BIMRM22: Research Management, Ethics and Current Topics in Biomedical Engineering

Module code: BIMRM22

Module provider: School of Biological Sciences

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Professor Faustina Hwang, email: f.hwang@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Professor Ying Zheng, email: ying.zheng@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: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module has two aspects. Firstly, it provides trainingthat will help students develop as researchers.The module will developskills required for assessing, conducting, and communicating research.Topics include critically and constructively reviewing others’ work, preparing a research ethics application, and managing research data. Secondly, the module will draw upon the expertise of the academic staff in the Department or suitable external speakers who will lead sessions on areas of interest or in which they have published academic papers. Topics may vary from year to year. Students will write and submit two essays from the range of topics presented. Attendance will be monitored by sign-up sheet.

Aims:

• To provide training in searching for and using research literature, in critically evaluating research, and writing reviews
• To develop skills in conducting and communicating original research
• To provide training in preparing a research ethics application
• To provide guidance on research data management
• To inform students about the current state of knowledge and debate in biomedical engineering. Topics reflect the expertise in the department, including assistive technology, rehabilitation, medical instrumentation and imaging, human computer interface, tissue engineering and dynamic modelling of biological systems

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Search for relevant literature from a wide range of sources, to select appropriate key literature, and use the literature to make/support an argument
2. Assess and produce scientific writing according to a specified set of requirements, and to evaluate the quality of presentations and proposals
3. Assess critically the methods, results and conclusions reported by other researchers
4. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding acquired of a selected research topics
5. Prepare a research ethics application
6. Discuss key considerations in research data management, and be able to propose an appropriate data management approach
7. Write concise essays and summarise academic research in a style appropriate for an interested, non-specialist reader
8. Present and critically discuss a current research topic in biomedical engineering
9. Demonstrate understanding of the selected research topic in the wider context of biomedical engineering and its applications

Module content

• Different types of research contribution
• Effective use of literature search facilities
• Critical assessment of the quality and presentation of research
• Publication strategies and how to write a paper
• Research ethics
• Research data management

Students will attend research lectures delivered by academic staff and external speakers in order to develop an overview of current topics in biomedical engineering. Students will choose two topics to focus their study and write a scientific report on each topic.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures related to research management and ethics will be given to provide relevant information to the whole class. Students will work individually or in small groups to apply the material from the lectures ideally to a project relevant to them, with support from the lecturer. The format will be primarily student led, where students will share their work with peers through written reports and discussions, and provide feedback on others’ work. 

Two series of research lectures on current topics in biomedical engineering will be delivered in an informal setting to facilitate discussion and debate. Students are required to write an essay presenting topics of their choice based on each series.   

Study hours

At least 40 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.

During lectures and seminars, there will be opportunities to discuss ideas and to receive feedback from peers and lectures. 

Reassessment

Additional costs