Chemistry MSc Research Project and Skills

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Communicate the results of a review of the scientific literature relevant to your project in writing, using appropriate scientific terminology and formatting.
• Apply core chemistry knowledge in advanced problem solving;
• Critically evaluate the quality and reliability of your acquired data;
• Communicate the project results with clarity, both verbally and in writing, and by using appropriate scientific terminology;
• Manage personal study time effectively to balance the different needs of the literature review and project planning.
• Effectively time manage the practical and theoretical workload associated with practical research work;
• Undertake complex practical and theoretical tasks to support any given research hypothesis;
• Work independently towards achieving well defined objectives.
• Demonstrate initiative in developing solutions to problems related to the research project.
• Maintain a laboratory / work record to a professional standard;
• Identify key elements of the scientific literature that are relevant to a research area.
• Make judgments on the direction of research work on the basis of an understanding of the chemical literature;
• Distil complex data from different sources into a coherent package of supporting evidence;
• Prepare risk assessments for all practical work undertaken;
• Collate and analyse data from a variety of sources.
• Present conclusions and suggestions for further work that are evidence based and consistent with the results of project work.
• Carry out the practical element of the project work with a high degree of independence and with regular self-evaluation of performance, leading to the development of personal objectives and strategies of how to meet them;

Through the preparation of the literature Review you will, - develop literature searching strategies using online databases such as scifinder, reaxys and web of science, - plan and complete an extended literature review and present this to a professional standard on a subject related to your research project, - critically analyse the literature to draw your own conclusions and use these to guide your future research project, - prepare a short presentation on one aspect of your literature review to present to a panel. Full-time work will then be carried out throughout the summer period (requirement of 35 hours per week). The majority of time will be spent in practical research on your project although there will be an expectation that you complete the necessary further literature work to allow you to accomplish your laboratory work effectively. A project plan is required for submission in early June and an interim report is required for submission at the start of August. Both components are mandatory (guidance on format will be provided) and both will be returned with feedback. From mid august you will begin to refocus your work towards the background literature and preparing your dissertation. During this time you will also make a formal presentation of your work to a pane of examiners and the MSc cohort. Please note the deadline for submission of the dissertation and penalties for late submission will be applied according to the university regulations.

The Semester 1 and 2 taught component of the course consists of lectures covering the basics of the module, academic integrity, and the fundamentals of preparing a high quality literature review. These are supported by a series of workshops on, 1.Literature based research and search strategies, 2.Scientific writing 3.Scientific presentations. Extra language support is also provided where needed through tutorial and small group sessions. With these skills you will then independently prepare your literature review with extra guidance provided in meetings with your academic supervisor. For the hands-on research component the primary approaches include: • Provision of information on the project process with the programme coordinator; • Establishment of project objectives with academic supervisor (often before project starts) ; • Day to day supervision by nominated day to day supervisor; • Regular informal meetings with academic supervisor to monitor progress and share ideas; • Feedback on performance will be a part of day to day discussions throughout the entire term of the project. In most instances this will be provided through informal discussions but on occasion might result in particular objectives being set.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Draft piece

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback: Oral
• Final Assessment:
• Group Work: No

Project plan

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback: Written
• Final Assessment:
• Group Work: No

Interim Report

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback: Written
• Final Assessment:
• Group Work: No

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.