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CHE-40054 - Module Specification
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2023/24 Last Updated: 13 February 2024

CHE-40054 - Advanced Research Training for Chemists
Coordinator: Peter 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 2023/24

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2023/24


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.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/che-40054/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

extract and critically evaluate information presented in scientific, peer-reviewed journal literature: communicate effectively and persuasively in written form adhering to professional conventions and using appropriate chemical terminology: 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 project notebook and poster presentation: synthesise chemical ideas and theories to solve problems in familiar and unfamiliar case studies taken from topical areas of interest: 1
appraise critically the suitability of experimental techniques used for research and in published work: 1
evaluate an experimental data set and report the conclusions of the analysis in a professional 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 a data analysis on a sample of provided data as part of advanced chemical analysis training, and they will report the outcomes of their analysis in the context of the modern literature. The portfolio will be in the format of a scientific journal, equivalent to 3000 - 4000 words in length.

2: Research Proposal weighted 10%
Research 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%
Project Notebook
A comprehensive and contemporary project 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.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 13 February 2024