BIOTECHNOLOGY

Credit Points

10

Course Coordinator

Dr Heather M Wallace

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Notes

Normally only available to level 1 or 2 students studying MSci/BSc degree programme disciplines taught within the School of Medical Sciences.

This course will be additional to the 120 level 1 or 2 credits required for the chosen degree programme.

Overview

The course will comprise a series of lectures and tutorials which will cover the "language" of biobusiness using a number of real case studies from companies in the medical sciences (e.g. What is a company? What is management? How do markets work? Decision making process).

Structure

One lecture/tutorial/Group work session per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Continuous assessment (100%). Group presentations and essay.

Resit: 1 two-hour written exam.

Formative Assessment

N/A

Feedback

Written feedback provided on continuous assessment elements.

Credit Points

5

Course Coordinator

Dr A Carrington

Pre-requisites

Only available to Programme Year 3 students taking one of the School of Medical Sciences' Degree Programmes

Overview

Lectures and workshops delivered weekly by coordinator and Careers Service staff covering all aspects of career planning and job applications. Talks from external sources from a broad range of employer backgrounds.

Prerequisite for and recommended only for those interested in undertaking a one-year industrial placement.

Structure

1 one hour lecture per week and tutorials as required.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Continuous Assessment (100%) - 1 application form (60%); 1 covering letter (40%).

Resit: Resubmission of continuous assessment.

Formative Assessment

Students must prepare an up-to-date CV and are given feedback on all applications submitted as required.

Feedback

All written work is marked with written comments. Oral feedback is given on all work when required or deemed necessary.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr H M Wallace

Pre-requisites

BT 1502

Overview

This course will challenge students to think about the nature of research when driven by commercial outcomes. Many of the future recruitment opportunities for students with medical science skills may involve roles in bio-business development rather than exclusively research at the bench. This course hopes to enable our students to be at a competitive advantage when seeking such career opportunities when compared to those students that only have a traditional scientific background.

A series of lectures and tutorials, together with guest lectures from industry professionals, which will cover the key aspects of different business models in the bio-business sector.

Structure

10 one-hour lectures, 10 one-hour tutorials during the course.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Continuous Assessment (100%).

• Assessment 1: One 1,500 word essay relating to intellectual property portfolio management.


• Assessment 2: Following appropriate guidance through tutorials the students will prepare a presentation that describes a medical sciences company of their choice. The emphasis within the presentation will be to sell the commercial entity concentrating on explaining the business model of the chosen business.


• Assessment 3: One 2,000 word essay. Title will be in the area of competitor analysis of a particular clinical area e.g. cancer therapy.

Formative Assessment

- Mock presentation to give instant feedback on presentation skills.

Feedback

- Tutorial sessions will provide feedback on course content.
- Written comments will be provided on essays under examination conditions.

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr B Muller

Pre-requisites

MB 3006, BC 3503 and GN 3502 or MC 3504 and 30 other credit points at level 3.

Co-requisites

BT 4507, MB 4050.

Overview

The course allows a choice between:

1) Modules Biochemistry Option 1 - Receptors and Cell Signalling, Microbiology Option 1 - Host-Microbe Interactions, or Genetics Option 1 - Medical Genetics

and between

2) Modules Biochemistry Option 2 - Biochemistry Of Human Diseases, Microbiology Option 2 - Evolution Of Microbial Pathogenesis or Genetics Option 2 - Population Genetics.

Structure

This course consists of two modules with 15 hours of contact time each, in the form of lectures, tutorials and seminars.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour written paper (66.7%), in-course assessment consisting of two essays (2000 words) (33.3%).

Formative Assessment

- Mock exam with personal tutor allows students to practice for essay based exams and receive feedback on their performance.
- Case-study exercise with feedback in preparation for summative assessments.
- Practice exam questions on MyAberdeen.
- Problem-solving sessions with personal tutor.

Feedback

- Essays will be marked with written comments.
- Problem solving questions will be discussed during a lecture/feedback session.
- Tutorial sessions will provide feedback on course content.
- Comments will be provided on the mock exam question.
- Feedback on problem-based learning exercise.

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr HM Wallace / Professor A Porter

Pre-requisites

BT 3502

Co-requisites

None.

Overview

A series of lectures and tutorials that will challenge the students to apply what they know (on their own or as part of a business team) to a "real" company.

Structure

10 x 1 hour lectures, 20 x 1 hour tutorials during the course.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Continuous assessment (100%); two essays (40% each) and one presentation (20%).

Formative Assessment

Elevator pitch presentation.

Feedback

Oral, written comments on reports, essays etc.

Credit Points

60

Course Coordinator

Professor K Docherty

Pre-requisites

MB 3006, BC 3503 and GN 3502 or MC 3504 and 30 other credit points from level 3.

Co-requisites

BT 4005, MB 4050

Overview

The core element of the course is a research project that involves 10 weeks laboratory work and production of a thesis. Assessment is on the basis of the performance in the laboratory, the thesis, and the project seminar. Two research tutorials will be organised by academic staff and will be assessed by examination at the end of the Semester. Tutorials will be held at regular intervals with the tutor appointed by the course coordinator.

Structure

Research project: 10 weeks with minimum of 6 hours per day, 4 days a week in laboratory
Two research tutorials: 4 hours.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 2 two-hour examinations (2 elements each) and 1 four-hour examination (3 elements) (63.6%); in-course assessment (36.4%) consisting of Laboratory work (1 element); Honours thesis (2 elements) (5,000 words) and Thesis defence (1 element).

Formative Assessment

- Practice oral presentations of research data
- Mock exam allows students to practice for essay based exams and receive feedback on their performance.
- Practice exam essay allows students to write under exam conditions and receive feedback on their performance.
- Problem-solving sessions

Feedback

- Practical reports and essays will be marked with written comments.
- Problem solving questions will be discussed during a lecture/feedback session.
- Tutorial sessions will provide feedback on course content.
- Written comments will be provided on the mock exam question.

Credit Points

120

Course Coordinator

Dr A Carrington

Pre-requisites

Students who wish to undertake a year's industrial placement must be eligible to enter their Honours year prior to embarking on the placement and must have completed the preparatory course for placement students, BT 3006.

Co-requisites

None.

Notes

This course is a pre-requisite prescription for part of any degree programme within the School of Medical Sciences incorporating an industrial placement and comprises one year’s practical experience in industry (usually laboratory based, approx 40 hours laboratory work per week). The industrial placement must be relevant to the aims of the degree programme.

Overview

Degree programmes with an integral industrial placement offer students the opportunity to spend the fourth year of their degree in paid employment. Completing an industrial placement allows the students to experience workplace culture and makes them a more effective employee following graduation. Placements vary considerably but in general terms, students are placed in an industrial, commercial or research environment where they will obtain a breadth of practical experience to complement their degree programme.

Increasingly, placements or periods of work experience are being used as a tool by employers for pre-selecting the best students for graduate roles. The industrial placement year may therefore become a passport to employment where employers consider a work placement as a central part of their graduate recruitment processes.

Students are employed by their host company and can expect to work on a number of projects over the year. They will gain practical experience of the workplace which is also relevant to the degree programme in which they are studying. Depending upon the placement provider students may also have access to journal clubs, lab meetings, training courses and conferences.

Structure

Students work a normal 40 hour week in the host company. They are entitled to holidays as per other members of staff of a similar grade. One visit from University staff per year is attempted although this is subject to time and financial allowances. Tutorial assistance from a member of the University academic staff is also available via email and / or telephone throughout the year.

Assessment

In-course assessment:- 2 Short reports (approx 4 pages each) (5% each), Reflective essay (2000 words) (10%), Supervisor's assessment of performance (20%), Thesis (40%), Viva (15%), Poster presentation (5%).

Formative Assessment

Feedback as required from host supervisor, academic tutor and placement coordinator.

Feedback

Short reports and essay are returned with written comments and verbal feedback provided if requested/required.
Viva used as a way of disussing thesis and written feedback also given.
Host supervisors, academic tutors and placement coordinator provide feedback (verbal and written) as necessary.