Module manager: Dr Chi Trinh
Email: C.H.Trinh@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
Successful completion of Year Two (level 5) of the appropriate programme of study
| BIOL3397 | Biotechnology Research Project |
BIOC3160, BIOL3306, MICR3110, MICR3080.
This module is not approved as a discovery module
The purpose of this module is to provide you with the opportunity to consolidate and extend your prior learning to demonstrate your knowledge and skills in a final year research project. With guidance from an academic supervisor, you will undertake a research, educational/outreach or science communication projects in which you will apply and develop competencies (knowledge, skills, and behaviours) to a problem relevant to your discipline. Through this, you will work with active researchers or practitioners in the field to contribute and produce insights and potential new ideas.
The aim of this module is for learners to participate in current practice and research linked with their discipline, to develop and deliver on a research project. This will allow students to apply and build on many of the skills and knowledge gained earlier in their programme. Working with their supervisor, students will enhance and gain new experiences and competencies (knowledge, skills and behaviours), which will be showcased in the final assessments.
The final project output will be communicated to different audiences (academic staff members, students and an industrial sponsor for the poster presentation prize), highlighting potential application of their research findings
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1 - Apply experiences, knowledge, skills and behaviours gained earlier in their programme to a problem relevant to their discipline, producing insights and developing knowledge in the area.
2 - Critically evaluate scientific literature to identify the key features of the study, interpret data presented in order to draw appropriate conclusions.
3 - Recognise and apply health and safety, ethical, and regulatory issues to their projects as appropriate.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
4 - Communicate through, written, graphical and verbal means, to different audiences or stakeholders.
5 - Apply appropriate digital capabilities in creating the final written and oral outputs.
6 - Author a scientific article that demonstrates clarity, knowledge, feasibility and impact to address a research question relevant to your discipline.
- Managing Knowledge: sourcing/selecting/interpreting data, data evaluation/problem solving.
- Technical Competence: laboratory techniques, experimental design, analysing data.
- Managing Self: planning, time management.
- Managing Interrelationships: teamwork, decision taking.
- Learning from others: sharing, receiving critique.
- Presentation Skills: project reports, poster.
Students have the option of undertaking research on a laboratory-based project, literature researching a specific topic in detail through systematic review, research developing or adapting computer software for use in a molecular and cellular biology environment, or alternative projects as available.
Depending on the type of project, an appropriate combination of practical work in advanced molecular and cellular research, designing experimental protocols, carrying out research investigations and interpreting experimental data; literature searching, reading and reviewing; report writing; computer work; developing oral and written presentational skills.
Non-laboratory projects include a biological sciences-related extension exercise in the form of a research grant proposal.
As part of this module, students are expected to attend School research seminars to develop their knowledge and understanding of research in fields related to their degree programme.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision | 6 | 0.7 | 4 |
| Supervised Practice | 240 | 1 | 240 |
| Lectures | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| Practicals | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Private study hours | 148 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 252 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 400 | ||
Students should note that the following information is for guidance only. The actual time required for the various elements will vary between students. Private study will include report writing, editing and poster preparation up to 148 hours.
Students will have a minimum of four hours of meetings with their supervisor over the course of the project where discussion and formative feedback on the project experience and any developing outputs or outcomes will be provided. They will reflect on the feedback provided during and after each meeting and apply the information where appropriate to the research project. Students will complete a project Supervision Meeting Record form prior to each meeting to assist them with recapping the work they have done and as discussion points during the meetings with their supervisor. These forms are used by the supervisor to monitor and record progress throughout the student research project experience.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Report | 80 |
| Poster Presentation | Poster Presentation and Project Execution | 20 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Failure to complete the final Report to a pass standard will result in a V code being appended to the final module mark.
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team