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The research project forms the major part of the MRes Experimental and Translational Immunology; it provides the students with the opportunity to spend nine months undertaking an extensive, original research project in one of the Divisional /IIT laboratories. The student will undertake a project supervised by a research-active scientist to investigate a problem of biomedical interest. The choice of project will be made in discussion with the module lead at the beginning of the Autumn term. Students will start their projects in November; the project will be part- time for five months (until March) then full –time for the remaining four months (April until August).

Aims

The aim of the module is to provide first-hand experience of the cutting-edge biomedical research and training in:

• Critical reading of scientific literature, and the ability to synthesise the current state of the field in written form
• Ability to produce a research hypothesis and a series of research questions that can be used to test it
• Ability to design and perform experiments
• Analysis and interpretation of their own data obtained through the research project and to place the research project in the context of current literature
• Ability to present their research project in the written form as well as orally

Learning outcomes

Students will be trained in scientific method, interpretation and presentation of experimental data and will gain the following skills to carry out laboratory research:

• Generate a plausible research hypothesis and design a series of well controlled experiments to test it
• Generate, present, analyse, interpret and discuss scientific data
• Identify the key primary scientific papers in a field of research using appropriate bibliographic tools
• Critically read the relevant scientific literature, and be able to synthesise the current state of the field in written form
• Write a succinct scientific dissertation
• Present the results of a research project in written and oral form