology. In addition, the two projects have the following specific learning outcomes:

Laboratory Research Project
Through a concentrated period of time in an active research environment, with supervision, students will:

• Be able to work safely within a laboratory environment, and to assess and minimize risks from their own work and those of other researchers.
• Learn how to plan, execute and analyse experiments from an initial hypothesis to a final set of data, including the inclusion of appropriate controls.
• Acquire the skills needed to produce a final project report and present a poster from data they have collected and analysed. This will provide skills in scientific presentation (oral and written), as well as in the visual presentation of data.

Library Research Project
Through an independent library-based research project, with advice from an academic supervisor, students will:

• Learn to use the primary and secondary scientific literature to undertake in-depth research into a new topic, including the use of current software tools to search for and organise information.
• Acquire the ability to prepare a dissertation to a prescribed format, synthesizing the results of this research.
• Gain experience in delivering oral presentations to clearly and concisely explain complex scientific ideas.

Tutorial -

4 x 2 hour sessions for library project. 1 session on each of the following Endnote (2 hours), Statistical Analysis (1 1/2 hours) & Plagiarism (1 hour)

Laboratory Work -

5 weeks x 4 days plus 1 day of laboratory skills.

Students will be divided into 2 groups (A and B) and randomly assigned to either a lab-based or library-based project in week 1 of each semester. Students will be allocated a different supervisor for both laboratory and library projects. All students will be given Endnote/library search training in week 1, Semester 1. All students will attend 1 day of laboratory skills/statistical analysis in week 1 of each Semester (Group A Semester 1 and Group B Semester 2). All students will attend a tutorial in week 1, Semester 1on plagiarism.

• Students will work on the laboratory project Tuesday - Thursday 9.00am - 5.00pm and either Monday or Friday in weeks 2 to 6 (inclusive) of Semester 1 for Group A and weeks 2 to 6 (inclusive) for Semester 2 for Group B.
• You will be required to produce and present an A0 poster in week 11 of Semester 1 for Group A and week 11 of Semes ter 2 for Group B. Students will discuss poster content and answer related questions with examiners.
• 3 copies of your final laboratory report should be submitted by the end of week 9 of Semester 1 for Group A and the end of week 9 of Semester 2 for Group B.
• Students will work on the library project Tuesday - Thursday 9.00am - 5.00pm in weeks 2 to 5 (inclusive) of Semester 1 for Group B and weeks 2 to 5 (inclusive) for Semester 2 for Group A.
• You will give a 15 minute presentation (10-11 minutes talk, 3-4 minutes of questions; typically 8-12 slides) using Microsoft PowerPoint. Talks will be held over several sessions in front of an audience of students and staff. Week 7 in Semester 1 for Group B and week 7 in Semester 2 for Group A.
• 3 copies of the library project dissertation should be submitted by the end of week 10 of Semester 1 for Group B and the end of week 10 of Semester 2 for Group A.