Programme Aims and Objectives
- Prepare high calibre students with a background in numerate sciences or life sciences for continuing interdisciplinary research in academia or industry by providing them with research skills and advanced knowledge together with a comprehensive set of professional and transferable skills that will be vital for their future professional development in academia or industry
- Instill the advantages of a multi-disciplinary and collaborative approach to addressing key scientific questions, and to encourage them to take an “holistic” approach to their future careers in research or business
- Enable students to make an informed decision about their personal suitability and motivation for careers related to research or business development
- Provide an individual with the knowledge and skills necessary: to identify and qualify an entrepreneurial opportunity; to build and resource the organisation needed to implement an opportunity; to plan how an opportunity will be successfully implemented
- Train students to communicate effectively and to be able to exploit the commercial value of scientific discoveries by demonstrating a proven commitment to research, coupled with the entrepreneurial skills and a broad base of multidisciplinary research skills and experience
- Develop the individual as a reflective, active, independent and self-directed learner equipped with the necessary skills and motivation to continue to learn and develop beyond this programme fully able to take advantage of opportunities presented to them whether in their professional or their personal life.
- Foster in individuals an appreciation and awareness of the potential value, be it personal, social, environmental or economic, in identifying, creating, developing and exploiting entrepreneurial opportunities.
Timetable
| MSc Biotechnology & Enterprise Calendar 2016/17 | |||
|
Entrepreneurial Skills |
Research Skills 90 Credits |
Advanced Knowledge |
|
| 26 September |
Welcome Week |
||
| 5 October |
BIOL60760 (45 credits) BIOL60780 Intellectual property in the life sciences |
Research Project Literature Review |
BIOL60771 (15 credits) BIOL65150 (15 credits) |
| November | |||
| December | |||
| 19 December – 15 January 2017 (No formal classes) | |||
| 16 January |
Literature Review Contd. Deadline Literature Review |
Revision Examination BIOL60771 |
|
| February |
BIOL60760 BIOL60780 Intellectual property in the life sciences |
Research Project Laboratory Work Lab. Performance |
BIOL65150 Examination BIOL60780 |
| March |
BIOL60760 |
||
| EASTER 3 April – 23 April 2017 (No formal classes) | |||
| April |
BIOL60760 |
Research Project Practical Work-contd4 days per week |
BIOL65150-contd |
| May – August |
BIOL60760 |
Research Project Research Report |
|
SEMESTER 1
BIOL60771 Advanced Biotechnology
Monday 12.00-13.00 University Place 6.211 Weeks 1-5 and 7-12
Tuesday 12.00-13.00 Simon 5.09 Weeks 1-5 and 7-12
BIOL60760 Commercialisation in the Life Sciences
Wednesday 11.00-12.00 Simon 5.09
Thursday 10.00-12.00 Samuel Alexander A202 Weeks 1-5
BIOL65150 Research Seminars and Workshops
BIOL60780 Intellectual Property in FLS
(speak to Unit Co-ordinator as individually arranged sessions)
SEMESTER 2
BIOL65150 Research Seminars and Workshops (contd)
(speak to Unit Co-ordinator as individually arranged sessions)
BIOL60780 Intellectual Property in FLS (contd)
(speak to Unit Co-ordinator as individually arranged sessions)
BIOL60760 Commercialisation in the Life Sciences (contd
Weeks 1-12 TBC
Academic Advisement
MSc Biotechnology & Enterprise 2016-17
| Course List 1 – Mandatory must take 14 from 14 (90 credits in total)Course List 1 – Core Compulsory Taught Units BIOL60760 Commercialisation in the Life Sciences (45 credits) *BIOL60771 Advanced Biotechnology I (15 credits) BIOL60780 Intellectual Property in the Life Sciences (15 credits) BIOL65150 Research Seminars & Workshops (15 credits)Graduate Training Programme BIOL60311 Communication Skills (0 credits) BIOL72100 PGT Supervisor Meeting (MSc),(0 credits) BIOL73050 PGT Advisor Meeting (MSc) 3, (0 credits) BIOL73230 PGT Advisor Meeting (MSc) 2, (0 credits) BIOL73130 PGT Advisor Meeting (MSc) 1, (0 credits) BIOL85440 Post Graduate Academic Literacy Programme (ALP), (0 credits) BIOL12000 Health & Safety online course (0 credits)*BIOL60771 may be swapped for MCEL60021Shaping Ideas for the Market for students with relevant background in business-related training in the Life Sciences. Such a swap will need to be made manually by Admin staff. |
> | Academic Requirement 1 Mandatory 90 credits |
> | REQUIREMENT GROUP Total 180 credits |
| Course List 2 – Mandatory must take 1 from 1 (90 credits in total)Core Compulsory Research Units BIOL60770 Research Skills (lab-based research project) (90 credits) |
> | Academic Requirement 2 90 credits in total |
In order for students to be eligible to progress to their final dissertation/project report, they are required to pass all taught course units as approved at the first examiners’ meeting in May. Resit and compensation opportunities are permitted in some cases.
The information below outlines the taught and research units on your programme:
TAUGHT UNITS:
- BIOL60311 Communication Skills
- BIOL60760 Commercialisation in the Life Sciences (CLS)
- BIOL60771 Advanced Biotechnology 1
- BIOL60780 Intellectual property in the Life Sciences
- BIOL65150 Research Seminars and Workshop
RESEARCH UNITS:
- BIOL60770 Research Skills
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, problem-based learning sessions, e-based learning 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, library visits, meeting with your Personal 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 Project and Dissertations
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 project is conducted in the laboratories of the School of Biological Sciences or within external laboratories. We expect you to apply library and 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. Each student will be given a list of project titles and descriptions of the projects that are available. There may be some opportunities for placements and joint projects with private and public sector organisations. Students will have the opportunity to discuss projects of interest with potential supervisors. Each student must hand in a form indicating, in order of preference, which three projects they have chosen. The projects will be allocated by the Programme Director so that students overall get their best choices. 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 up to six months including the time spent writing your thesis. All projects will require that you work in the laboratory full-time, and be fully trained in the laboratory techniques needed to complete the work.
Reading Lists
Specific references will be provide in the individual units and students should familiarise themselves with these reading lists. The following textbooks provide background information.
– Enterprise for Life Scientists. David Adams and John Sparrow. Paperback -ISBN 9781904842361 Dec 2007
-Building Biotechnology. Yali Friedman 3rd Edition (2008) Logos Press ISBN 0-9734676-6-6
– Developing New Business Ideas? Bragg, A. & Bragg, M. (2005), FT Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-273-66325-9 3)
– Molecular Biotechnology : principles and applications of recombinant DNA / Bernard R. Glick & Jack J. Pasternak (2003). Washington, D.C. : ASM, 3rd or other editions. ISBN 1555812694
Panel of Advisers
A panel of advisers comprised of MSc in Biotechnology and Enterprise Alumni provides us with external feedback on the course.
Romina Cataldo Orsini (Programme Leader, CONICYT, Chile)
Parul Gupta (Program Manager, Global Marketing & Communications, Capgemini, India)
Ishaan Khanna (Head Strategy & Product Development, LifeCell international Pvt.Ltd , India)
Vincent Nowaseb (Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences at Polytechnic of Namibia )
Leopoldo Herrera Rodriguez ( Enterprise Associate UMIP, Manchester)