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MB5904: MASTERS RESEARCH PROJECT (LABORATORY) (2023-2024)

Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 10:43


Course Overview

This course offers students the opportunity to complete a substantial piece of data-driven, empirical work within their field of study under the supervision of an experienced researcher.

Topics available will be varied but within the domain of their field of study. Alongside supervisors, students will identify a suitable topic area, describe an appropriate study design and implement an empirical study to be completed within a laboratory setting.  Students will be involved alongside the supervisors in the process of defining the research question, and developing the research plan and, where appropriate, obtaining regulatory approvals. This course is for laboratory-based projects (if you are intending to undertake a project in non-laboratory setting you should register on PU5913)

Course Details

Study Type Postgraduate Level 5
Term Third Term Credit Points 60 credits (30 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Wenlong Huang
  • Dr Soumya Palliyil

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • One of MSc Clinical Pharmacology or MSc Drug Discovery and Development or MSc Human Nutrition or Master Of Science In Molecular Medicine or Master Of Science In Immunology And Immunotherapy or Master Of Science In Biotechnology, Bioinformatics And Bio-Business or Master Of Science In Biotechnology And Bioinformatics or Master Of Science In Reproductive And Developmental Biology or MSc Genetics or Master Of Science In Cardiovascular Science & Diabetes or MSc Microbiology

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

This course aims to give students direct experience of the management and delivery of a research project, including research planning and design, developing independent research skills and approaches, critical thinking, and communication of research findings. 


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Project Report/Dissertation

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 60
Assessment Weeks 51 Feedback Weeks 53

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Feedback

Students will receive feedback on their final submission within 15 working days of submission. This will be in the format of annotations on the marking rubric, with additional summary comments provided in the feedback box. Additional feedback can be obtained from the markers. 

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandDemonstrate a clear understanding of the hypothesis and aims of the research project.
ConceptualUnderstandDemonstrate detailed background knowledge relevant to the research project
ProceduralAnalyseDesign and conduct appropriate approaches to address the stated aims, with appropriate controls. These “approaches” may be laboratory experiments, literature research strategies or database analyses.
ProceduralAnalyseAccurately analyse and interpret research findings, with respect to the stated aims.
ProceduralApplyIdentify specific research objectives to address the stated aims of the project.
ProceduralApplyImprove skills in oral presentation of research
ProceduralEvaluatePlace results in the context of wider literature, identifying your contribution towards the advancement of knowledge, and proposing future lines of research.

Oral Presentation: Individual

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
Assessment Weeks 51 Feedback Weeks 53

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Feedback

Students will receive feedback in the form of questions from staff and peers during the presentation session which will indicate areas for more clarification. The feedback procedure is as an opportunity to support students in considering the interpretation of results for the academic paper/report. Additional feedback in the marking rubric will be available within 10 working days, with additional summary comments provided in the feedback box.  Additional feedback can be obtained from the markers.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralAnalyseAccurately analyse and interpret research findings, with respect to the stated aims.
ProceduralApplyImprove skills in oral presentation of research
ProceduralEvaluatePlace results in the context of wider literature, identifying your contribution towards the advancement of knowledge, and proposing future lines of research.

Supervisor report

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
Assessment Weeks 53 Feedback Weeks 53

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Feedback

Students will receive feedback within 10 working days of the project completion. This will be in the form of annotations on the marking rubric, with additional summary comments provided in the feedback box. 

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralAnalyseDesign and conduct appropriate approaches to address the stated aims, with appropriate controls. These “approaches” may be laboratory experiments, literature research strategies or database analyses.
ProceduralApplyImprove skills in oral presentation of research
ProceduralApplyImprove skills in scientific writing

Formative Assessment

Project Plan, Summary or Abstract

Assessment Type Formative Weighting
Assessment Weeks 42 Feedback Weeks 43

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Feedback

Students will receive feedback based on the written protocol rubric and peer review comments (available on MyAberdeen).  

After submission of the project plan students will be assigned two peers’ submissions to review and provide feedback on, and will be expected to provide constructive advice to help their peers improve their study plan. 

This process not only supports peers (and the student from the feedback they receive) but, by critically reviewing two other project plans, students will be able to draw comparison with their own submission and will gain an insight into what works well for structure, etc.

In addition peer review feedback will be provided by a member of staff .  Students will also be able to access the review provided by the member of staff, and the paired student review of the protocol that was reviewed to see how closely these match, to help improve critical thinking skills.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandDemonstrate a clear understanding of the hypothesis and aims of the research project.
ConceptualUnderstandDemonstrate detailed background knowledge relevant to the research project
ProceduralApplyImprove skills in oral presentation of research
ProceduralApplyImprove skills in scientific writing
ProceduralApplyIdentify specific research objectives to address the stated aims of the project.

Reflective Writing

Assessment Type Formative Weighting
Assessment Weeks 45 Feedback Weeks 46

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Feedback

The students are asked to reflect and critically consider their research journey at the mid-point of the course by answering 5 questions. Supervisors will read the 750-word reflective writing and provide formative feedback to the students. They will also review the laboratory notebooks at this stage and provide the feedback.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralAnalyseDesign and conduct appropriate approaches to address the stated aims, with appropriate controls. These “approaches” may be laboratory experiments, literature research strategies or database analyses.
ProceduralApplyImprove skills in oral presentation of research
ProceduralApplyImprove skills in scientific writing
ProceduralApplyIdentify specific research objectives to address the stated aims of the project.

Resit Assessments

Oral Exam

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks 3 Feedback Weeks 3

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Feedback

Oral examination, lasting approximately 30 minutes combined with a written assignment Project Report/Dissertation (maximum of 3000 words).

You will be informed of the outcome of your resit (i.e. resit pass/resit fail) within 5 working days of the oral examination. This will be communicated to you by the course coordinator by email.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralAnalyseDesign and conduct appropriate approaches to address the stated aims, with appropriate controls. These “approaches” may be laboratory experiments, literature research strategies or database analyses.
ProceduralEvaluatePlace results in the context of wider literature, identifying your contribution towards the advancement of knowledge, and proposing future lines of research.
ProceduralAnalyseAccurately analyse and interpret research findings, with respect to the stated aims.
ConceptualUnderstandDemonstrate detailed background knowledge relevant to the research project
ProceduralApplyImprove skills in oral presentation of research
ProceduralApplyIdentify specific research objectives to address the stated aims of the project.
ProceduralApplyImprove skills in scientific writing
ConceptualUnderstandDemonstrate a clear understanding of the hypothesis and aims of the research project.

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