| Unit name | SWBio DTP: Core skills for Life Scientists |
|---|---|
| Unit code | BIOCM0012 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
| Unit director | Dr. Barker |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
SWBio DTP: Statistics and Bioinformatics, SWBio DTP: Science in Society, Business and Industry, SWBio DTP: Rotation Project 1, followed by SWBio DTP: Rotation Project 2 |
| School/department | School of Biochemistry |
| Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
This unit aims to develop the core skills needed to be an effective research scientist, skills which are also directly applicable to the wider business community and hence to wider employability. The unit will cover many of the aspects highlighted within the research development statement by Vitae.
For knowledge and intellectual ability, this will include aspects such as information seeking and information management, academic literacy and the academic language.
For personal effectiveness this will include development of self-management including critical self-reflection and accessing appropriate training based on such analyses.
Managerial skills will also cover project management and managing the student-supervisor relationship.
Research governance will include how science is funded, the concept of peer review, plus research ethics. It will also include an exercise in grant application writing and the assessment mechanisms for such research grant applications, including how to present one's opinion and listening and evaluating the opinions of others through peer review and group discussion.
Engagement and influence will cover communication of science in various formats such as posters, talks, papers, both to specialist scientific audiences, and to more general audiences.
To be able to:
A combination of whole cohort seminars, workshops, lectures, interactive discussions and practical exercises coupled with individualised training.
The following assessments will cover the intended learning outcomes and will particularly demonstrate the student’s ability to communicate science to different audiences and in different ways (visual, oral and written).
There will be three assessments: (1) to demonstrate an understanding of researching, accessing, critically assessing and presenting and communicating information by preparing and presenting a research poster (25%); (2) to demonstrate and understanding of undertaking research, how science is funded and the professional aspects of science by writing a research grant application in a BBSRC format relating to the PhD subject area (50%), and (3) to demonstrate an understanding of the tools available to assist in personal development by doing a Vitae-style, three minute presentation on the PhD project (25%).
Students will receive feedback on each activity before completing the next item of assessment and so will be able to gauge their academic performance throughout the unit.
None
