Course unit details:
Scientific Skills
| Unit code | IIDS67441 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 15 |
| Unit level | FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 1 |
| Offered by | Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Sciences |
| Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
The course unit has three components: Scientific Background, Scientific Skills and MATLAB programming.
Scientific Background: Students will take one of the following components:
* Introduction to Human Biology (for students from a physical science background): An overview of human anatomy and physiology.
OR
* Introductory Mathematics and Physics (for students from a medical/life science background): Online material with links to external sources for revision of basic mathematical concepts.
PLUS
* Introductory Concepts in Pharmacology (for all students): Two contact sessions outlining the main pharmacological concepts necessary for imaging studies. Introductory Concepts in Chemistry, for all students.
Scientific skills: Sessions on Research Ethics, Academic Writing, Literature Search and Presentation Skills.
Aims
Provide students with fundamental knowledge and skills necessary for the programme.
Students join the programme with a variety of backgrounds. This course unit will introduce the necessary basic knowledge and skills required for the programme.
Learning outcomes
|
Category of outcome |
Students will have: |
|
Knowledge and understanding |
Broad understanding of human anatomy and physiology with reference to the major organ systems. Basic knowledge of key mathematical concepts. Knowledge of fundamental pharmacological concepts relevant to imaging. Basic knowledge of chemical structures, properties and reactions of relevance to nuclear medicine. |
|
Intellectual skills |
Ability to apply mathematical and scientific knowledge to the understanding of imaging techniques and more widely in scientific investigations. |
|
Practical skills |
Ability to use academic search tools. Ability to structure a scientific document. Ability to make an oral presentation. |
|
Transferable skills and personal qualities |
Broadened scientific knowledge. Increased confidence in mathematical concepts. Skills for accessing and organising information. |
Teaching and learning methods
Introduction to Human Biology
Online material with quizzes and imbedded links to external sources.
Lectures on specific topics relevant to imaging: The nervous system, the musculoskeletal system, the cardiovascular system, the respiratory system.
Online quizzes in each topic.
Introductory Maths and Physics
Online material with links to external sources for revision of basic mathematical concepts
Lectures on key topics: Complex Numbers, Multivariate Calculus, Sequences and series, Matrices.
Example sheets and online quizzes.
Introductory Concepts in Pharmacology
Two contact sessions outlining the main pharmacological concepts necessary for imaging studies, including Vascular delivery, Tissue uptake, Tissue retention, Elimination, Mathematical concepts of distribution.
Introductory Pharmacology of Imaging
Two contact sessions reviewing the basic chemistry required for an understand of the radiochemistry relevant to nuclear medicine. Lectures and computer sessions will cover chemical bonding and structure Chemical structure drawing software will be used to draw and compare isomeric structures and reaction schemes relevant to the Radioisotope Imaging and Advanced PET units in the programme.
Scientific skills
Taught sessions on Research Ethics, Academic Writing, Literature Search and Presentation Skills.
Practice exercises in literature search, writing and presentation.
Assessment methods
| Assessment task | Length | Weighting within unit (if relevant) |
| Human Biology |
|
|
Feedback methods
- Formal summative assessments
- Real time educative formative assessments during practical classes
Study hours
| Scheduled activity hours | |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 36 |
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 114 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Neil Thacker | Unit coordinator |
| Richard Hodgson | Unit coordinator |