Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

B.Sc or equivalent in Chemistry or related subject

Co Requisite Comment

Allocation of Topics for the Presentation will rely on the supervisor of their project from NES8002

Aims

To provide students with skills in research necessary for their project. Specifically:
scientific information retrieval from a variety of sources, searching for chemical, biochemical and biophysical data from databases, employing good academic practice and referencing principles to avoid plagiarism.
developing key literacy and communication skills by producing a short presentation on a topic related to their project, developing skills in key experimental techniques and the use of spectroscopic data for structure determination.

Outline Of Syllabus

Lectures and Workshops will cover the following topics:
Research seminars: a selection of invited speakers presenting current research topics Scientific literature: searching, curating and citing the scientific literature.
Scientific databases: Reaxys, SciFinder-n, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE and others relevant to the research task.
Scientific writing skills.
Preparation of visual material for presentation and reports, including data and molecular structures. Presentation skills.
Analytical techniques (1H, 13C NMR, MS, IR, chromatography).
Structure determination using spectroscopic data
A dry laboratory course on experimental techniques and multi-step syntheses.
A schedule of the delivery of the different workshops will be provided at the beginning of the course on Canvas.
Up to date details on times and locations of the research seminars can be found on http://www.ncl.ac.uk/chemistry/about/seminars/

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

A thorough understanding of chromatographic methods.
Understanding of analytical techniques suitable for organic molecules.

Learning outcomes: In preparing and delivering their presentations, students will be able to:

•       Identify key journal titles, authoritative sources, experts and networks in their discipline.
•       Refine their own search strategy:
•       Perform advanced searching techniques in a range of subject-specific resources.
•       Use multiple synonyms and combination searches to build up a complex search string.
•       explain what a 360° search is (moving backwards through references and forwards through citing
documents), describe how it might be useful and employ it in their own searching.
•       Articulate and justify the decisions they have made in choosing and using sources appropriate to their
information needs and the task at hand.
•       Follow the development of an area of research, comparing and contrasting evidence and synthesising
information to form connections and build their own arguments.
•       Save searches and set up email alerts to keep up to date with key journals/resources.
•       Decide on a workflow for managing information which suits their purposes.
•       Construct complete, accurate and consistent references in the RSC style, attributing their sources
effectively.
•       Evaluate reference management tools and strategies in light of their preferred workflows and choose
appropriate tools for this assessment and their dissertations.

Intended Skill Outcomes

Upon completion, students should be able to:
Find literature on unfamiliar topics using appropriate software
To provide skills in attributing source materials and constructing accurate references in the RSC style, employing good academic practice and referencing principles to avoid plagiarism.
Prepare a presentation on their research project or related topic
Use the literature to support an argument
Cite the literature using appropriate software (e.g. Endnote)
Present their research to an audience
Review and reflect on presented research
Perform experiments in organic chemistry
Interpret spectral data and determine molecular structure
Maintain a detailed and clear account of your experimental work in the form of a laboratory notebook
Write a detailed laboratory report including assigning data

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures provide necessary information and tools for the academic preparation with workshops consolidating the work through practical applications of taught material. Meetings between the student and project supervisor will provide guidance for the preparation of the presentation. Independent study for literature research and background reading are required for the completion of all assessed components. Students will develop and demonstrate their digital and information literacies at postgraduate level, in readiness for further research or future employment. They will learn strategies for finding, evaluating and managing information in line with their current needs, and how they might adapt these to future research tasks.
The extensive set of REAXYS practise exercises illustrates all of the main database features and search strategies and enables students to gain competence at their own pace

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The project presentation will provide the students with a detailed knowledge of their CHY8002 project or a related topic and an opportunity to develop their presentation skills.
The Research Seminar Report contextualises the wider research activity in a critical fashion.
The Lab Report test the student’s ability to accurately record data and observations and to make reasoned structural assignments based on data.
Formative assessments are provided to reinforce taught material and give an opportunity for practice and feedback
Coursework assessments cover research and presentation skills (project presentation and Database exercises) and theoretical laboratory (laboratory report).
Each component assesses a different area of skills and knowledge so different assessments are required

General Notes

N/A