LSC-30114 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

This research dissertation represents the culmination of your learning experience across the programme. This is an opportunity for you to undertake an authentic research project which could include lab or field-based work, literature reviews, bioinformatic, pedagogic or outreach activities. You can express a preference from a wide range of subjects and will be allocated a one-to-one academic supervisor to guide you throughout the completion of the module.
Through engaging with this module, you will be introduced to the concept, philosophy and approach to performing scientific research, enabling you to conduct a research project. This will develop key skills regularly utilized in the scientific community such as; development of appropriate methods to test a hypothesis, in-depth literature reviews and analysis of data.

To enhance evidence-based approaches to problem solving and developing analytical skills in assessing, planning, conducting and evaluating scientific problems and ability to independently gather and analyse data and/or literature. To provide students with the experience of working safely and independently on a research project.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Critically review current literature to provide up-to-date scientific context to a research problem: 1
Analyse own data or use data from published sources to present to a scientific audience: 1
Identify potential ethical challenges and devise appropriate justification for scientific pursuit within an appropriate framework.: 1,2
Identify risks and hazards and apply fundamental principles of health and safety legislation to devise appropriate risk assessment(s), as appropriate to the project.: 1,2
Produce a scientific dissertation that critically appraises a scientific hypothesis and presents an evidence-based argument: 1
Interpret and summarise key research findings, identify gaps in current knowledge and propose areas for future research: 1
Conduct themselves in the research environment in a professional manner (for example, technical competence, note taking, record-keeping, time keeping etc).: 2

Study hours

2 x 1 hour seminars.
4 x 1 hour online drop ins
9 hours meeting with supervisors
Directed learning
60 hours: Practical work and data analysis
Independent study
35 hours private study
40 hours preparation of report

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment