Capstone Project: Biological and Biomedical Sciences module (BS41010)

This capstone module is the major research experience of your Honours degree.

Over a full semester, you will conduct an independent research project within the University's research environment under the guidance and supervision of a research academic and develop the skills necessary to formulate and conduct a research project.

You will be supported in this by academic and quantitative skills workshop, and by the guidance and facilities provided by your supervisor. This project will be communicated via a dissertation of up to 6,000 words, and at an Honours symposium alongside the wider research community.

The module is intended to provide an authentic research experience by immersing you within our research laboratories and enabling you to pursue a research project of your choice – from its inception through to its dissemination via a thesis written in the form of a research article. In the course of this endeavour you will interact with other research academics, students, post-docs, technicians and other support staff, and acquire skills valued by employers in research and in non-research careers.

This module has a considerable impact in planning for a post-undergraduate future.

What you will learn

 In this module, you will:

• devise and utilize suitable experimental methods for the investigation of relevant topics in the biological and biomedical sciences
• plan, execute and present a piece of hypothesis-driven, independent work, demonstrating suitable time management and problem-solving abilities
• record biological data accurately and apply relevant advanced numerical skills to data

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Problem solve: identify possible approaches whe presented with a scientific question
• Communicate science: in verbal or written format with language and depth of knowledge appropriate for the target audience
• Showcase employable skills: In addition to theoretical and practical knowledge of science and scientific equipment, success in the module requires superior team working, networking, record keeping, time management, critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills

Assignments / assessments

• Project Proposal (Pass/Fail)
• Project Report (Dissertation; 6000 words)  (54%)
• Seminar Report (10%)
• Symposium Presentations (Viva and Poster) (23%)
• Project Performance (13%)

This module does not have a final exam.

Teaching methods / timetable

• Supervised independent research project
• Academic and quantitative skills workshops
• Honours symposium