CHEN40210 Advanced Experimental Design

Academic Year 2023/2024

This module will addresses techniques and strategies of relevance to Chemical & Bioprocess Engineers, preparaing for a Research and/or Design Project.It introduces the principles of critical review of prior research in an appointed research topic and of experimental design in the context of a research project. The module will introduce students to the process of information mining, using resources and technology databases available in hardcopy format (Library) and electronically (WOS, Internet). During the course of the module the student will complete a full review of a specified research topic. The student will also be introduced to experimental design, particularly planning of experiments and protocols in an intended research area, safety assessment and statistical methods. This will require a high level of analysis and application of a range of engineering skills and techniques to arrive at a satisfactory experimental design; particular emphasis will be directed towards safety, legal compliance and minimising environmental impacts during experimental planning and design.

50% of the module's grade is associated with a Literature Review, typically on a topic directly related to the Research Project (CHEN40200 or CHEN40450) which the student will normally undertake later in the same academic year. The Literature Review topic is assigned by the Research-Project supervisor. In the event that a student is not in a position to undertake the Research Project during the same academic year, but undertakes it in a subsequent year, every effort will be made to assign the student to the same supervisor and the same (or a similar) project. However, this cannot be guaranteed and the student may be assigned to a different supervisor and/or Research Project.

50% of the grade is related to the preparation of a detailed experimental-protocol plan on how students envisage their investigations will be carried out – in detail – and on how the campaign of computer/lab runs would be done (lab/computer protocols, sequence of runs, randomisation, balance, replication), as well as statistical and error-analysis and other data analyses to investigate relevant research questions/hypotheses at play. There will also need to be a detailed treatment of questions of safety and ethics related to the envisaged project.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Complete an in-depth critical analysis, both oral and written, of an original primary research paper involving an advanced topic of research;

2. Gather and assess information from a broad range of sources relating to a specific field of research;

3. Complete an assessment in experimental design and develop a strategy for the investigation and solution of an open-ended project relating to their selected field of research.

4. Demonstrate an awareness of the underlying envisaged experimental protocols, equipment procedures, statistical and data analysis to investigate key questions/hypotheses, as well as a detailed plan for handling matters of safety and ethics, for a proposed research project.

5. Communicate the results of a full literature review in an efficient and concise manner in writing.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

12
Practical

24
Specified Learning Activities

6
Autonomous Student Learning

72
Total

114
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures on library skills, literature-review preparation, safety and ethics. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Project: Experimental-protocol/data-analysis plan, with substantial appendix directed to matters of safety and ethics Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

50
Project: Literature review Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

50

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

General feedback will be offered to the class of how their literature reviews were received, and experimental-protocol plans. If there is an appetite for individual feedback, the coordinator will arrange for this to be given by the relevant staff who performed the in-depth project review.

Name Role
Dr Daniela Boehm Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Eoin Casey Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Recep Kaan Dereli Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Philip Donnellan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Steven Ferguson Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Roderick Jones Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Georg Pesch Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Veronica Sofianos Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Eoin Syron Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Autumn
      
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Thurs 14:00 - 15:50
Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Thurs 16:00 - 17:50
Autumn