BI4ARP: Advanced Research Project

Module code: BI4ARP

Module provider: School of Biological Sciences

Credits: 80

Level: 7

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr Alice Pollitt , email: a.pollitt@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Renee Lee, email: r.b.y.lee@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 3 April 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module serves as a cornerstone for students, providing them with advanced tools and methodologies essential for conducting high-quality research and developing the skills that they need to become leaders and innovators in research and development. Throughout this module, students will engage with advanced concepts and work on an extensive piece of research in a research-active laboratory, thus allowing them to delve into various research paradigms, methodologies and techniques. They will critically evaluate existing research literature, identify gaps in knowledge and formulate research questions that contribute to the advancement of knowledge within their discipline. Throughout the module, students will receive guidance and support from experienced academics, who will serve as their supervisor throughout the research process. They will also experience what it is like to be a member of a vibrant research environment. By the end of the module, students will have developed the expertise and confidence to undertake independent research, contributing to the advancement of knowledge and innovation in their field of study. They will be well-prepared to pursue careers in academia or industry, where they can apply their advanced research skills to address complex challenges.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Design and engage in an independent and sustained investigation of a chosen research topic in a fully integrated research environment
2. Work effectively, safely and ethically on a research project
3. Demonstrate the ability to use techniques to address a particular research question, at a standard consistent with current published research in the field
4. Critically analyse results and place them in the context of the existing literature
5. Communicate project background, aims and findings to specialist and non-specialist audience through a written report (dissertation) and oral presentations
6. Demonstrate enhanced skills in organisation, time management, record keeping and carrying out independent research

Module content

This module will build on the knowledge and skills gained from BI3RP3 (Research Project) and BIMAPS1 (Critical Analysis and Problem Solving). Students would have worked on their Research Proposal in Semester 1 (as part of BIMAPS1) and will be assigned to a Supervisor (and Research Project). Students are expected to manage their own time and work on their research project (data collection and analysis). They will be supported by their supervisor (regular meetings), workshops/lectures (where applicable) and drop-in sessions. All students will be expected to present their work in a mini-symposium (Week 8, Semester 2). The oral presentation (10%) will be assessed and the students will also receive additional feedback from their peers. These will all feed forward to the preparation of their Dissertation. Students will be required to submit a dissertation draft (Materials and Methods and Results) on Week 8 (Semester 2), allowing their supervisor to provide them with further (formative) feedback. Students will submit their Dissertation (70%) in Week 11 (Semester 2). This will be assessed by their supervisor and another academic (double-blind marked). Upon submission of the Dissertation, the students’ understanding will be further examined by viva voce (20%).Ìý

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module is about developing the skills required for independent learning and research. As such, most of the learning will be self-directed and students are expected to take a high degree of responsibility for their own work. This includes managing their own research and engaging in supervisor meetings. There will be some lectures/workshops (depending on the nature of the project) and drop-in sessions to provide students with the training, resources/guidance and support throughout their research project. 

Study hours

At least 80 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Draft – Students will be required to submit a draft containing the: (1) Materials and Methods and (2) Results. This will allow the supervisor to provide the student with feedback on the structure and format, which may be subject/research area specific. There will be a formal deadline and submission point for the draft (Week 8, Semester 2).

Reassessment

Additional costs