MSc Infection Biology

A practical research project where the student is fully integrated within a research team. The project is assessed by submission of a dissertation, poster and/or oral presentation, and an assessment of research performance.

MSc life science programmes (Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Cancer Research and Molecular Biomedicine, Cell Biology, Infection Biology, Immunology Nanomedicine, Neuroscience)

• Satisfactorily attended BIOL62000 Postgraduate Training Programme
• Passed or compensated BIOL60210 Tutorials and Workshops
• Passed or compensated BIOL60330 Scientific Communications
• Passed or compensated BIOL65161 Statistics & Exp Design
• Passed or compensated BIOL66111: Laboratory Skills
• Passed BIOL66121 Research Project 1 (supervisor-led)

MSc TERM

• pass the Research Project 1 (with referral if required)  
• pass the Research Methods unit (with compensation or referral if required)
• pass the Masterclass unit (with compensation or referral if required
• pass the Laboratory Skills unit (with compensation or referral if required),and  
• pass the Tutorial unit (with compensation or referral if required)  
• satisfactorily attend and complete all compulsory elements (Understanding academic  
• malpractice) and appropriate components of the Faculty Regulatory courses (as greed with their Programme Director).  

MSc Precision Medicine

• pass the Research Project 1 (with referral if required)  
• pass the Research Methods unit (with compensation or referral if required)
• pass the Genetics and Genomics unit (with compensation or referral if required)
• pass the Laboratory Skills unit (with compensation or referral if required),and  
• pass the Proteomics and Metabolomics unit (with compensation or referral if required)  
• satisfactorily attend and complete all compulsory elements (Understanding academic  
• malpractice) and appropriate components of the Faculty Regulatory courses (as agreed with their Programme Director).  

The aims of Research Project 2 are to …

• equip students with knowledge, practical skills and a thorough understanding of processes of scientific research to enable them to pursue their independent research career.
• develop skills to communicate their own work in written, oral and/or poster form.
• equip students with the above skills and understanding as well as a valuable portfolio of own work to substantiate future job applications.
   

Students should ...

• have gained a robust understanding of a chosen area of research.
• have become familiar with the theoretical and practical basis of research methods and techniques.
• have acquired practical experience of developing research questions and using research methods to answer them.
• have gained practical experience of presenting scientific research in written, oral and/or poster form.
• be able to identify and explain key sustainability issues in carrying out their project both in terms of the impacts of their working practices and any outcomes from the research question(s) they address. This will highlight current good practice and scope for improvement(s).
   

• Gain knowledge, understanding, practical skills and research experience to pursue a research career focussed on the field of the chosen MSc programme.
• Understand scientific methods in the context of the research conducted in the field of the chosen MSc programme. 
• Have acquired an understanding of the theory and practise of research methods and techniques employed. 
• Be aware of the practical issues and problems associated with conducting high quality experimental research, including health and safety as well as ethical considerations. 
   

• Understand the theory behind different techniques so they can be applied and altered as required. 
• Adopt a reflective and inquisitive attitude to the analysis and evaluation of research in the field of the chosen MSc programme. 
• Recognise, define, formulate and prioritise research questions that are pertinent to the field of the chosen MSc programme. 
• Analyse, interpret, objectively evaluate and prioritise information, recognising its limitations and drawing justified conclusions. 
• Understand and be able to critically appreciate methodology, including the appropriate selection of quantitative or qualitative methods. 
• Recognise the importance of rigour in collecting, analysing and interpreting data.
• Exhibit creativity and resourcefulness in their professional learning, scientific endeavour and research formulations. 
   

• Be competent in the execution of experimental approaches to specific research questions.
• Demonstrate competence in practical laboratory, clinical or computational skills to enable sound and reproducible collection of data. 
• Be competent in the management of experimental resources, equipment and samples as well as electronic data. 

• Effectively manage time resources and set priorities 
• Monitor and realistically evaluate their own performance and personal capability 
• Be aware of career opportunities and begin to plan a career path 
• Demonstrate scholarship in research 
• Demonstrate a capacity for self-directed, independent learning and adopt the principles of reflective practice and lifelong learning 
• Deal with uncertainty and work within a changing environment 
• Present information clearly in written, electronic and oral forms, and communicate ideas and arguments effectively. 
   

• Project report (70%) 
• Viva assessment, oral presentation or poster presentation of own project (15%) 

• Research performance including input, execution, analysis and data management of the student’s own project (15%)

   

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI)

• In accordance with the AI in Teaching and Learning Policy, this assignment has been assigned to the category AI Permitted: AI may be used to complete the assessment.
• GAI may be used to suggest improvements to grammar, fluency and formatting, and to suggest relevant literature and strategies for analysis. GAI may also be used within the execution of the research itself (e.g., improving code for automated image analysis) – your supervisor will advise where this is appropriate. 
• Use of GAI is not a requirement of this Unit. Detailed guidance on each assignment will be provided via the CANVAS BIOL66132 page; the guidance applies equally, regardless of the extent of the student’s use of GAI.
• Where students choose to use GAI, we recommend the use of Microsoft Copilot. All University of Manchester students and staff have access to Copilot, for which training and support services are available. The University licence for Copilot also gives greater security for data.
• Use of GAI must be referenced according to the University’s AI Guidelines. Use of GAI must comply with the University’s guidance on plagiarism and good academic practice, i.e., unattributed text should never be copied from another source directly into coursework for assessment, and this applies equally to the output of GAI as it would to the scientific literature or the work of another student.
• Use of GAI must comply with the University’s Intellectual Property Policy.
  
   

• There are a series of (timetabled) meetings with the project supervisor and potentially the programme director to discuss progress. Dedicated meetings are recorded on a form (signed by all present) that will be archived by the Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) team.  
• The student is expected to take an active part and present progress in their research group's regular lab meetings.  
• The student will have meetings with their advisors where progress can be discussed.