A research project designed for those final year MSci students on the Natural Sciences programme whose major stream is in the Faculty of Life Sciences. A range of projects are available within the Faculty to complement the taught material in such streams. Under supervision, students will carry out original experimental and/or computational work. They will then write a dissertation critically analysing and presenting their results. Students will also be expected to defend an oral presentation of their work.

Students eligible for the module will be invited to submit applications for up to 5 projects, in order of preference. Supervisors of these projects will then select students to work with them based on prior academic performance, interview, and/or e-mail exchanges. With the agreement of the module organiser, students are also free to arrange projects with other members of staff who are not within the above scheme.

After taking this module students will be able to:

Plan and execute under supervision, an experiment or investigation, analyse critically the results and draw valid conclusions. Students should be able to evaluate the level of uncertainty in their results, understand the significance of error analysis and be able to compare these results with expected outcomes, theoretical predictions or with published data. They should be able to evaluate the significance of their results in this context.
	Use of IT skills effectively at the level needed for project work; for example a familiarity with a programming language, simulation software, or the use of mathematical packages for manipulation and numerical solution of equations.
	Demonstrate a working knowledge of a variety of experimental, mathematical and/or computational techniques applicable to current research.
	Communicate orally and in writing complex scientific ideas and the conclusions of an experiment, investigation or project concisely, accurately and informatively.
	Manage their own learning and to make use of appropriate texts, research articles and other primary sources.