AP0632 - Current Topics in Biochemistry

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials. The teaching members will publish the reference list on eLP (Blackboard Ultra), which contains the publications related to a topic one week before the lecture. The key knowledge of research topics and the latest developments in the topics will be explained in each 2 hour lecture. You will be expected to reinforce your learning in lectures with extensive background reading and you will be encouraged to discuss your understanding of the topics within 1 hour seminar sessions. You will present your evaluation of the current literature on a specific topic, this will be supported by tutorial sessions by academic staff, and this process will help you to develop skills in critical thinking.

You will be supported by a team of staff associated with the module in a number of ways. Staff will deal with your questions and queries in seminars and tutorials on issues of module content and to provide guidance on general presentation and the development of the core skills necessary to retrieve, evaluate, discuss and apply the research findings of others. Staff can be contacted outside of sessions via a variety of channels to deal with your queries. Supporting information will also be distributed by the eLP (Blackboard Ultra).

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

On completion of this module the student will have:

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Gained knowledge and understanding of recent topics in industrial, medical, pharmaceutical and environmental biochemistry.
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
2. Critically evaluated recent developments in industrial, medical, pharmaceutical and environmental biochemistry.
3. Analysed a biochemistry topic in detail and presented a discussion of its development, applications and potential.
4. Developed a range of communication skills relevant to research and industry.
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. Identified and explored the impact of biochemistry research on stakeholders.

Poster Presentation. Students will be allocated one of the topics covered in the lecture content as the focus of a poster presentation. They will present the importance of the topic for wider societal benefit in the framework of a lay person i.e. for a hypothetical presentation as part of Soapbox Science. Posters will be submitted via the eLP and projected for a 10 minute presentation, followed by 10 mins questions. Feedback will be provided within marking rubric withing 20 working days. (Weighting 50%) (MLOs 1, 3, 4, 5 tested)

Ongoing Case Study Summary. For topics covered in lectures, students will construct a short summary encompassing the key aspects of the topic. They will also investigate the literature to provide two current relevant research papers related to the topic and provide a rationale for their selection (2000 words total). This assessment will evaluate the students’ ability to assimilate and summarise knowledge and search for and evaluate the literature relevant to topics across Biochemistry. Feedback will be provided within marking rubric withing 20 working days. (Weighting 50%). (MLOs 1, 2, tested).

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Current Topics in Biochemistry will be of interest to students wishing to understand state of the art biochemical research and development. Topics covered will reflect novel areas and advances in particular disciplines of biochemistry reflecting the research interests of the teaching team. The module emphasises the combination of directed and independent learning by initially introducing topics by lectures, followed by seminars to encourage students to discuss the topics and develop skills in critical evaluation of new and emerging areas in biochemistry. To evaluate the students’ ability to synthesise materials and relay complex biochemical research and literature to the public, they will be assigned one topic to study in-depth, which will be supported in tutorials and assessment drop in sessions and assessed via a presentation. Students will be assessed on factual knowledge and ability to critically evaluate scientific literature through an ongoing case study summary supported through seminar sessions. The module will equip students with important key skills, i.e. science communication and critical thinking, which will be invaluable in your future career.