BIMPLE1: "Project Planning, Laboratory Skills and Experimental Design"

Module code: BIMPLE1

Module provider: School of Biological Sciences

Credits: 20

Level: 7

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Craig Hughes , email: c.e.hughes@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Eva Kevei, email: e.g.kevei@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

To give students an introduction to planning, designing and carrying out a research project.  Students will be taught how to plan and design experiments, with a focus on the strengths and limitations of the experimental approach, how to ensure that appropriate controls and replicates are included, as well as how to collect, accurately record, and analyse the data correctly. This module will also introduce other aspects of project planning such as data management, scientific integrity and impact.  A range of key biomedical research techniques used in both academic and commercial applications will be used in practical sessions.

This module will teach students how to conduct a successful research project at postgraduate level. In combination with BIMAPS1, which will enable students to be able to identify a research question, BIMPLE1 will enable students to design and execute an experimental plan to answer that question. 

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Understand the principles underlying a range of core laboratory techniques 
2. Be able to perform laboratory techniques and design appropriate experiments to apply them to address specific questions
3. Identify and use the most appropriate methods to analyse their experimental data 
4. Be able to plan a research project including aspects such as data recording and collection, and data management
5. Understand the importance of scientific integrity and the real world impact of research

Module content

This module will cover a number of topics of importance to planning a research project. In the parallel module (BIMAPS1), students will identify a research question following a series of seminars from academic staff in the biomedical sciences section of the School of Biological Sciences. This module will provide students with knowledge of how to plan a project to investigate this chosen research question, in collaboration with their academic supervisor. 

Biomedical research requires a broad knowledge of the experimental methods and techniques that are used in modern laboratories. This module will provide students with an understanding of the theoretical principles and the practical application of a range of core biomedical research techniques. Each of these techniques will be taught through a combination of seminars, workshops and practical classes; seminars will discuss the theory behind the techniques and how to plan an experiment, practical classes will provide hands on practical experience, and workshops will focus of data analysis. Throughout the module the general principles of experimental design and good laboratory practice in both academic and industrial applications of science will be emphasised. 

The following biomedical research techniques have been covered in this module in previous years : 

• Bacterial transformation and expression systems
• Protein purification
• in vitro enzyme assays
• Microscopy (including live cell imaging techniques) 
• ·¡³¢±õ³§´¡Ìý
• Cell culture and transfection techniques 
• Immunoprecipitation, SDS-PAGE and western blotting 
• Flow cytometry 
• The exact techniques taught may vary from year to year and alternative techniques may be substituted. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Seminars will be given by academics in the school as part of BIMAPS1.  Lectures will be given in this module covering various aspects of project planning.  Practical classes will focus on practical skills and will be supplemented with seminars focussing on experimental design, and with data analysis workshops; each practical segment will have an accompanying seminar and workshop.

Study hours

At least 60 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.

Reassessment

Additional costs