Research Project

Overview

DETAILED SYLLABUS

Facilitation of research practice
Within this module, students will carry out a research project under the supervision of an academic and/or industrial supervisor, within an applied area of Chemical Engineering. Students participating within this module will be required to undertake a significant amount of research activity as part of their timetabled activities across both semesters 1 and 2.

Assessment structure
Assessment within this module will constitute three main themes, each of which will assess students’ skills and abilities within key aspects of research activity. These themes, along with their associated assessments, are outlined below.

 
Theme 1. Project feasibility and introduction (20% of module assessment)
Students will be required to submit a document consisting of two main components:

• A feasibility study related to the research project, not exceeding 3000 words (excluding title pages and references) (100% of the theme mark)
• A literature review of the related research area, not exceeding 2000 words (excluding title pages and references)

Notes: Assessment of submissions will take place early in Semester 2, with feedback subsequently being provided via a student-supervisor meeting. Attendance at this feedback meeting is compulsory, and will be arranged with you, via email, by your academic supervisor.

An amended version of the literature review component of the project feasibility and introduction report is expected to constitute the introduction of the final project thesis which is to submitted later in Semester 2, and as such, will not be assessed as part of Theme 1 – rather, this submission will allow students to receive structured feedback before the assessment of this material within the final submitted research thesis. It is however essential that a suitable literature review is conducted so as to properly inform the feasibility study element, and to facilitate the provision of adequate feedback.


Theme 2. Dissemination of data (60% of module assessment)
This theme will be assessed across three submissions:

1. Research thesis (50% of theme mark) – this final report, not exceeding 8000 words (excluding title pages and references), will be assessed by both the supervisor and an assigned second marker, with an average of the awarded marks being used to assign the final mark for the report. This report must take an orthodox structure, with guidance being provided by the project supervisor. Where marks awarded by assessors deviates by more than 5%, the report will be further assessed by a third independent assessor.

2. Poster presentation (20% of theme mark) – students are required to prepare and present a poster presentation, of A0 size (landscape orientation, 118.9 cm x 84.1 cm) which will be assessed by two assigned academic markers (not including your academic supervisor), with an average of the awarded marks being used to assign a final mark for the poster presentation.

3. Viva voce examination (30% of theme mark) – students will be required to attend a 15-minute oral examination, consisting of two sections, namely a five-minute oral presentation, and ten minutes of questioning/discussion from the academic panel made up of two allocated members of academic staff (not including your academic supervisor). An average of the marks awarded by each of the panel members will be used to assign a final mark for the viva voce examination.






Theme 3. Experimental records (20% of module assessment)
This theme consists of two assessments:

1. Data collection and communication of results (75% of theme mark) – students will be required to submit their experimental records (including lab books, and electronic copies of supplementary data, where appropriate), which will then be assessed by the academic supervisor and an assigned second assessor, who will consider two main aspects:

• Use and maintenance of experimental records, including quality of results and level of work conducted
• Application of results, including how data has been utilised to construct components which have been provided within other assessed aspects

An average of the marks awarded by each assessor will be used to assign a final mark for this aspect of assessment.

It is critical that students clearly and unambiguously identify their own work within their records. Any work which was shared by or with another student or researcher must be marked as such to avoid collusion or plagiarism investigations taking place, in line with University regulations.

2. General overall performance (25% of theme mark) – the academic supervisor will provide an assessment of students’ overall performance throughout the project, with this assessment to include aspects relating to behaviour within the research environment, engagement with the research project, etc.


Assignment Submission
The following report documents must be submitted online, via Canvas, using the system’s assignments functionality:

• Theme 1 report
• Research thesis

Please note that each of these submissions will be processed using the University’s originality checking system, in order to ensure that submitted work has not been plagiarised. Students must be aware of the University’s regulations in relation to plagiarism, in addition to other forms of academic offence, and ensure that these are considered ahead of submitting their work.

There is no requirement to submit documents relating either the poster presentation or oral presentation components of the module, as these aspects will be assessed in their entirety, during the delivery of the particular presentation. Students are, however, responsible for the production and availability of presentation resources at the time of assessment – this includes the printing and display of poster presentations in a timely manner, and the provision of presentation slides, if required, during the viva voce examination.

Further submitted work, including lab books and supplementary electronic data, must be physically submitted – further details of the submission process for these elements will be provided a sufficient amount of time in advance of the submission deadline. Further, students should ensure that electronic data is provided in a standard portable data format (i.e. a USB-compatible device). Please note that any alternative form of laboratory notes, apart from the actual original physical copies of these components, will not be accepted.

Deadlines
Deadlines for each of the detailed assessment components above, in addition to details relating to poster presentation and viva voce examination sessions will be provided, in due course, via assignment briefing information provided on Canvas, by the module coordinator. Students are reminded that it is their responsibility to be fully aware of such deadlines. Late submissions will be penalised in line with the appropriate University regulations, to a maximum deduction of all marks.

Students should note that the submission of ALL assessed components is COMPULSORY.

Assessment criteria
Assessment criteria for each component of assessment within this module are provided within the appendices at the end of this document – students are encouraged to ensure that they are fully aware of these, referring to them regularly as they complete their work, ensuring that queries/concerns about these aspects are discussed with their academic supervisor where necessary.
See CHE4012 on Canvas for detailed Appendices.

Learning Objectives

On successful completion of this module, students will have:

• Carried out an advanced research project within an applied area of Chemical Engineering, commensurate with professional research standards
• Carried out a significant level of consultation with, and critical analysis of research and commercial literature, and/or other appropriate data sources
• Developed an advanced level of understanding in relation to feasibility assessment of research and development projects
• Designed and implemented novel research approaches, via the application of theoretical knowledge and problem-solving skills
• Successfully planned and delivered a research proposal
• Demonstrated notable competence in experimental and/or computational techniques needed to generate new findings
• Shown proficiency in collection, validation, and analysis of research data
• Carried out complex mathematical and/or statistical analysis of research data, and reported the methodology and results obtained
• Effectively communicated background information and research outcomes at a professional level via formal written reports, poster presentations, and oral routes
• Developed skills in working with academic and/or industrial research teams
• Demonstrated a high-level understanding of a key research area within Chemical Engineering, including an awareness of the current state of the art
• Provided evidence of significant experience, knowledge, and expertise in the identification of risks within laboratory/engineering working environments, and implemented safe working practices, via awareness of appropriate health and safety legislation 

Skills

On successful completion of this module, students will have gained a range of skills, including, but not limited to:

• Location and utilisation of academic and other applicable types of literature
• Practical/experimental research
• Effective utilisation of sophisticated laboratory equipment
• Project planning and time management
• Critical thinking
• Problem solving
• Application of theoretical knowledge
• Independent working
• Teamworking
• Safe and healthy working
• Effective utilisation of software packages, where appropriate
• Communication and argument construction

Assessment

Assessment:
Continual Assessment 100%
Assessment structure:
Theme 1: Project Feasibility and Introduction 20% of total mark
Theme 2: Dissemination of data 60% of total mark
Theme 3: Experimental records 20% of total mark

Pass mark (overall average) 40%
– failure to submit any of these aspects will normally result in automatic failure of the module.
See also Course Contents for further information and CHE4012 on Canvas for detailed Appendices.