BIMPRO3: Biotechnology Research Project

Module code: BIMPRO3

Module provider: School of Biological Sciences

Credits: 60

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Summer (vacation) semester

Module convenor: Dr Mike Fry, email: m.j.fry@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students:

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 6 August 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The aim of this module is to provide students with an experience of biotechnology research through the design and execution of an individual research project. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. formulate and critically assess a scientific argument based on data. 
2. design a scientific project in consultation with others and carry out a programme of research, responding to the changing circumstances as they arise. 
3. draw on knowledge and data to set the research in context and to evaluate its contribution to biology. 
4. prepare a full report of the project in the form of a scientific paper. 

Module content

Students will carry out an individual research project under the supervision of a member of academic staff. Research projects will be assigned at the end of Semester 2. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Students will carry out an individual research project under the supervision of a member of academic staff. Students will have regular meetings to discuss experimental design, experiment results and general progress. Students will be trained in the appropriate experimental and analytical techniques according to the requirements of the specific project.  

Study hours

At least 0 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs