Postgraduate Course: Research Project in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology (BILG11012)
Course Outline
| School | School of Biological Sciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Dissertation |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 50 |
ECTS Credits | 25 |
| Summary | A 10-week research project in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology.
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| Course description |
The proposed Research Project in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology course forms one element of the new MSc by Research in Hosts, Pathogens and Global Health which will be taken by students during the first year of study on the Wellcome Trust Four Year PhD in Hosts, Pathogens and Global Health. The course will run alongside 2 other courses (Research Project in Molecular Biology and Immunology, and Research Project in Molecular Phylogeny and Epidemiology) to give training across the full range of pathogen and host interactions, from core molecular processes to understanding host-pathogen interactions in the field, including co-infections, zoonoses and evolutionary dynamics. This training will also give the students a rounded appreciation of how multidisciplinary approaches will allow them to address research problems in an integrated way, when they choose their main PhD project.
Students will carry out a 10-week independent research project in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology.
The Research Project in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology course will be offered three times throughout the academic year, along with the Research Project in Molecular Biology and Immunology and Research Project in Molecular Phylogeny and Epidemiology courses. Students will be able to take the Research Project courses in any order.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Flexible |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
500
(
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 10,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
490 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Students will submit a written report of their research project in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology which will be graded by the project supervisor and Programme Training Committee.
The project will be assessed out of 50 credits:
¿ Practical work in laboratory ¿ 10 credits
¿ Dissertation ¿ 35 credits
¿ Oral presentation ¿ 5 credits
Students will present their projects to their peers and the Programme Committee in a 15 min talk, allowing 5 min for questions. Committee members will prepare written feedback for the students based on both their talk and dissertation. Students will meet with Committee members one-on-one shortly after their oral presentation to discuss feedback and any other concerns.
Dissertations will include:
¿ 250 word ¿lay summary¿, explaining what was done and why
¿ 300 word abstract
¿ 2500 words of remaining text to describe project background, aims, results and discussion (excluding figure legends and references)
¿ maximum 5 figures
¿ full citations for all references
¿ students should include materials and methods in the supplementary data, and will be able to submit up to 10 supplementary figures.
Marks will be awarded using the University of Edinburgh marking scheme.
Project supervisors will award marks for practical work. The dissertation and oral presentations will be assessed by the supervisor (30% of total marks) and the Hosts, Pathogens and Global Health PhD programme committee members (70% of total marks).
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| Feedback |
As well as the feedback on assessment outlined above, students will have regular (weekly) meetings with their project supervisor during each rotation. Following each rotation, students will meet with the Programme Training Committee to discuss progress and address any questions or problems that may have arisen. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Specific practical experimentation in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology
- General experiment design and planning
- Data recording
- Data analysis and presentation
- Scientific thesis writing
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
As well as the research skills outlined as learning outcomes below, students will gain the following transferable skills:
- autonomy
- teamwork
- oral and written communication skills
- time management
- organisational skills
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| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Keith Matthews
Tel: (0131 6)51 3639
Email: |
Course secretary | Dr Hilary Snaith
Tel: (0131 6)51 3688
Email: |
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