PM3PCOL1-Research Project

Module Provider: Pharmacy
Number of credits: 60 [30 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites: PM2PCOL1 Molecular Drug Targets and PM2PCOL2 Drug Design and Delivery and PM2PCOL3 Mathematical Modelling for Pharmacology
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites: PM3PCOL2 Societal Impact of Pharmacology and PM3PCOL3 Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Dr Graeme Cottrell
Email: g.s.cottrell@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This laboratory research-focused module provides students with the opportunity to take the lead on a research topic. The module is made up of two main components: 1) development of practical research and enquiry skills and 2) a research project assessed by a project write-up, project performance, a poster session and a final project viva.

Aims:

The module will further develop students’ ability to perform research in a laboratory setting. Students will undertake an original research project in an area of relevance to pharmacology through the design and execution of an individual project, under the direction of an academic supervisor.

Assessable learning outcomes:

Students will:

1. Effectively use current knowledge (with individual support from an academic supervisor) to construct a hypothesis or define a research question.


2. Apply their knowledge to plan, design and carry out a research project to test their hypothesis or to answer their research question.


3. Create a report of the project in the style of a thesis/dissertation to a standard that could be followed by others and to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding and critical interpretation of their methodologies and data.


4. Critically evaluate their research findings and set their research in context of current knowledge.


5. Effectively explain their research findings in the form of an oral presentation.


6. Communicate and discuss their findings in an oral examination.

Additional outcomes:

1. Students will provide constructive feedback to peers on their research and presentations.


2. Students will demonstrate independent learning skills through use of online resources that provide the skills needed to complete their project.


3. Students will be required to take account of aspects relating to health and safety at all times during their project.

Outline content:

Module topics:

Research Projects: Students are provided with individual research projects covering a variety of pharmacology-related topics and will develop a research question. Students will prepare an Outline Proposal for approval by their supervisor. Students are expected to record meetings with their supervisor and ensure timely progress during the project design phase and to formalise meetings with their supervisor both before and during the practical period for the project. Each meeting, training point or progress indicator will be signed and dated by the supervisor (if provided by the student). Students will attend two meetings with their supervisor prior to the project work beginning. The first to be conducted in the previous summer term after allocation of projects and one to discuss the outline proposal before final submission. During the project work period, students will formally attend bi-weekly meetings (if required) with their supervisors.

Oral Presentations: The project work will take place over the Autumn term and the first half of Spring term. A presentation conference will be organised in the autumn term. Assessment of the presentation will be by two independent markers (i.e., academics not marking the written report or conducting the viva), with additional feedback from peers. Finally, students will be assessed by their supervisor and another academic (different from the markers for the presentation) during a short viva to be held after the summer exam period has finished.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Teaching is provided in the form of one-to-one and/or group supervision. Students are provided with training a laboratory setting. Students working the laboratory a