Unit information: Grant Proposal (Neuroscience) in 2020/21

Unit name	Grant Proposal (Neuroscience)
Unit code	PHPHM0004
Credit points	40
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Dr. Brennan
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience
Faculty	Faculty of Life Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

Students will devise an original programme of research, which they will present in the form of a grant proposal and oral examination. The unit aims to encourage students to investigate a specific research question in considerable depth using the scientific literature, and to develop an understanding of the process of devising a scientific research programme. The unit also aims to encourage a broader, integrative understanding of the research areas covered by their optional units.

Intended Learning Outcomes

• A deep understanding of a specific scientific question
• The ability to gather information from the primary scientific literature and to critically evaluate the material and appraise competing theories.
• The ability to present original findings and ideas to a specialist audience in written and oral forms.
• The ability to demonstrate an integrated understanding of selected aspects of Neuroscience.

Teaching Information

Project planning and discussion meetings with project supervisors. Training in experimental techniques and data analysis, if required.

Assessment Information

The unit will be assessed through:- Grant Proposal (60%). This student is required to complete a grant application form similar to that required for a research council project grant. Although a detailed costing is not required, the student is expected to justify the resources required and the ethical implications of animal or human experimentation. This summative assessment tests their ability to design and plan an original and realistic programme of research, of a standard suitable for submission to a research council.

• Grant Oral examination (20%). This is a summative assessment by a panel of examiners of an oral presentation of the student and their ability to communicate the findings of their grant proposal and to answer questions on it.
• Integrated Understanding paper (20%) This is a 2 hour exam in which the students are required to answer one question from a selection of options based on the chosen units. The exam will test the student's ability to synthesise and integrate information from diverse sources,and to demonstrate both breadth and depth in their understanding of the discipline and the methods available to advance it.

Reading and References

Reviews and key references from the current scientific and/or educational literature