THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Biological Sciences : Postgraduate

Postgraduate Course: Automation and Industry (PGBI11118)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Biological Sciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryThe course will provide a mixture of lecture, workshop and practical based instruction on automation and give a clearer perspective on industry and its challenges. The course will teach the practical side of automation, from script writing to the fundamentals of running a robot, library design and creation.
Course description Week by week summary:
1. Introduction: Laying the foundations.
2. Workshop: Cloning methods and library design.
3. Interaction with industry.
4 - 6. Practical sessions running a pilot of student designed library.
7 - 10. Workshops and practical classes for the construction of student designed library and use of the Opentron.
11. Course summary.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Students MUST NOT also be taking Practical Skills in Biochemistry A (PGBI11098) AND
Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2021/22, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  25
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 6, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 27, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 65 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) The course will be assessed by:
A group presentation on their proposal for the library construction, to present the details of the cloning strategy and library composition. (20%)
A 2000 word lab report describing the outcomes of the library cloning undertaken through the course. (70%)
Throughout the course they will be assessed on their lab performance and lab book. Formative feedback will be given throughout for their lab book. The overall mark will be given at the end and feedback given on performance. (10%)
Feedback Throughout the course students will be assessed on their lab performance and lab book. Individual verbal formative feedback will be given throughout for their lab book and skills during the sessions. Students should take note of the feedback given for their lab book and an improvement seen through the progression of the course.

Individual written feedback will also be given on the strategy presented during their first assessment. Students should reflect on their feedback and make adjustments for their written report.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Have a critical understanding of the principal theories and concepts of automation and its use in Synthetic Biology
  2. Have skills in programming advanced instrumentation in the laboratory
  3. Have understanding of good lab practice and laboratory health and safety requirements
  4. Have the ability to design and execute a strategy for library construction using a range of cloning techniques
  5. Have a better understanding of the demands of industry and its legislation
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Skills in collaborative thinking, communication with peers and team work.
Oral and written communication skills (Presentation and report writing)
Computer programming skills
Ability to design, interpret and critique experiments
Develop critical thinking and problem solving skills
Time and effort management and organisation at the bench
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Heather Barker
Tel: (0131 6)51 3539
Email: Heather.Barker@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Karen Sutherland
Tel: (0131 6)51 3404
Email: Karen.Sutherland@ed.ac.uk
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