Applied Science (MRes)

Students work on a research project in their chosen discipline and grow to become accomplished in the latest scientific developments in their field of research.

Our research staff ensure that all offered research projects are relevant to current industrial needs, providing highly employable skills to our graduates.

Why Study Applied Science with us?

MRes Applied Sciences students take two taught modules at the start of the course before moving to the research component. You will choose your main discipline from one of the following before joining the course:

• Science and Engineering
• Mathematics
• Computer Science

You will then join a research team in the appropriate department and start working on the research project of your choice. Examples of research projects along with potential supervisors follows below. Note, this is not exhaustive and the Faculty is always willing to consider proposals for further projects provided they fall within our ability to supervise:

• Analysis of the performance of a 20 kWe biomass fixed bed gasifier coupled to an internal combustion engine.
• Techno-economic modelling of a small islanded micro-grid with multiple generation and storage nodes.

For further information please contact Prof. John Brammer.

• A study of siloxanes indoors and out; the effects of humans on their own environments
• Measuring the effects of industrial air pollution on the indoor environment.
• Developing portable air pollution sensor networks for human health research.
• The development of UAV deployable air pollution sensors.

For further information please contact Dr. Gavin Phillips.

• Synthesis of new platinum compounds for cancer treatment.
• Targeted delivery of platinum compounds for cancer treatment.

For further information please contact Dr. Gabriele Wagner.

• Charge transfer at metal/organic and metal-oxide/organic interfaces.
• Surface physics of metal oxides in the presence of defects and impurities.
• Charge and exciton transport in π-conjugated materials.
• Electron transport in single-molecule junctions.
• Real-time attosecond electron dynamics in nano-clusters and molecules.

These projects are related to computational modelling of organic electronics and optoelectronics device applications. For further information please contact Dr. Theodoros Papadopoulos.

• Investigation into the crystallisation of chemicals by polarisation-dependent Terahertz spectroscopy.
• Fast, non-invasive Terahertz spectroscopy and imaging for quality control in mass production industrials.

For further information please contact Dr Bin Yang.

The programme is designed to be consistent with Section 4 of the QAA (2008) framework for higher education qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which identifies the necessary descriptors for L7 training.

How will I be taught?

Taught modules will use a blended learning approach, incorporating lectures, practicals, workshops and group discussions, dependent upon the pathway.

How will I be assessed?

Acquisition of core knowledge is achieved through lectures, seminars, workshops, audio-visual presentation, tutorials and private study, supplemented, where appropriate, contributions by guest and visiting lecturers.

Depending on the MRes pathway, and the Department within which this sits, each taught module is assessed by the submission of one or more written coursework assignment (totalling 4000 words equivalent), oral presentations or two-hour examination. The format of the assessment will vary depending on the module content, e.g. data interpretation and evaluation; research proposal; evaluative report, etc.

The assessment of the research module also varies between departments. It may be assessed as a portfolio comprising:

1. An extended literature review suitable for publication in Annual Reviews
2. Project report suitable for publication in a discipline appropriate scientific journal
3. Oral presentation

Alternatively, in Mathematics, the research module is assessed via dissertation.

An individual external examiner will be appointed for each student project.

Resubmission and reassessment of the above requirements would be in line with recommendations of the examiners.