2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

BMSC2344 Experimental Skills in Medical Sciences

20 Credits Class Size: 66

Module manager: Dr Michael Harrison
Email: M.A.Harrison@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

Pre-requisite qualifications

Satisfactory completion of a level 1 BMS practical skills module, or equivalent

Pre-requisites

BMSC1303 Practical application of Clinical, Laboratory and Field Skil

Mutually Exclusive

BMSC2341 Experimental Skills in Pharmacology
BMSC2342 Experimental Skills in Neuroscience
BMSC2343 Experimental Skills in Human Physiology

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The module will provide students with opportunities to further develop their experimental, technical and computational skills. Working in teams, they will plan and carry out a range of practical activities, including laboratory-based experimental projects and computational work. Students will explore principles of experimental design, hypothesis testing and develop more advanced skills in data evaluation using statistical methods. The module will also focus on dissemination of experimental findings using written reports and other communication formats.

Objectives

The overall aim of this module is to allow students to develop their research-relevant experimental and analytical skills beyond the basic level, providing them with opportunities to contribute to experimental design and planning. Analysis of experimental data will require a wider repertoire of statistical and computational skills. Interpreting and communicating the experimental findings will require skills in integrating prior knowledge from the scientific literature with data obtained using a variety of methods.


Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module students will be able to:

1. Design and perform experiments to answer biomedical science-based hypotheses.
2. Critically evaluate and use the scientific literature to develop hypotheses and interpret findings.
3. Analyse and interpret experimental results collected using biomedical science techniques.


Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
4. Communicate experimental design plans and research findings in a clear, concise, focused and structured manner.
5. Use scientific software to carry out analysis and statistical testing of experimental results.
6. Evidence further development of research skills relevant to modern biomedical sciences, including successful execution of laboratory work.

Syllabus

Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module

Teaching Methods

Delivery type Number Length hours Student hours
Lecture 3 1 3
Lecture 3 1.5 4.5
Practical 1 3 3
Practical 4 1 4
Practical 7 6 42
Seminar 4 1 4
Seminar 13 2 26
Private study hours 113.5
Total Contact hours 86.5
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) 200

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Attendance at practicals, workshops, and computer-based learning sessions. Students will also be able to use feedback from experimental reports in Year 1. A team project plan (including outline experimental design, hypothesis, aims, objectives) in Semester 1 will be prepared for feedback/feed forward guidance before preparing the same type of plan for the Semester 2 team project that is summatively assessed.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework
Assessment type Notes % of formal assessment
Practical Report Laboratory report 1 40
Practical Report Laboratory report 2 50
Group Project Group project 10
Practical Technical Skills Passport - P/F 0
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) 100

The Technical Skills Passport is pass/fail and a pass must be achieved to pass the module, otherwise a V code will be applied.

Reading List

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 4/29/2024

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team