Studying at York
Professional Research Development - CHE00067M
- Department: Chemistry
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: M
- Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
Module summary
The module aims to develop students' research-related skills in several areas including: searching, assimilating and critically appraising literature material for a written literature review on a designated topic at the forefront of Chemical research, presenting core scientific concepts and cutting-edge research in a format suitable for a general audience, building an awareness of health and safety issues in order to complete an appropriate risk assessment for project work, identifying project-specific training needs to compile and carry out an appropriate training plan, building team working skills by participating in regular group/team meetings.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2024-25 |
Module aims
The aim of this module is to develop and improve literature review and advanced professional research skills. These include information retrieval, organisation and writing skills, critical assessment of other scientists' work, identifying and addressing research training needs, health and safety, and reflecting on skills development.
Individual components include:
- searching for relevant references by using search engines, in particular Web of Science and databases, such as Beilstein, Web of Knowledge, Reaxys, ChemSpider, SciFinder;
- comprehension, organisation and prioritisation of the retrieved information;
- critical evaluation of the material;
- writing an interesting and critical review of the literature in a chosen subject area at the forefront of Chemical research;
- completing a project risk assessment;
- identifying project research skills needs and compiling a training plan;
- completing project-specific training as outlined in the training plan;
- participating in regular group / team meetings;
- attending research seminars and / or project discussions to build an awareness of cutting edge scientific research and industrial applications.
Module learning outcomes
The student will be able to:
- present work from the literature in an attractive and well laid-out way, using appropriate diagrams to illustrate key concepts;
- identify relevant areas of literature for a wider review, while maintaining focus on the topic, demonstrating a wide reading of the literature (both old and new);
- construct clear arguments based on previously published work, comparing and critically analysing a range of results, techniques, etc. within a wider scientific area than the project;
- select appropriate references that are well balanced for the subject of the review and format references in a consistent and accepted style;
- analyse bibliometrics to investigate structural biases in research;
- demonstrate an awareness of appropriate health and safety issues affecting project work through engagement with health and safety training and the completion of a project risk assessment;
- identify new research skills required to complete the research project work and compile a suitable research training plan;
- critically reflect on employability and related professional skills, and identify areas for future professional development.
Module content
- Workshops on critical reading, literature review writing and reflective writing;
- Develop and improve scientific writing skills through the preparation of a draft literature review with associated formative feedback
- Introduction to professional research skills, health and safety and decolonisation
- Project-specific advanced research skills training
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
Feedback on the Literature Review and Critical Reflection is provided upon completion of the module.
Indicative reading
Scientific research articles relevant to the project.