| Unit name | Research Skills and Project Planning |
|---|---|
| Unit code | CHEMM0035 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Davis |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
CHEM30001 or CHEM30002 or CHEM30003 or CHEM30008 or CHEM30025 or CHEM30026 |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
MSci Chemistry Project |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Chemistry |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
Why is this unit important?
Doing a project is about more than just the mechanics of chemistry. In this unit, you will identify and develop key transferrable skills in project planning as well as the specific research skills relevant to your chosen project. For your meetings with your second assessor, you will be able to demonstrate your capability as an independent researcher.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
Project planning and early training in key research skills are critical to allow you to take ownership of your project at an early stage and ensure realistic targets are set and achieved. These are key skills for any scientist, both in applications to chemistry and as transferrable skills.
An overview of content
In consultation with your supervisor, you will set project goals and identify training requirements and key background literature. You will develop and implement transferrable skills in project management including safety and data management planning as well as technical research skills. During regular scheduled formal and informal meetings with the project supervisor, research group and second assessor you will be able to communicate project aims, context, progress and future plans.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
You will have individual ownership and responsibility for the research project and delivery. Milestones will be reviewed in research group and second assessor meetings. You will be confident that the project aims can be delivered and will have a clear understanding of the commitments required from the outset (which will depend on the nature of the project). You will develop key transferable organisational, communication and personal skills that will prepare you for possible careers in both the scientific and non-scientific sectors.
Learning Outcomes
1) Independently manage a research project
2) Demonstrate key transferable skills required of a competitive research scientist including independent study, diligence, motivation and initiative.
3) Communicate your project to peers.
As the title suggests, this is a project-oriented unit and is directly linked to the main 40 cp research project unit. This unit assesses the key technical research and transferrable skills developed in the first phase of the project to enable you to plan and deliver the research aims semi-independently.
You will work with a member of staff and their research group. You will identify in advance several preferred project research themes and supervisors. Academic performance will then be used to determine the final allocation to ensure an even distribution of students across academic staff.
You will define the scope of the project in consultation with your supervisor. You will jointly identify training needs and you will prepare a plan for the duration of the associated research project identifying key milestones (experiments + safety and data-management). You will be expected to work semi-independently under the direction of your project supervisor, using your initiative to develop the project. Day to day ongoing support will typically be provided by a member of the research group team. Project work will also be supported by regular formal and informal meetings with the project supervisor and a second assessor.
Typically, there are organised training/induction activities specific to the research group. In addition, training/taught content associated with access to facility research instrumentation (NMR/MS/X-ray/ microscopy/computational) may also be required.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks
All the laboratory and presentation skills developed in earlier years contribute towards training for this unit. Engagement in project meetings with your supervisor will provide regular opportunities for feedback on plans and progress. Formative discussions will also take place in relation to training needs and transferable skills. You will be expected to attend research group meetings and research seminars as appropriate to your research area as these will provide valuable insights into how research projects develop and are communicated.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark
You will prepare a screencast presentation to be shared with your supervisor and second assessor as an interim project progress report. The presentation should include the aims of the project, key background and context and current results/progress and future plans. A detailed project schedule (GANTT chart or similar) should be included as a final slide. Safety documents and a data management plan should be shared directly with your supervisor as required. Your supervisor will assess your presentation and will also provide assessment of your diligence, motivation, initiative and skills (technical and organisational). All marks will be agreed by consultation between your supervisor and second assessor through the application of detailed marking criteria available to you at the start of the project.
When assessment does not go to plan
Supplementary assessment of this unit is only possible through engagement in the following academic year.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. CHEMM0035).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
