Department of Biology and Biochemistry

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Department of Biology and Biochemistry
Master of Research
BioSciences Regenerative Medicine
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Introductions

• Director of Studies (Dr Alan Wheals)
• PG Administrator (Dr Emma Lawrence)
• Departmental Administrator (Amanda Harper)
• Addressing staff?
• Professor, Dr Wheals, Alan
• Whatever you are comfortable with
• Not Dr Alan!
• Your name?
• We use given name(s) first, then family name
• Is it correct for you?
• Use of English alternative names?

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Contents of the folder

• Badge (to be worn)
• Handbook (about the MRes programme)
• Two lab books (has to be returned when you leave)
• One seminar book
• Diary
• Assorted additional information sheets including
  project and unit allocations
• Pen

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Progress so far?

• Accommodation?
• Registration?
• Confirmation letter? Available online
• Library Card?
• Project choices?
• Unit choices?
• Unless urgent, I will deal with these tomorrow
  during the individual tutorials

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Aims and Objectives

• Orientation Introduce the Region, the City, the
  University and the Department
• Highlight key issues from the Handbook
• About being a MRes student
• Taught Units
• Research projects
• Literature Review and Research Proposal
• Calendar and Programme of Work
• General issues
• Top ten tips
• Please ask questions
• More time during tutorials tomorrow
• This PPT will be placed on the web
• There will be short pause at about 10am

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Climate (the weather)

• Latitude 53N (Moscow 56N Beijing 40N)
• Gulf stream makes it warmer than it should be
• Longitude 4W West of a large continent
• Prevailing wind is Westerly
• Mild, moist winds
• Very variable on a daily basis
• In summer, pleasant rather than hot, with rain
• In winter, cold rather than freezing but STRONG
  winds so wind-chill occurs!
• Exceptions occur with N, S and E winds
• People do not come to the UK for the climate!

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Region

• West of England
• Wessex
• Bath and North-East Somerset (BANES)

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London
150km from London (Train and coach) Capital City
with limitless cultural possibilities from Art
to Zoo
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Bristol
20km from Bristol Large cosmopolitan city with
major concerts, touring shows and ethnic foods
Worlds first suspension bridge (over river Avon)
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Stonehenge
Overrated!
Overrated!
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Avebury Circle
Bigger and free!
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Glastonbury Tor
The legendary home of King Arthur
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Glastonbury Festival
In 2007 the 137,500 tickets available to the
public were snapped up in just one hour and 45
minutes
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Cotswolds
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Bath is at its southern limit
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Mendips Cheddar Gorge
Gives its name to a famous cheese
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City of Bath

• Roman remains from 2000 years ago
• Roman Baths with hot springs
• King Edgar crowned 1st King of England - 973
• Redevelopment in 18th century
• Palladian architecture, UNESCO heritage city
• Pump Room, Royal Crescent, Assembly Rooms,
  Pulteney Bridge, Theatre Royal (top productions)
• Modern era
• 100,000 population, cosmopolitan
• 9 night clubs, 5 cinema screens, lots of pubs and
  restaurants of all types (eg Wagamama)
• Puppetry festival (Easter), Arts festival (May),
  Film festival (October), Mozartfest (December)
• Rugby and Cricket

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Bath Abbey
Summer degree ceremonies are held here
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Assembly Rooms
Elegant public rooms at the heart of fashionable
18th-century Bath life Winter degree ceremonies
are held here
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University
Students study here we hope
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University

• Founded in 1966
• Now in top ten of gt100 Universities
• Over 12,000 students 8,000 on single campus
• 2,500 International students
• Faculties of Science, Engineering, Humanities
  Social Sciences, and Schools of Management and
  Health
• Strong emphasis on application of knowledge
• 60 of UGs spend a year on placement
• Excellent sporting facilities (EIS)
• Library access 24hrs during UG semesters

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Department

• 47 academics, 55 post-docs, 80 PGs, 55 technical
  and support staff
• 600 UGs
• Emphasis on Molecular Biosciences
• UG degrees Biology Molecular and Cellular
  Biology Biochemistry
• Bachelors 3 year 4 year with placement
• MBiol/MBiochem 4-years (60 threshold)
• Outstanding facilities for growing organisms
• microorganisms, plants, insects, fish, amphibia,
  mice
• Outstanding students
• PG Araxi Odabachian UG Cathy Pink

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Master of Research
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What is a MRes Degree Programme?

• Aim
• The MRes Degree Programme is designed to produce
  postgraduates who are suited for a research
  career and may go on to study for a PhD or to a
  position in industry involving interaction with
  research scientists
• Objectives
• To give the student an insight into a range of
  research activities, techniques and skills as
  well as to widen their knowledge of the subject
  itself
• To provide the student with the context within
  which the research will take place including an
  understanding of the ethical implications of
  their work, its potential role in economic
  exploitation and the way in which science is
  managed

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The MRes Classes of 2007

• As a group
• Research Training Unit (20 x 2h sessions)
• Academic tutorials supporting the programmes
• As two groups
• Separate Group tutorials (5 hours)
• Individually
• Taught Units
• Research Projects
• Literature Review and Research Proposal

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Outline of Programme

• Research Training Unit Compulsory 6-credits
• At least 4 taught Units Total 24 credits
• 2 Laboratory projects 2 x 24 credits
• Literature review / Research proposal 12 credits
• Tutorials Compulsory
• Total Credits for MRes 90 credits

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Weighting of Assessments

• Research Training Course 0
• 4 taught Units 28
• 2 Laboratory projects 58
• Literature review / Research proposal 14
• Total 100

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Research Training Unit

• Aim
• To give experience of, and training in, generic
  skills required for research
• Objectives
• Compulsory attendance and demonstration of skills
  in specific tasks
• These skills will be assessed during project work
• Those not attending without permission will have
  to do alternative tasks
• Scheduled for Wednesday afternoons
• A draft schedule is in your packs
• A signing-in list will be circulated!

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Taught Units

• Responsibility of Unit convenor
• Normally 6 credits (can be 3 or 9)
• Can sit in on other Units in first week to ensure
  that you are doing the right ones
• We can only allow changes if we have space. This
  is very unlikely with seminar units

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Taught Unit Timetables

• Timetable is on the web and by the front door
  (BB only)
• We will provide a compiled timetable soon
• Reading the Timetable
• Number of Unit
• Type of session
• Staff teaching Unit
• Weeks taught
• Location of room
• 6W 1.1 means building number 6 (even south
  side), west of the library on level 1 (below
  parade level), room number 1
• Unit is BB40145 in the catalogue
• Leca means one (of several) lectures
• Runs weeks 1-11
• Taught by Clarke, Wheals and Jeffries

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Importance of Deadlines

• All submitted work must be handed in to the
  Office with a completed top cover sheet
• The plagiarism / cheating declaration must be
  signed
• You may also be asked to submit an e-version
• Failure to submit on time means the maximum mark
  is a pass mark (40)
• Failure to submit within 5 working days after the
  deadline means 0
• Failure to submit at all mean no credits
• Inadequate credits means no degree!
• These are university rules

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Projects

• Allocation
• Starting in week 2
• Contact the supervisor by Email on Monday about
  (i) reading, and (ii) first meeting
• Amount of work 3 days a week equivalent
• Finishing lab work on time
• Writing your Project Report
• Submitting your Project Report
• Presenting your poster / Giving your talk
• Use your lab book for all data
• Submitting your lab book

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Literature Review and Research Proposal

• Structured tutorial programme with different
  tutors
• Submit three extended essays during the year
• Each essay counts 25 of marks
• Tutorial discussion meeting and feedback on all
  essays
• Final Research Proposal is 25 of marks
• Research Proposal is done with an adviser
• The topic area should be in based on either the
  tutorial essay or one of the projects

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Academic Tutorials

• One hour tutorials with me explaining aspects of
  the programme, such as the examination process
• Cannot be timetabled yet until all units are
  confirmed
• Scheduled every week BUT most slots will NOT be
  used except for a few specific topics and as
  needed
• Keep this space free even when currently
  unallocated

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Plagiarism

• Defined as passing off other peoples work as
  your own
• Serious University offence and can lead to
  dismissal in some cases
• Use quotation marks and cite the source for
  everything that is not your own
• At least one student has been severely punished
  each year!
• More on this in tutorials

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Seminars

• Lab / Group meetings
• Thursday lunchtime seminars
• BS attend all RM attend designated seminars in
  DBB, DPP, DCE
• Tuesday external speakers
• BS attend most RM is more complicated
• Research conference in January revision week
• Occasional speakers (Email alert)
• Depts of Chemistry and Pharmacy Pharmacology
• General University lectures
• Use your seminar book
• evidence of attendance

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English Language

• Reports
• Oral presentations
• Examinations
• Formal lessons at English Language Centre on our
  own course (wks 3-10)
• There will be an assessment
• You must attend if selected
• Using English as your day-to-day language
• Get a friend who does not speak your native
  language!

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Calendar

• Academic Year
• Taught Units
• Assessments
• UGs away but PGs here

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Planning your programme of work

• The changing balance
• Time to focus on projects
• Time to focus on presentations/posters
• Times to focus on examination revision
• Time to focus on the Literature Review and
  Research Proposal
• These are significant challenges that must be met

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Conferences and Societies

• Encouraged to attend scientific meetings
• Student membership of societies
• RULES
• You pay and the cost is reimbursed
• Enables you to go to society meetings
• travel grants available for society meetings
• grants to attend other meetings and courses
• prizes

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Problems at work

• Administrative problems Dr Emma Lawrence
• General problems DoS
• Project problems - supervisor(s)
• Unit problems convenor
• Teaching problems - Dr Chris Todd
• Personal problems Personal or PG Tutor (Amanda
  Harper)
• International Students Tutor Dr John Beeching
• Talk to HoD
• Talk to PG Ombudsman (confidential)

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Getting involved

• Staff-student Liaison Committee
• MRes rep contact James Doughty
• International society
• Clubs and Societies
• Sports

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TOP TEN TIPS

• 1. Read this Handbook completely at least once
  and ensure that you understand everything
• 2.  Take charge of your own learning
• 3.   Organise your own time to balance the
  demands of the different aspects of the programme
• 4.   Never miss a deadline
• 5.   If you are having problems of any kind let
  an appropriate person know at that time
• 6.   Work hard on your English language skills
• 7.   Ensure you back-up key data
• 8.   Plan meetings with staff well in advance
• 9.   Take breaks from work
• 10. Take full advantage of the intellectual,
  cultural and sporting resources of the University

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Read this Handbook completely at least once and
ensure that you understand everything

• All the key information that you need is in these
  pages
• Turn to them before you turn to your colleagues,
  me, Amanda Harper, etc
• If you cannot find the information you need then
  ask the appropriate person

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Take charge of your own learning

• At M-level the emphasis is on learning not
  teaching
• We will provide the environment for you to learn
• This means that you
• have to find the way of working that is best for
  you
• have to decide what you need to learn
• have to find out the best way of getting this
  knowledge
• have to make learning an active process
• have to be pro-active

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Organise your own time to balance the demands of
the different aspects of the programme

• You need to plan well ahead to adjust for
  critical points
• Work patterns can change dramatically
  particularly during UG vacations and examination
  periods

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Never miss a deadline

• Missing a deadline means loss of marks or worse!
• Hand in work on time even if imperfect
• Plan to hand in well before the deadline

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If you are having problems of any kind let an
appropriate person know at that time

• Timely intervention by the staff can only happen
  if we know about it
• University rules mean that we can only take note
  of documented problems

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Work hard on your English language

• Poor English is the single most important
  determinant of poor performance
• Whether you are a native or non-native speaker,
  there is always room for improvement
• Practise English outside work hours
• Attend the ELC course for bioscientists

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Ensure you back-up key data

• Each year at least one student has had a
  disaster, usually at the last minute, over lost
  data
• The H-drive is on the main campus computer and
  is backed up every night (and kept for many
  months)
• Use floppies, flash drives CD-ROMs
• Develop a back-up strategy (eg weekly)

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Plan meetings with staff well in advance

• Staff often away on professional activities
• Contact them by Email or personally in labs
• Knocking on doors is not a good idea - unless the
  door is open!
• The summer months are particularly difficult
  when you are finishing project 2 and the research
  proposal key staff may be away on holiday or
  conferences
• Make contact well in advance

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Take breaks from work

• The work schedule indicates that you are here all
  the time, like research postgraduates
• This gives you access to labs when the University
  is open
• Notional week is actually 37 hours of work
  throughout the year
• You need to make time for yourself (eg Christmas,
  Easter, after exams, between projects)
• You are free after the last piece of work is
  submitted until the visit of the external examiner

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Take full advantage of the intellectual, cultural
and sporting resources of the University and get
involved

• We are well endowed with facilities most of which
  are free or have a nominal charge
• It is an excellent opportunity to mix with
  others, to enjoy yourself and to learn new things
• Get an education as well as a degree

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What happens today?

• If you have a Library card you can get it set up
  as a key-card for 4S and 3S. Go to room 4S 0.14
• Sign up on the Friday tutorial list now
• English-Chinese Illustrated Bioscience
  dictionary?
• Central Talk C3 languages and learning and
  teaching from 11.15
• Buffet Lunch here at 12.15
• Research Postgraduate Year 1 seminars in 3S 1.08
  at 13.15
• Photographs for notice-board in 4S 0.09 this
  afternoon
• MRes in BS in 3S 1.08 at 14.15
• MRes in RM in 3S 1.08 at 14.45
• Integrated PhD in 3S 1.08 at 15.15 (as well as
  14.15 or 15.00)
• Reception for all PGs to meet HoD and all new PGs
  plus PGBio in 3S Foyer at 16.15 (plus tours of
  the building). Be there!!
• Wear your badge

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Lunchtime Postgraduate WelcomeEvents

• Friday 28th September
• 8W 2.13, 12.30 - 2.30pm
• Informal events will give new postgraduates
  (taught and research) the chance to meet
• other new postgraduates
• current postgraduates
• representatives of the Postgraduate Association
• Graduate Office staff who will be on hand to
  answer any questions.
• Tea, coffee and snacks will be provided

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What happens tomorrow?

• Individual 15min tutorials with me to discuss
  projects and taught units and deal with any other
  problems
• Sign up on the list now
• Attend Central Induction Talk C4
• Complete registration

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What happens next week?

• On Monday, Email supervisor about initial meeting
  and things to read about the project
• If your Email is not working use your personal
  Email or that of a friend
• Attend timetabled sessions of taught units
• Attend Research Training Unit on Wednesday at
  14.15. Mandatory session on lab safety
• If you feel you need it, attend Basic Lab
  Skills and/or Microscopy sessions (sessions for
  new undergraduates see me)
• Join clubs and societies
• NOTE I will be away from mid-day Monday for ten
  days

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Bus and Boat trip

• Hosted and organised by PGBio
• Friday 28th September
• Bus tour of Bath at 17.00 (tbc)
• Takes you to the river at 19.00
• Boarding boat at 19.10 depart 19.30
• 4 hr cruise
• Food provided
• Networking event with a student trainer
• Sign up on the list and its free if you turn up
• Broad Quay (opposite Carpenter House)
• Put warm clothes on!

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Special features of MRes in BS

• Wide choice of units must include one M-level and
  one seminar unit
• Must attend all Thursday departmental seminars
  (13.15) this will give you an insight into
  everything that the department does
• Should attend most external speakers (Tuesdays
  16.15)
• Academic Tutors for the Literature Review and
  Research Proposal
• Alan Wheals John Beeching
• Details tomorrow of topics, references and
  deadlines
• Q A

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Special features of MRes in RM

• Based in Centre for Regenerative Medicine
• Dr. Andrew Ward - Co-Director of the CRM
• Prof. Melanie Welham - Co-Director of the CRM
• Prof. Julian Chaudhuri Deputy Director of the
  CRM
• Dr. Andrew Chalmers
• Dr. Paul De Bank
• Dr. Marianne Ellis
• Dr. Makoto Furutani-Seiki
• Prof. Michael Horrocks
• Dr. Robert Kelsh
• Prof. Jonathan Slack Mostly in USA
• Prof. Cheryll Tickle FRS
• Dr. David Tosh
• Dr. Will Wood
• http//www.bath.ac.uk/crm/

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Special features of MRes in RM

• Must attend all quarterly meetings of BCRM
• Should attend seminars by speakers on a list to
  be provided by Co-Directors of BCRM
• Should attend talks by post-grads from the Centre
  whether in BB, PP and CE
• Attend the CRM tutorial programme with tutors
• Must obtain Home Office licence (Emma Lawrence
  will advise) that runs in week two

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CE40130 Biomedical Engineering

• This unit is delivered by the Department of
  Chemical Engineering
• There is a substantial fraction of mathematics in
  it
• The assessment is demanding
• The Convenor is assessing whether you are
  qualified to take it
• Those not allowed may be able to sit in on the
  lectures
• QA

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Special features of Integrated PhD

• Completion within 4 years from now
• Taught Units in year 2 must be M-level
• Non-science units not required in year one
• There are some good Level 5 units for future
  faculty
• ED50203 Strategic issues in higher education
• ED50177 Education, globalisation change
• ED50201 Higher education management, governance
  and organisation
• Progression to Year 2 (Year 1of MPhil / PhD)
• 60 marks
• must have a supervisor

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