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Pharmacology research project guidance: Home

Help, resources and links to guide you through your research project.

Welcome to this guide which includes resources and help for doing your research project. It supplements information provided in the PM3RP Research Project handbook available via Blackboard. Use the tabs above to explore guidance on specific topics.

You are encouraged to develop your own project in discussion with your supervisor.

Consult the PM3RP Research Project handbook on Blackboard for specific guidance on doing your project, especially requirements for writing the report, such as structure and word counts.

About your project

Aims 

The primary aim of the project is to promote the academic and intellectual development of the student through an extended period of primarily self-motivated work, which will build on the more formal taught parts of that student’s programme.

The importance of this work will be reflected in the contribution of the assessment mark to the final degree classification.

A suitable research topic should test a scientific hypothesis by conducting a pilot study.

As a result of doing a project you will...

  • develop practical skills and competencies necessary to carry out independent research
  • read and evaluate scientific publications
  • formulate and critically evaluate a scientific argument
  • design and carry out a scientific project in consultation with others, responding to any changing circumstances that may arise
  • understand basic statistics and their application on the evaluation of experimental data
  • draw on knowledge and data to set the research in context and to evaluate its contribution
  • report development of the project and its outcomes in the form of a report.

Support for doing your project

Your supervisor

Working with your supervisor is a partnership and you need to negotiate a way to work that suits both of you. See the Project management section of this guide for more information.

Your librarian

Jackie Skinner can help with doing your literature search, doing a systematic review, citing references, and using EndNote or Mendeley for reference management. She can offer one-to-one support via email or online, or come to the weekly Library drop-in (see the box below). See her contact page for email and booking details.

Study Advice & Maths Support Services

The Study Advice and Maths Support Services are based in the Library. In particular the Study Advisers can help with skills such as writing your literature review, using references in your work and time management. Contact Maths Support for help with statistical analysis.

Support for using Microsoft Office

If you need guidance on using Microsoft Office products such as Word and Excel try these online tutorials:

Useful books on doing your project