Module manager: David Starns
Email: D.E.Starns@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
Completion of year one Microbiology, or equivalent.
MICR2320 (in part)
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module provides advanced training in bacteriology, virology, immunology, and next-generation sequencing (NGS), focusing on practical skills, data analysis, and scientific communication. Building on foundational microbiology skills from year one, students engage in laboratory work, including diagnostic bacteriology, molecular virology, and analysis of the immune response. As part of a unique project, students will also isolate their own bacterial strain for NGS, processing the data and preparing it for publication on an online database. Module assessments align to these activities, with an emphasis on clear scientific documentation, data interpretation, and the ability to communicate findings to both academic and public audiences. By the end of the module, students will be well-prepared for their final-year projects and be ready to apply these essential skills in other real-world scientific contexts, such as on industrial placement or post-graduation.
This module aims to provide students with hands-on expertise in advanced microbiology techniques, data analysis, and scientific communication, preparing them for their research projects and scientific roles post-graduate. Building on year-one skills, students engage with practical techniques in bacteriology, virology, immunology, and next-generation sequencing (NGS), alongside bioinformatics and communication workshops. By the end of the module, students will be equipped to analyse and interpret experimental data, manage scientific information effectively, and communicate their findings to both academic audiences and the general public.
Aims and Objectives:
1. Develop Advanced Practical and Analytical Skills:
- Students will develop key techniques in microbiology, including bacterial isolation, viral assays, and immune response analysis. Through these practical activities, students gain confidence in diagnostic and molecular methods widely used in research and clinical settings.
2. Build Competency in Data Analysis and Bioinformatics:
- Students will carry out an NGS project on their own bacterial isolate, learning the end-to-end sequencing pipeline from DNA extraction to data annotation and submission. Workshops support these activities by providing bioinformatics tools for sequence assembly, analysis, and quality control, ensuring students build proficiency in data handling and interpretation.
3. Enhance Scientific Communication Skills:
- Through a series of scientific communication exercises, students develop skills in documenting and presenting scientific data. Activities include creating academic reports, delivering presentations, and designing public-facing visuals, with a focus on clear, accurate, and accessible communication of scientific concepts.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
1. Demonstrate competence in advanced laboratory techniques in bacteriology, virology, and immunology, showing accuracy and precision in executing practical tasks.
2. Analyse and annotate next-generation sequencing (NGS) data using bioinformatics tools, applying digital skills to manage and interpret complex datasets to draw appropriate scientific conclusions
3. Evaluate and synthesise experimental findings within the context of existing literature, using critical thinking and information management to assess data reliability and relevance.
4. Manage scientific data responsibly by preparing sequencing data for a public database, demonstrating ethical awareness and adherence to data-sharing standards.
5. Communicate scientific findings effectively to both specialist and non-specialist audiences (including the general public), employing academic writing and visual communication strategies to convey complex information clearly.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fieldwork | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Lecture | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Practical | 7 | 2 | 14 |
| Practical | 16 | 3 | 48 |
| Private study hours | 134 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 66 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Throughout the module, students will receive regular formative feedback to support their progress. In each lab session, students receive verbal feedback on their techniques and data collection. Follow-up discussions are held after each set of practical classes (Weeks 2, 4, and 5), where students discuss findings and receive feedback on data interpretation and experimental approach, which aids in developing critical analysis for their portfolio.
For NGS and bioinformatics, interactive workshops in Weeks 6-8 provide feedback on sequence assembly and analysis, preparing students for the NGS mini project report. Additionally, communication skills workshops (Weeks 8 and 10) include peer and instructor feedback on presenting scientific data in academic and public formats, supporting their final presentation assessment. Optional drop-in sessions in Weeks 9 and 10 offer one-further guidance, allowing students to seek personalised feedback on their assessment plans.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Laboratory and data analysis portfolio | |
| Coursework | Report on NGS mini-project | 70 |
| Coursework | Research presentation with accompanying public-facing infographic | 30 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/06/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team