THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2023/2024

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Chemistry : Chemistry

Undergraduate Course: Chemistry/Chemical Physics Research Project (CHEM11055)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Chemistry CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Year 5 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits120 ECTS Credits60
SummaryA full-time, year-long research project conducted in the final year of a Chemistry (MChem), Medicinal and Biological Chemistry (MChem), or Chemical Physics (MChemPhys) degree programme. The course aims to develop the necessary skills to perform independent and original research in a professional environment.
Course description This course constitutes full-time study in a research group based at the University of Edinburgh. The student will complete a training document and project plan at the start of their research project in which they will be required to present the aims and objectives, the techniques to be used to achieve those objectives, as well as a clear statement of the beneficiaries and pathways to impact of the proposed research. For the project itself, the student is required to review the background of their research and to carry out appropriate analytical or experimental work, before subsequently writing a report and making an oral presentation of the research. The aim is to acquire the necessary skills to perform independent and original chemical research in a professional environment.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Students MUST NOT also be taking BSc Chemistry Research Project/Transferable Skills Course (CHEM10043) OR Science Education Placement: Chemistry (40 credits) (CHEM10044) OR MChemX Research Project (CHEM11029) OR MChem Introduction to Research Methods (CHEM10029) OR Chemistry/Chemical Physics Year in Industry Level 11 (CHEM11030) OR Chemistry/Chemical Physics Year Abroad Level 10 (CHEM10047) OR Chemistry/Chemical Physics Year Abroad Level 11 (CHEM11039) OR Chemistry/Chemical Physics International Research Project (CHEM11054) OR Chemistry/Chemical Physics Industrial Research Project (CHEM11056) OR MChem Research Project (CHEM11040) OR Chemistry/Chemical Physics Year in Industry Level 10 (CHEM10026)
Other requirements Entry requires progression from Year 4 of an MChem or MChemPhys degree.
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2023/24, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  None
Course Start Full Year
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 1200 ( Lecture Hours 2, Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 20, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 748, Formative Assessment Hours 10, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 24, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 396 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 80 %, Practical Exam 20 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Coursework comprises: Literature Review 20% (Report) Project Report: 30% (Report); Project Management and Experimental Work (Research Project Performance): 25%
Practical Exam comprises: Oral Assessment (Oral assessment and presentation): 25%

Feedback Feedback on day to day progress throughout the project element of the course is available from regular meetings with the member of staff supervising the work. In addition, there is a formal review of progress at the end of the 1st semester. The literature review is a formative exercise and feedback is provided. Substantive feedback on the final draft of the report prior to final submission. Written feedback is also returned to the student following the final oral examination.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Execute a project of research within an approved area of chemistry, including taking some responsibility in the planning and development of the research and acquire skills in assessment of personal safety, and the safety of others, in the research environment.
  2. Critically evaluate and interpret advanced research literature in areas related to the project and clearly and succinctly describe experiments and methods which might be used to achieve the overall project aims and objectives and identify likely beneficiaries of the project and the wider impact which it might have.
  3. Show mastery of a significant range of appropriate standard and specialised technical skills (experimental and other), and deliver accurate output of data and/or critical analysis commensurate with the length and level of the project.
  4. Exercise substantial autonomy and initiative in conduct of research work (after suitable preliminary training), including professional judgement over when to seek guidance and demonstrate originality and creativity in offering interpretations of, and solutions to, complex problems and issues arising in the research.
  5. Deliver a formal oral presentation of the context, output and impact of the research in a manner comprehensible to a chemically literate but non-specialist audience and write a detailed research report suitable for use by peers, senior colleagues and other specialists that demonstrates an understanding of the role of the research undertaken, and critical analysis of the data acquired.
Reading List
Project specific resources will be provided.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills 1. The ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, principles and theories.
2. The ability to apply such knowledge and understanding to the solution of qualitative and quantitative problems.
3. The ability to recognise and analyse problems and plan strategies for their solution.
4. Skills in the generation, evaluation, interpretation and synthesis of information and data
5. Skills in the practical application of theory using computational methodology and models.
6. Skills in communicating scientific material and arguments.
7. Information technology and data-processing skills, relating to information and data.
8. The ability to adapt and apply methodology to the solution of unfamiliar problems.
9. The ability to assimilate, evaluate and present research results objectively.
10. Skills required to undertake a research project reporting outcomes that are potentially publishable (in a peer-reviewed publication).
11. The ability to interpret and explain the limits of accuracy of data in terms of significance and underlying theory.
12. Competence in the planning, design and execution of tasks.
13. Skills required to work independently and be self-critical in the evaluation of risks, procedures and outcomes.
14. The ability to use an understanding of the uncertainty of data to inform the planning of future work.
KeywordsChemistry,Medicinal and Biological Chemistry,Chemical Physics,research,laboratory,project
Contacts
Course organiserProf Michael Ingleson
Tel: (0131 6)50 4726
Email: michael.ingleson@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Craig Smith
Tel: (0131 6)50 4710
Email: c.smith34@ed.ac.uk
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