1. All students in the School of Life Sciences (excluding Chemistry) carry out a final year research project.All students in the School of Life Sciences (excluding Chemistry) carry out a final year research project. You will have the opportunity to:You will have the opportunity to: –undertake an individual piece of original research. –work independently (with guidance and support). Life Science Final Year Research Project (C7127) Course convenor: Professor Michelle West m.j.west@sussex.ac.uk

2. Life Science Final Year Research Project (C7127) The project is a core course for which you will be automatically registered, you will choose your other modules via the online option system.The project is a core course for which you will be automatically registered, you will choose your other modules via the online option system. You choose a specific project through a separate procedure (see later slides) and submit your project choice form to the School office.You choose a specific project through a separate procedure (see later slides) and submit your project choice form to the School office.

3. Project Assessment Oral presentation of approx 10-12 mins at the end of the autumn term (10%).Oral presentation of approx 10-12 mins at the end of the autumn term (10%). Project report of approximately 6000 words due in during the spring term (90%).Project report of approximately 6000 words due in during the spring term (90%).

4. How Much Time Will I Spend On My Project? 30 credit course (1/4 of final year).30 credit course (1/4 of final year). 1 credit roughly equates to 10 hours of study time.1 credit roughly equates to 10 hours of study time. You will therefore be expected to spend approx 300 hours working on your project.You will therefore be expected to spend approx 300 hours working on your project. A rough guide:A rough guide: –50 hours writing report / talk. –250 hours doing research work and analysing data. Assuming a 7 hour day this is roughlyAssuming a 7 hour day this is roughly –3.5 days a week for 10 weeks

5. Is Project Time Timetabled? You are expected to manage your own time spent on research- lab/research time will not be on your timetable.You are expected to manage your own time spent on research- lab/research time will not be on your timetable. Your project must be completed in the autumn term.Your project must be completed in the autumn term. You need to fit your project work around your lectures and course reading.You need to fit your project work around your lectures and course reading. Your project should NOT require you to skip lectures and neglect course reading!Your project should NOT require you to skip lectures and neglect course reading!

6. What kinds of projects are available? In general a research project involves testing a hypothesis or analysing a research question. Projects can include:In general a research project involves testing a hypothesis or analysing a research question. Projects can include: –Field work, data collection, lab-based research. –Analysis of existing data e.g. bioinformatics, data mining, population/behaviour analysis. –Extraction and analysis of data and information from published literature.

7. Where can I find project details ? Teaching and research faculty will provide project titles and descriptions and list any module requirements for their projects.Teaching and research faculty will provide project titles and descriptions and list any module requirements for their projects. These are available to view and download from a dedicated webpage ( http://www.sussex.ac.uk/lifesci/internal/courses/research_projects ) as a single PDF file that covers all research subject areas in the school (excluding Chemistry).These are available to view and download from a dedicated webpage ( http://www.sussex.ac.uk/lifesci/internal/courses/research_projects ) as a single PDF file that covers all research subject areas in the school (excluding Chemistry).

8. What type of project shall I choose? You are free to choose a project from any subject area providing you meet any module requirements indicated by the supervisor.You are free to choose a project from any subject area providing you meet any module requirements indicated by the supervisor. If you are considering a career in Medicine or a non-experimental science-based career, then a critical review or data analysis project may be a good choice.If you are considering a career in Medicine or a non-experimental science-based career, then a critical review or data analysis project may be a good choice. If you are considering a career in academic/ lab-based research then a lab-based or data analysis project would be a good choice.If you are considering a career in academic/ lab-based research then a lab-based or data analysis project would be a good choice. If the supervisor is offering more than one type of project you can indicate if you have a strong preference for an experimental/literature-based project on the choice form.If the supervisor is offering more than one type of project you can indicate if you have a strong preference for an experimental/literature-based project on the choice form.

9. Choosing projects You are expected to contact supervisors to discuss projects you are interested in (arrange an appointment by e-mail do not just turn up!).You are expected to contact supervisors to discuss projects you are interested in (arrange an appointment by e-mail do not just turn up!). Please obtain their signatures on the form available on the school website.Please obtain their signatures on the form available on the school website. After discussions with supervisors please rank your choices (1-6).After discussions with supervisors please rank your choices (1-6). There is no need to indicate specific project titles by the same supervisor, projects are allocated and the supervisor will then discuss your preference with you.There is no need to indicate specific project titles by the same supervisor, projects are allocated and the supervisor will then discuss your preference with you.

10. Choosing projects-tips! Do not leave it until the day the form is due in to approach supervisors.Do not leave it until the day the form is due in to approach supervisors. –They may not have time to talk to you. –This doesn’t give them a very good impression of your organisational skills. Think outside of the box!Think outside of the box! –Try not to only pick supervisors you know- many research faculty that you may not know offer very good projects. –Try to be open-minded about the area of research- many projects offer training in widely applicable techniques.