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Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health
School of Biological Sciences
Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
Programme Handbook
2017-18
Contents
Welcome to the Faculty of BMH
Welcome to the School of Biological Sciences
Compulsory Introductory Courses
SECTION A: Information about the School and University
General Introduction
Key contact details
Supervisor and Advisor
School/University Facilities
Blackboard
International students
Internal Communications
SECTION B: Programme Information
Programme Aims and Objectives
Academic Advisement
Programme Specific Progression Rules
Teaching and Learning Methods
Research Projects
Choosing Your Research Project
Reading Lists
Course Unit Selection
Syllabus and Route through the Programme:
BIOL XXXXX: Name
BIOL XXXXX: Name
BIOL XXXXX: Name
SECTION C: Progress and Assessment
Deadlines for Assessed Work
Assignment Word Count (including the dissertation)
Submitting your work
TurnItIn
Guidance for the presentation of Postgraduate dissertations
Extensions to Assignment Deadlines
Late Submission
Academic Malpractice
Feedback for Assessments
How to find your marks
Examinations
SECTION D: University Regulations
Links to current Regulations, Practice, & Policies
Ethics Procedures
SECTION E: Student Representation and Feedback
Election of student representative
Feedback from/to students
Outcomes of previous Student Feedback
SECTION F: Student Support and Guidance
Student Charter – Conduct and Discipline
Academic Appeals
Student Complaints
Mitigating Circumstances
Interruptions/Withdrawals
Occupational Health
Counselling Service
Fitness to Practice
Disability Advisory and Support Service
Students’ union advice centre
University careers service
Monitoring attendance and wellbeing of students
A-Z of Student Services
IT Services Support Centre and FBMH eLearning support
Religious Observance
Library Facilities
Online Skills Training Resource
University Proofreading Statement
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Welcome to your Postgraduate Taught Programme in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at the University of Manchester. The University has a worldwide reputation based on high quality teaching and research, and I am sure that your taught programme will provide a solid foundation for your future career success.
Within the Faculty, our goal is to create an environment that allows you to excel and reach your full potential. Offering access to first-class facilities and strong links with regional health-service providers, our postgraduate taught programmes are designed to meet the diverse needs of all our students. The curriculum of our taught programmes provides the knowledge and skills you will need in your subject area and all our Masters programmes include an opportunity to carry out an independent research project on topics spanning all areas of biomedical research from molecular to experimental biology and clinical medicine. While subject areas cover a broad range, all our taught programmes have two common aims:
- To develop your skills in your chosen field of study
- To enhance your knowledge within the field you have chosen. Whether you are a graduate, professional or have a clinical background, the programmes have been tailored to meet your specific needs.
As a student of the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health you will be expected to take responsibility for your degree, within a supportive environment that fosters your development and helps prepare you for your future career. This handbook will be a useful resource as you progress through your taught programme. It provides programme specific information that I am sure that you will find helpful throughout your study. If however, you have questions or would like some further advice, please do not hesitate to contact the people listed in this handbook for further information and assistance.
I wish you every success as you embark upon your taught programme, and in your future career.
Professor Phil Padfield
Associate Dean for Postgraduate Taught Education
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
SECTION B – Programme Aims and Objectives
- Equip students with an up-to-date knowledge of bioinformatics and systems biology techniques, their usage and the technical background to enhance and develop their skills; enabling them to play roles in the key areas of data integration and interpretation, in the era of high throughput experimental biology.
- Produce trained and skilled graduates who are able to move easily on from the programme, into academic and industrial settings.
- Produce graduates who have gained enough basic knowledge and critical understanding of the main areas in bioinformatics and systems biology to quickly adapt to the new requirements in these rapidly evolving fields.
- To train students in the importance, and methods, of science communication, and to promote an understanding of science in a wider societal context.
Academic Advisement
MSc Bioinformatics and Systems Biology (full-time) 2016-17
| Course List 1 Core Compulsory Taught Units
BIOL60201 Programming Skills (15 credits) semester 1 BIOL60791 Bioinformatics (15 credits) semester 1 BIOL65161 Experimental Design and Statistics (15 credits) semester 1 BIOL66021 Computational Approaches to Biology (15 credits), semester 1 Core Compulsory Research Units BIOL61230 Research Project 1, (60 credits) semester 2 BIOL61280 Research Project 2, (60 credits) Summer Graduate Training Programme BIOL60311 Communication Skills (0 credits) BIOL73050 PGT Advisor Meeting (MSc) 3, (0 credits) BIOL73130 PGT Advisor Meeting (MSc) 1, (0 credits) BIOL73230 PGT Advisor Meeting (MSc) 2, (0 credits) BIOL72100 PGT Supervisor Meeting (MSc),(0 credits) BIOL85440 PGT ALP (0 credits) BIOL12000 Health & Safety online course (0 credits) |
> Academic
Requirement 1 Mandatory 180 credits for or MSc 120 credits for PG Diploma or 60 credits for PG Certificate |
MSc Bioinformatics and Systems Biology (part-time) 2016-17
| Course List 1 Year 1
*BIOL60791 Bioinformatics (15 credits) semester 1 *BIOL60201 Programming Skills (15 credits) semester1 BIOL61230 Research Project 1 (60 credits) semester 2 Year 2 *BIOL66021 Computational Approaches to Biology (15 credits), semester 1*BIOL65161 Experimental Design and Statistics (15 credits) semester 1 BIOL61280 Research Project 2 (MSc) (60 credits) Summer Graduate Training Programme BIOL60311 Communication Skills (0 credits) BIOL73050 PGT Advisor Meeting (MSc) 3, (0 credits) BIOL73130 PGT Advisor Meeting (MSc) 1, (0 credits) BIOL73230 PGT Advisor Meeting (MSc) 2, (0 credits) BIOL72100 PGT Supervisor Meeting (MSc),(0 credits) BIOL85440 PGT ALP (0 credits) BIOL12000 Health & Safety online course (0 credits) |
> Academic
Requirement 1 Mandatory 180 credits for MSc or 120 credits for PG Diploma or 60 credits for PG Certificate |
Total credits required for PG Certificate (obtained from successful completion of the *4 compulsory taught units).
Programme specific progression rules
In order for students to be eligible to progress to their final project report, they are required to pass all taught course units and research project 1 as approved at the first examiners’ meeting in May. Resit and compensation opportunities are permitted in some cases. (See Section D).
The information below outlines the taught and research units on your programme:
Core Compulsory TAUGHT units
BIOL60201 Programming Skills
BIOL60791 Bioinformatics
BIOL65161 Experimental Design and Statistics
BIOL66021 Computational Approaches to Biology
Core Compulsory RESEARCH units
BIOL61230 Research Project 1
BIOL61280 Research Project 2
Teaching and Learning Methods
During the first 6 months, you will receive approximately 30 hours of assigned teaching per course unit, a total of about 150 hours. Assigned teaching takes the form of lectures, tutorials, student presentations, practical sessions and assigned reading. The remainder of your time amounting to a working week of 40 hours will be spent on self-study, preparing course work, carrying out project work, meeting with your Academic Advisor and revising for your examinations. This programme is designed to encourage students to accept increasing responsibility for their own learning, with help and support from teaching staff, unit co-ordinators and personal tutors.
Research Projects
Research Projects provide a more solid basis for learning through problem-solving as well as providing important hands-on experience which will enable you to make considered judgements about the suitability of specific techniques for your proposed research. Direct student-staff interaction is also an important feature of learning and development throughout your project work.
The supervised research projects are conducted in the laboratories of the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, or in external laboratories. We expect you to read scientific literature and apply problem-solving skills in your research project work.
Choosing your research project
During the taught part of the programme, students are expected to identify areas of research interest. There may be some opportunities for placements and joint projects with private and other public sector organisations. For each of RP1 and RP2 students will have around one month to discuss projects with potential supervisors, before they submit a list of 5 ranked projects to the Programme Director, who will then allocate projects so as to maximise the number of higher student preferences. Once we decide on your project, you will be attached to a laboratory, with a named and approved supervisor and allowed to work there for the period of the project.
Reading Lists
Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
“Bioinformatics Challenges at the Interface of Biology and Computer Science: Mind the Gap”, by Attwood, Pettifer &Thorne (2016) (ISBN: 978-0-470-03550-4).
“Systems Biology: A Textbook”, by Klipp, Liebermeister, Wierling & Kowald (2016) (ISBN: 978-3-527-33636-4).
“Understanding Bioinformatics”, by Zvelebil & Baum (2007) (ISBN: 9780815340249).
“Bioinformatics and Molecular Evolution”, by Higgs & Attwood (2005) (ISBN: 978-1-4051-0683-2).
General Biology
“Biochemistry”, by Voet & Voet (2011) (ISBN: 978-0-470-57095-1).
“Molecular Biology of the Cell”, by Alberts et al. (2008) (ISBN: 978-0815341055).
Computing
“Java Illuminated”, by Franceschi & Anderson (2014) (ISBN: 9781284045314).
“Python Programming for Biology: Bioinformatics and Beyond”, by Stevens & Boucher (2015) (ISBN: 860-
1423616445).
Please note that not all of these books are suggested for purchase.
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