| Unit name | Group Projects in Synthetic and Digital Chemistry |
|---|---|
| Unit code | CHEMM0037 |
| Credit points | 40 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. Jonathan Clayden |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
CHEMM0039, CHEMM0040, CHEMM0041 |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Chemistry |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
Why is this unit important
This experimental unit comprises four group-based modules that will enable the students to have key training in equipment and computation-led experiments that represent the cutting edge of digital chemistry in synthesis. The unit will allow students to develop their knowledge and practical experience of modern synthetic and digital chemistry techniques.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This intensive unit is one of the foundations of the PhD in Technology Enhanced Chemical Synthesis programme designed for students from a broad range of backgrounds with minimal prior experience in modern synthetic and digital chemistry techniques. It will provide students with problem solving, group-working, project management and communication skills through problem-based learning in a group setting, all skills that will be valuable for carrying out independent research in their independent PhD research projects.
An overview of content
Groups of 5-7 students will work on four lab-based and data-led projects co-created with industrial partners and led by academic members of staff. The students will receive introductory lectures and workshops to introduce key concepts of the rotations and develop their individual skills before beginning the group projects. The projects will include (a) Automated Reaction Optimisation; (b) High-Throughput Experimentation; (c) Application of new Computational Technologies in Chemical Synthesis and (d) New Reactor Technology-Driven Synthesis co-created with industrial partners to represent real world chemical challenges. This experimental work will be supported by training in the use of Electronic Lab Notebooks. The emphasis of the unit is on collective work and study combined with problem-based learning. By the end of the unit, students should have the confidence to integrate these techniques in their PhD research projects.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
The projects will provide students an opportunity to develop their problem-solving, communication, and presentation skills along with group working and project management skills that are highly valued in any modern workplace.
Learning Outcomes
Students will receive initial training and problem-based workshops before starting the group-based lab and data projects. Each group member will gain practical experience of automation facilitated by our dedicated CDT lab technician; gain theoretical knowledge and practical experience with HTE, new reactor technologies, and sustainable synthesis facilitated by an academic member of staff; develop their theoretical knowledge and understanding of machine-learning and apply that to a problem-based group activity supported by our CDT Lecturer in Digital Chemistry for Synthesis.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Formative assessment will be through introductory lecture courses and workshops exercises.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Coursework linked to four group lab rotations will be weighted as follows:
Automation reaction optimisation (oral presentation, 20%)
High-throughput experimentation (written report, 20%)
New reactor technologies and sustainable synthesis (written report, 20%)
Data-based digital chemistry & machine learning (oral presentation, 40%)
Each assessment will be marked according to the mark assessment scheme of 0-100; pass at 50. Written reports and presentations are assessed by the group academic supervisor and core CDT academic staff.
When assessment does not go to plan
The CDT Course Manager will work with students to mitigate the impact of any short term absences or other events which might have an impact on your assessments through reasonable adjustments, such as, extending submission deadlines for the group, or adjusting the nature of the summative tasks where this is not feasible.
In the event of reassessment, the reassessment tasks will directly mirror those in the assessment tasks.
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. CHEMM0037).
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.
