Biological Sciences MRes

You investigate a range of innovative forward-looking research into the basic physiological aspects of disease and the associated pioneering treatments that are currently being developed. The topics include: the mechanisms and treatment of depression, transporter gene acquisition and innovation in microsporidia intracellular parasites, the potential roles of mitochondrial defects and iron accumulation in Parkinson’s disease, the contributions of the structure and function of airway epithelium to asthma and respiratory disease, molecular and cellular portraits of cancer, and sphingolipids as potential drug targets in protozoan parasites. You will fully develop the essential transferable skills of research, communication, and critical thinking by regularly reading and judging the data in primary research articles by formative presentations and in-class debate, as well as the summative written scientific review. These employability skills will be indispensable in your career development whether you progress to posts in research, industry, or hospitals.

On this module you integrate a range of practical and academic skills to interrogate a particular aspect of your chosen field of study. This module builds on the foundations laid in the Life Science Research Project and allows you to further deepen your knowledge within your chosen field of study. This can be a new project or continuation of the project undertaken in the Life Science Research Project module.

You will be integrated within a research team which will provide supervisory support. Supervisor meetings will be research methodology-focused with the aim of deepening your knowledge of experimental designs and data analysis techniques relevant to your discipline. This series of meetings will provide you with an opportunity to discuss and fine tune your experimental design. As part of a research team you will be expected to work at a level recognised to be at the forefront of the discipline.

Explore a range of advanced analytical techniques applicable to life science research. Emphasis is on chromatography and mass spectrometry, with specialist topics such as microscopy and genomic skills. Explore the importance of these practical instrumentation techniques to modern investigations, including proteomics, metabolomics and genomics. Learn advanced lab skills for sample extraction, sample preparation, instrumentation methodology and how to interpret spectra. Develop essential data handling skills and use a range of statistical programmes.

Gain an in-depth understanding of advanced genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics, and their applications in specific disease states. Learn about the most recent technologies including next generation gene sequencing, genome editing, and genomic and bioinformatics analyses. Explore the genomic application for disease treatment and prevention (pharmacogenomics), personalised medicine and ethical challenges in this field.

Complete a major independent practical research project in your discipline and fully integrate with a research-active supervisor. Reflecting staff expertise, you pursue many discipline-related topics, including medical, industrial and environmental microbiology, molecular, cell and system biology, recombinant DNA technology, protein biochemistry, structural biology, fermentation, bioengineering and many other areas. Complete a hypothesis-driven research project using appropriate skills to answer a research question in a specialised area of life sciences. Supervisors provide guidance to support you but a high degree of autonomy is required.