Biotechnology Policy Brief Project BIOL5461P

• Academic Session: 2025-26
• School: School of Molecular Biosciences
• Credits: 60
• Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
• Typically Offered: Summer
• Available to Visiting Students: No

Short Description

This course will provide students with the opportunity to carry out an independent dissertation project in the field of biotechnology, this course allows students to tackle an issues-based challenge and learn how to assimilate data and report it. Challenges will be topical and relevant to the broader academic learning of the programme.

Timetable

Access to an online course for project development, regular interaction and meetings with the project supervisor over the summer semester.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

The project assessment will consist of the following components:

• Supervisor’s report (15%)
  • An assessment of the student’s overall performance will be provided by the project supervisor using a written form with marking descriptors. Criteria assessed are engagement in planning and development of the project, quality of results/conclusions, independence, communication, organisation and verbal/presentation ability.
  • Assessment demonstrates: ILOs 1, 3 and 7.
• Student’s written report (60%)
• An academic report (approximately 4000 words) a scientific introduction and justification to the chosen topic including the research question development and written report formatted in appropriate scientific style.
• Policy brief (approximately 2000 words), communicates research findings to an informed but non-academic audience in a concise, visual way with a focus on key findings and practical recommendations.
• Assessment demonstrates: ILOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
• Oral presentation to peers and staff (25%)
  • 10-minute presentation followed by 5 minutes of questions from peers and assessors
  • Using PowerPoint or similar software
  • Assessment demonstrates: ILOs 1,2 and 6.

Course Aims

• The course aims to allow students to apply the diverse knowledge and skills gained throughout their biotechnology studies to "real world challenges". Students will analyse and synthesise relevant literature, critically analyse data, draw conclusions and suggest avenues for future research to expand their findings. The presentation of their findings in a policy brief document will allow students to develop an executive summary approach to practical communication for a variety of areas such as industry management/leaders, NGO’s, government bodies and charity organisations.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Identify creative and innovative research-based approaches to respond to issues-based biotechnological challenges and provide practical solutions which draw on the available evidence.
2. Critically analyse a range of data sources (including from research databases and other academic and industry sources of information) to aid the research.
3. Formulate appropriate research questions and hypotheses.
4. Produce an academic report linking theory and practice and critically discussing the available evidence.
5. Apply consistent rules of presentation of bibliographical materials, appendices and footnotes, using recognised academic standards.
6. Communicate research findings in the appropriate scientific style to this dissertation.
7. Plan and manage time effectively by prioritising tasks and meeting deadlines.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course’s summative assessment.