AP0518 - Investigative Biotechnology

The module will be a mix of educational sessions, lectures in the early weeks, to increase your knowledge of how to conduct a scientific investigation, followed by student centred learning and further lectures on specific topics related to the investigation – e.g. the use of the scientific equipment that will be used throughout the investigation. The laboratory sessions on the microbiological part of the exercise are then undertaken over a 7 week period. Once the microbiological parts of the work are finished, then you will analyse the microbial populations as well as the volatile components. Results seminars will be held to discuss the outcomes of the analysis followed by summative and then formative peer assessed presentations, prior to the final formal write up being submitted at the end of the module.

As well as formal lecture time which will include questions and answer sessions, you will be supported in the laboratory sessions by Academics and technical staff. Many of the skills that you will learn will be taught during these laboratory sessions and these are hands on skills, for instance microbial identification and the counting of these populations. Results tutorials are also a part of the module and these allows groups of students to discuss not only the results you have obtained within your research group, but also with other groups within the class with academics. Group student presentations to peers will also allow peer review and feedback from academics within these sessions will inform the writing up process for all students.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. You will be expected to build on your research skills knowledge. To move to hypothesis lead research that is both industry and research linked.
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
2. You will be able to understand the theory behind the investigation and when to implement each technique. You will be expected to retrieve, analyse and summarise your data using the correct analytical methods and data handling. You will be able to present your data and critically analyse through peer review other groups work compounding the skill set acquired during this module.
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
3. Personally you will achieve further experience and confidence, sharing and critically analysing scientific data produced by your peers.

There will be three assessments: One formative and providing practice and feedback but no marks. Then there will be two summative assessments providing 20% and 80% of the module marks. (MLO 2,3)
Formative Powerpoint presentation re results obtained from the laboratory investigation. Feedback will be in session
The Summative Powerpoint presentation (20%) will be informed by results obtained from the laboratory investigation. Feedback will be in session from academics and peers (MLO 1,2, 3)
The Summative written report (80% and 2500 words), feedback will be supplied on a standard University feedback sheet

N/A

Research methods

Food spoilage is a serious problem for the food processor as well as the food retailer and the consumer. This module offers the opportunity to investigate specific aspects of food spoilage (and its consequences) and revolves around the microbial contamination of commercially available fruit juices by various strains of yeast and bacteria. The investigation will take into account nutritional content of the chosen beverages, any additives used in their production and various storage conditions of the food product.
This scientific investigation will include the following methodologies:
Microbial culture, enumeration and identification
Microbial community analysis using next generation sequencing
Microbial abundance using quantitative PCR
Volatile metabolite analysis using GC - MS