Module manager: Professor KJ Roberts
Email: k.j.roberts@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 Oct to 30 Sep (12mth) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as an Elective
Students receive training to enable them to carry out experimental/computational research work over two semesters (including the summer term) and to report on the results and significance of their research. Planning and performing experiments are supported by academic and technical staff. Critical analysis of the data obtained in these experiments is also supported by an academic supervisor of each project. However, success in this module is highly dependent on the student’s engagement and initiative to drive forward progress in the project
- To provide students with training in key basic research skills, including advice on scientific writing and literature sourcing, to enable them to develop, plan and deliver a research project through from its inception in semester 1 to its conclusion in the summer term of semester 2;
- To enable students to demonstrate their research abilities and initiative in driving though an individually focussed research project;
- To provide students with an opportunity to gain experience of planning, executing and reporting a research project consistent with the needs that a research worker would undertake in an industry/academic environment in their future career;
- To provide students with opportunities to present their research data both orally and in the form of written scientific reports;
- To provide training and induction to enable students to assess the health and safety issues through risk assessments and COSHH associated with the nature of the specific experiments and/or computer modelling they might conduct in the delivery of their research outcomes;
- To enable students to assess and articulate the (positive and negative) ethical implications of their research project towards the societal benefits and greater good.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Apply a comprehensive knowledge of mathematics, statistics, natural science and engineering principles to the solution of complex problems. Much of the knowledge will be at the forefront of the particular subject of study and informed by a critical awareness of new developments and the wider context of engineering.
2. Formulate and analyse complex problems to reach substantiated conclusions. This will involve evaluating available data using first principles of mathematics, statistics, natural science and engineering principles, and using engineering judgment to work with information that may be uncertain or incomplete, discussing the limitations of the techniques employed.
3. Select and apply appropriate computational and analytical techniques to model complex problems, discussing the limitations of the techniques employed.
4. Select and critically evaluate technical literature and other sources of information to solve complex problems.
5. Design solutions for complex problems that evidence some originality and meet a combination of societal, user, business and customer needs as appropriate. This will involve consideration of applicable health & safety, diversity, inclusion, cultural, societal, environmental and commercial matters, codes of practice and industry standards.
6. Function effectively as an individual, and as a member or leader of a team. Evaluate effectiveness of own and team performance.
7. Communicate effectively on complex engineering matters with technical and non-technical audiences, evaluating the effectiveness of the methods used.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills:
Formulation of ideas and hypothesis and to develop, implement and execute plans by which to evaluate these;
a. Project management, team work and decision making;
b. Literature reviewing including critical assessment and utilisation of information obtained from other sources both in terms of the project area's domain knowledge and the current state-of-the-art for the specific research topic;
c. Preparation of research plan, identification of milestones and targets, creation of written research reports including their revision following feedback;
d. Oral presentation of research outcomes together with their analysis, significance and potential impact.
Project activities include:
- Training in good health and safety practice encompassing risk and COSHH assessment, basic laboratory training and housekeeping;
- Selection and critical analysis of academic and other literature review encompassing background reading and research domain knowledge (to develop a clear understanding of the research topic) together with a review of current scholarly research associated with the project’s research question;
- Layman’s description of project aim and research question together with key objectives, including ethical aspects of the research project;
- Development of research methodology (i.e. laboratory equipment, computer software, etc) including experimental and computational facility description, data acquisition and analysis including the use of workflows for research methods design and implementation;
- Planning for experimental and/or computational work together with the development, implementation and delivery of a research plan encompassing GANTT chart with project milestones;
- Carrying out experimental and/or computational work to address and deliver the project’s objectives;
- Analysing and interpreting the research results both self consistently and with respects to the current state-of-the art in published work;
- Oral presentation of project’s results together with their analysis, significance and potential impact;
- Preparation of introductory, interim and final reports and their refinement following supervisory feedback.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision | 25 | 1 | 25 |
| Technical Training | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Lectures | 24 | 2 | 48 |
| Private study hours | 521 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 79 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 600 | ||
521 hours of private study encompassing project evaluation and selection; research scoping and introduction; literature reviewing (domain knowledge and state-of-the-art); research methodology development and proof of concept; and research project planning.
- Weekly day-to-day feedback will be provided by an experienced researcher and associated research group through 1 to1 supervision meetings supported by the submission of minuted project meetings);
- Feedback on written materials, including structure, literature research, methodology viability and research planning will be provided after introductory and interim reports;
- Research outcomes and analysis feedback will be provided following an assessed oral presentation providing a key resource for refinement of the final report submission;
- Summative feedback will be provided on the final report.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Introductory Report | 10 |
| Report | Interim Report | 25 |
| Presentation | Research Outcomes Presentation | 25 |
| Report | Final Report | 40 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
There is no reading list for this module
Last updated: 30/04/2025
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