Teaching
Taught Elements
Students will experience a set of core taught elements in addition to choosing three out of four specialized themes hosted in world-leading research centres at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. Most of the taught material will be delivered in the Michaelmas term (Oct-Dec).
Research Element
Students will be supported to choose a host lab where they will conduct a research project (roughly Oct-June) supported by a principal investigator and integrated into the host research group.
Students will be supported to understand their skills, attributes, and aspirations, developing a portfolio for future career aspirations and will be personally mentored throughout the course.
| One to one supervision |
Students will have at least one termly meeting with the Course Director. |
|---|---|
| Seminars & classes |
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| Lectures |
Approximately 25 lectures over the academic year comprising
Students chose three of the four themes below and attend those lectures (approximately 21 hours)
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| Practicals |
Core research technique practical - two approximately 4 hour sessions |
| Small group teaching |
Where appropriate, small group teaching may complement core and theme taught material. |
| Journal clubs |
Approximately 6 hours of journal clubs aligned with themes. Students may be exepected to attend additional journal clubs with their research groups. |
| Literature Reviews |
Students will critique a research area for one summative assessment. Additionally, students will conduct a review of relevant literature to inform their research project plan and as part of their final dissertation. |
| Posters and Presentations |
Students will give an oral presentation in the Lent term as well as a poster presentation in Easter term. Students may be expected to produce other oral pieces of work such as podcasts or leading group discussions throughout the year. |
| Taught/Research Balance |
Equal Taught/Research
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Feedback
Students will receive formative feedback throughout the course from the teaching team, their host research group and their peers. Students will receive termly formal feedback reports via the online Postgraduate Feedback and Reporting System.
Examples of structured opportunities for formative feedback are given below (specific details may vary following student feedback):
A research project plan outlining the rationale for the research project, including the proposed study design and methods will be formatively assessed by the assigned research supervisor, who will provide detailed feedback to the student.
A named second supervisor advisor will provide additional scientific training, practical supervision, discussion and feedback on the research project.
A poster presentation on the research project at a course-wide research day to be held in June. Advice and feedback will be given in preparation and after the presentation.
Assessment
Thesis / Dissertation
A two-part dissertation on the research project will be due, comprising a literature review of the relevant field (part 1) and an account of the methods and outcomes of the project (part 2) - see below for details.
Part 1 of the dissertation (a maximum of 5,000 words) will be a literature review article around the topic of the student’s research project . This may include a section structured like a research grant proposal, outlining a central unresolved question/hypothesis in the field, followed by an experimental plan to investigate this. This work will be considered to constitute the Introduction section of the dissertation.
Part 2 of the dissertation (a maximum of 5,000 words) will describe the outcomes of a 32-week research project. Together, dissertation parts 1 and 2 will constitute the dissertation approved or prescribed by the Degree Committee.
The examination may include, at the discretion of the Examiners, an oral examination on the work submitted by the candidate and on the general field of knowledge within which such work falls.
Essays
Research skills may be assessed by individual and group projects through varied communication modes
Written examination
Aspects of the course may be assessed by written in-class test or by take-home test
Practical assessment
Practical aspects of the course may be assessed by written in-class test or by take-home test
Other
Assessment beyond the dissertation will be through a range of formats which may include coursework, written and oral examinations and take-home tests, posters, presentations, projects and reflective pieces. Modes of assessment are chosen to align with learning outcomes and to provide authentic assessment of skills and knowledge appropriate for training the next generation of translational medical researchers in the current context.
Assessment on the course models a universal design for learning approach. Additionally, alternative modes of assessment for students with disability/accessibility requirements may be arranged on a student-by-student basis. Contact us if you have any questions after reading the Course Page.