CHE-40050 - MChem Research Training

Coordinator: Peter D Matthews Room: LJ0.19 Tel: +44 1782 7 33188

Lecture Time: See Timetable...

Level: Level 7

Credits: 30

Study Hours: 300

School Office: 01782 734921

Programme/Approved Electives for 2020/21

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2020/21

This is a core module for the MChem programmes. It is designed to give students' the tools to succeed in research by increasing students' critical understanding of appropriate chemical sciences literature, the research process and their analytical skills. In addition, the students will reinforce their knowledge with tools for preparation of chemical structures, graphics, referencing, and other relevant components of a professionally written scientific report.

Aims

To further develop information literacy skills in searching for, selecting and critically evaluating relevant peer-reviewed research literature.
To gain an appreciation of the chemistry research process, through engagement with issues surrounding funding, publishing, research integrity and ethics, and impact.
To further develop written communication skills.

Intended Learning Outcomes

use analytical and critical reading to extract and collate information presented in scientific, peer-reviewed journal literature: communicate effectively and persuasively in written forms using clear, scientific language: evaluate and discuss the impact of the outcomes of a research project in terms of the societal, financial and intellectual perspectives: present and defend the key findings of their research in a variety of formats including a laboratory notebook and poster presentation: apply appropriate problem solving skills to both familiar and unfamiliar case studies taken from topical areas of interest: 1
appraise critically the suitability of techniques used for research and in published work: 1
analyse an experimental data set and report the conclusions of the analysis in a format appropriate to the sub-field of chemistry: 1

Study hours

12 hours Chemical Sciences Seminar Series
30 hours workshops
8 hours supervision meetings
250 hours independent study and assessment preparation

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Portfolio weighted 40%
Data analysis and written report
Students will carry out data analysis and report the outcomes of their analysis in the format of a scientific journal, equivalent to 3200 - 4000 words in length.

2: Research Proposal weighted 10%
Proposal
Students will prepare a research proposal (equivalent to 700 words) based on the students' research project which will include title, brief background, the aims of the project, details of the investigation to be carried out and the methods to be used.

3: Laboratory Book weighted 35%
Laboratory notebook
A comprehensive and contemporary laboratory notebook that includes: details of experiments (or equivalent) undertaken, results, literature that has been engaged with, data analysis and records of project meetings with supervisor.

4: Poster Presentation weighted 15%
Poster Presentation
Poster presentation on the research project to include: brief context for the project and the results obtained in the project. The poster will be assessed for content and visual appeal as a static piece of work. The students will additionally give a 5-10 minute talk about their poster to academic staff and then answer questions for 5-10 minutes.

CHE-40050 - Module Specification School of Chemical and Physical Sciences Faculty of Natural Sciences

CHE-40050 - Module Specification
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences