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2022/2023

Master's Dissertation

Code: 42892 ECTS Credits: 9
Degree Type Year Semester
4313794 Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biomedicine OB 0 2

Contact

Name:
Jaume Farrés Vicén
Email:
jaume.farres@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
english (eng)

Other comments on languages

English is the working language in the scientific field, but students may also use Catalan and Spanish

Teachers

Francesca Canalias Reverter
Jaume Farrés Vicén

Prerequisites

Graduates in Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Genetics, Microbiology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Physics, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy or Medicine.

English proficiency is required to read and understand scientific papers that will serve as basis for the preparation of the final project.

Objectives and Contextualisation

The main objective of the Final Master is to learn firsthand the scientific method. Thus, the students should participate in the design, implementation and presentation of theresults of a research project or work placement.

The Master Thesis involves the preparation of a report, and the public defense of the research work that had previously been developed. The main objective is that the student can integrate the set of skills and competences acquired in the master's degree. In order to get maximum performance, the R & D project will be developed as an extension of the practices carried out in the professional and research module of the corresponding specialty.

. The main objective is for the student to integrate a set of skills and competencies acquired during the program.

In the Master Thesis the students must demonstrate:

a) They have acquired the skills trained in the master

b) Their reflective and critical capacity

c) Its ability to raise a research problem, design a project to find answers, to critically analyze the results and conclusions based and proven.

d) Ability to present and defend the results.

Competences

  • Analyse and correctly interpret the molecular mechanisms operating in living beings and identify their applications.
  • Analyse research results to obtain new biotechnological or biomedical products to be transferred to society.
  • Communicate and justify conclusions clearly and unambiguously to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
  • Conceive, design, develop and synthesise scientific and/or biotechnological projects within biochemistry, molecular biology or biomedicine.
  • Develop critical reasoning within the subject area and in relation to the scientific or business context.
  • Identify and propose scientific solutions to problems in molecular-level biological research and show understanding of the biochemical complexity of living beings.
  • Integrate knowledge and use it to make judgements in complex situations, with incomplete information, while keeping in mind social and ethical responsibilities.
  • Solve problems in new or little-known situations within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to the field of study.
  • Use acquired knowledge as a basis for originality in the application of ideas, often in a research context.
  • Use and manage bibliography and IT resources related to biochemistry, molecular biology or biomedicine.
  • Use scientific terminology to account for research results and present these orally and in writing.
  • Work individually and in teams in a multidisciplinary context.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse research results to obtain new biotechnological or biomedical products to be transferred to society.
  2. Communicate and justify conclusions clearly and unambiguously to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
  3. Design and conduct a research project in the field of biochemistry, molecular biology or biomedicine.
  4. Develop and apply knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of normal physiological processes in living beings within a real R+D+I project or a production process at a public or private organisation.
  5. Develop critical reasoning within the subject area and in relation to the scientific or business context.
  6. Integrate knowledge and use it to make judgements in complex situations, with incomplete information, while keeping in mind social and ethical responsibilities.
  7. Propose innovative projects in biochemistry, molecular biology or biomedicine, starting from a holistic perspective on the knowledge acquired.
  8. Solve problems in new or little-known situations within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to the field of study.
  9. Use acquired knowledge as a basis for originality in the application of ideas, often in a research context.
  10. Use and manage bibliography and IT resources related to biochemistry, molecular biology or biomedicine.
  11. Use scientific terminology to account for research results and present these orally and in writing.
  12. Work individually and in teams in a multidisciplinary context.

Content

A R+D project will be developed. In order to make the most of this performance, this activity will be carried out as an extension of the practices developed in the mandatory practical module of the corresponding specialty.

The written report of the Master Thesis will have the following characteristics:

  1. Structure: While accepting different types of Master report according to the conducted research, we believe that their content should have the following chapters:

    - Title and signatures of the student and tutor(s)   

    - Summary (maximum 300 words)

    - List of Abbreviations

    - Introduction

    - Objectives

    - Material and Methods

    - Results

    - Discussion

    - Conclusions

    - Bibliography


2. Extension: The report can not exceed 15,000 words, including all sections, also the bibliography. The number of tables and figures is not predetermined but it is recommended that the total length of the report (text + tables + figures) does not exceed, once printed, up to 30 pages. The type and font size should favor the readability of the document, Arial or Times New Roman of 11.5 or 12 points may be a suitable type and size.


3. Language: You can defend it in Catalan, Spanish or English.

The defense of the Master Thesis should consist of a brief presentation (between 15 and 20 minutes) to an Evaluation Committee, formed by three doctors fromthe Master’s. The members of the Evaluation Committee may ask questions and discuss issues with students both from the oral defense, as well as from the written report. This oral defense will be public, and other Master’s teaching staff in the room may also ask additional questions realted to the students’ work.
The Master’s Thesis can be presented in Catalan, Spanish or English.

Methodology

 In order to make the most of the research project, this activity will be carried out as an extension of the practices developed in mandatory practical module of the corresponding specialty.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Supervised      
Development of a R & D project in a research laboratory 200 8 1, 4, 5, 3, 7, 6, 8, 9, 12, 10
Type: Autonomous      
Writing and dissertation of Master's Thesis 24 0.96 1, 4, 5, 7, 6, 8, 9, 12, 10, 11

Assessment

The evaluation committee will evaluate the master thesis according to the final report and the oral defense. Each mark will count 50% of the total.

For both specialties, students may choose to perform the oral defense of the presentations during the first half of July or the first of September.

To be evaluated, the student must deliver the final report to the Coordinator of the corresponding specialty, before the established deadline. In addition, the student will have to make the oral presentation. If any of these requirements is not fulfilled, then the final grade will be "No avaluable".

If plagiarism is detected in any of the works submitted, the student will fail the whole module.

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Document Master Thesis 50% 0 0 1, 4, 5, 3, 7, 6, 8, 2, 9, 12, 10, 11
Oral Presentation of Masther Tesis 50% 1 0.04 1, 4, 5, 3, 7, 6, 8, 2, 9, 12, 10, 11

Bibliography

The bibliography will be specific for each project.

Software

Software will be specific of the topic chosen.