Course description
Programme highlights
-State-of-the-art facilities and expert practical training
-Endorsed by the Royal Microscopical Society
-Close links with major national and international research institutions and leading manufacturers of microscopy equipment
Supported by the Marine Biological Association (UK), Plymouth Marine Laboratory, the Eden Project, the National Marine Aquarium and NHS Laboratories for research project phase
The programme is supported by industry and a series of visits to applications laboratories and other specialist facilities is planned
Graduates will develop competence and expertise in the application of modern microscopy techniques through taught modules, laboratory work and a research project and dissertation
Students will acquire a wide range of skills and knowledge essential for the use of microscopy in numerous industrial and research applications
Further study, research and employment opportunities
Modern microscopy techniques are at the centre of recent advances in a wide range of applications in the life sciences. The requirement for trained scientists with up-to-date knowledge and skills is increasing in a number of disciplines including bio-medical sciences, marine sciences, plant sciences, and forensic science as well as within the food and pharmaceutical industries.
The programme is therefore relevant to students from a range of life science disciplines for whom microscopy and its associated techniques are, or will be, an essential part of their work. Thus, it will equip graduates with the modern skills and up-to-date knowledge necessary for the many employment opportunities in academic, governmental, research and industrial laboratories. The programme design will be flexible, allowing individual modules (or parts of modules) to be taken separately as part of a continuing professional development programme (CPD), or as linked modules to other research degrees.
General programme structure
The first stage of the programme provides expert tuition in the theory and operating principles of transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and advanced optical microscopy, including the latest developments in confocal microscopy. The programme design is flexible, allowing individual modules (or parts of modules) to be taken separately as part of a continuing professional development programme (CPD).
An essential part of the programme is the comprehensive and practical hands-on instruction in specimen preparation and microscope operation, ensuring you become familiar with both routine and specialist applications.
You will then apply your practical skills in the research project phase of the programme where you will conduct novel hypothesis-driven research utilising advanced techniques in microscopy. The results will be presented in a dissertation.
A key feature of the programme is the opportunity to conduct your research project in collaboration with local and regional research centres including the Marine Biological Association, the National Marine Aquarium, the Eden Project and NHS laboratories. Project placements are also available with an interdisciplinary range of research groups within the university.
Detailed programme structure
Period 1 modules
Postgraduate research skills and methods
-Transmission electron microscopy: principles and applications
-Scanning electron microscopy: principles and applications
-Advanced optical microscopy including CLSM (Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope)
-Digital imaging, processing and analysis
Periods 2 and 3
-Research project
The taught modules in the first period are compulsory and are designed to provide a comprehensive basis for the research project phase.
The first stage of the programme provides expert tuition in the theory, fundamental operating principles, and specimen preparation techniques of the transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and advanced optical microscopy.
The Electron Microscopy Centre is well equipped with a range of modern TEM and SEM instruments together with associated equipment including analytical and low temperature facilities, whilst the university/PMS has also taken delivery of two new state-of-the-art confocal microscopes. An essential and vital part of the programme will be the comprehensive and practical hands-on instruction in specimen preparation and microscope operation using a range of specimen types, so that students will become familiar with both standard and specialist applications
