SCIENCE
Assessing student’s empathic skills: What factors influence skills levels?
Dr Sarah Wilson & Professor Gordon Becket
Duration: 10 weeks
No of interns: 2
Project description:
Compassionate and empathic health care professionals can positively influence health care
outcomes, according to recent research. Are these skills that can be developed, or are some
people ‘naturally’ more caring than others? Are students studying pharmacy or nursing more
compassionate than those studying philosophy or astrophysics?
This study will explore these issues, by assessing the empathy levels and moral reasoning
skills of students on different degree paths across UCLan, using a questionnaire. The results
will be analysed to see if there are any identifiable factors which impact on these skills across
disciplines, and written up for publication and conference presentation.
Criteria:
1. Enthusiasm and ability to work on own initiative
2. An interest in exploring factors influencing improvements in health care
The feasibility study on solar thermal application in Northwest England
Dr Liben Jiang
Duration: 10 weeks
No of interns: 1
Project description:
This research will focus on the feasibility study on solar thermal application for the Forster
Building of Preston Campus, UCLan. The research will cover the data collection of local
climate dates and thermal energy usage (hot water) during the summer time, and then data
analysis. The project will, through a final report, address a timely problem in the region and
is in line with sustainable development globally and locally in England as well to reduce CO2
emission from educational buildings. Students with engineering / building backgrounds are
welcome to apply.
Criteria:
1. Engineering background in buildings
Waste Management Solutions for the Oil and Gas Industry: Review of current practices
at Centrica.
Dr Karl S Williams and Dr Chris Lowe
Duration: 10 weeks
No of interns: 1
Project description:
Veolia has a contract with Hydrocarbons Resources Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of
Centrica) to provide waste management services at their Heysham support base and gas
terminals they operate at Barrow. An opportunity exists for an internship to work in
conjunction with the Veolia contract manager to research and investigate waste management
solutions.
This will involve a review of the baseline position of selected current waste streams. The
focus of the project will be to define the current state against best practice globally. This will
therefore involve global research /investigation with the emphasis upon emerging solutions
with demonstratable benefits which perhaps are not currently widely accepted within the
industry.
The research should be mindful of cost however moving the waste/ recyclate up the waste
hierarchy is a key requirement. The objectives would be to provide alternative emerging
options with clear benefits. These options need not be available immediately but in the near
future.
You will work closely with Drs Lowe and Williams (CWM) and Veolia staff.. You will be
expected to take a central role in the gathering of data and the development, delivery of a
review of waste handling methodology, current recycling routes, prevailing waste culture,
containment / waste /recyclate storage containers and you will be required to liaise directly
with Veolia Contract Managers.
This is an opportunity for you to gain invaluable “real world” experience in both research and
industry-based contexts.
Criteria:
1. Environmental background.
Race and eyewitness identification
Simon Chu
Duration: 10 weeks
No of interns: 1
Project description:
This internship offers the chance to investigate the cross-race effect in face identification.
Why is it that people find it easier to identify faces of their own race than faces of a different
ethnicity? Recent proposals suggest that this is to do with social identity and what you know
about the person, rather than their specific ethnicity. Perhaps we simply process ‘out-group’
faces differently to ‘in-group’ faces. As research intern, you will be closely involved in
experiment design, creating appropriate experiment materials, collecting data and statistically
analyzing results. In short, the internship offers hand-on experience of cutting-edge
psychological research.
Criteria:
1. The successful intern should be a Single Hons. Psychology student with a strong interest in
psychological research.‘
2. An expectation of achieving PS2700 to 60% of more
Performance analysis of fencing: optimizing performance and preventing injury
Dr Lindsay Bottoms and Mr Andy Greenhalgh
Duration: 8 weeks
No of interns: 1
Project description:
This project will focus on the physiology and biomechanics of the Olympic sport of fencing.
You will be involved in collecting and analysing data for a three part study; with the aim of
the first study being to record impact shocks in fencers. The second part of the study will be
to validate a lab based protocol which has been previously devised. Finally, the third part,
you will use the protocol to analyze the kinetics and kinematics of movements involved in
fencing. By the end of the project you will have gained valuable experience in undertaking
sport science research.
Criteria:
1. Basic knowledge of biomechanics is required and therefore completion of the module
(XS1100) is required.
2. In addition a basic knowledge of exercise physiology is required and therefore completion
of a first and second physiology module is required (XS1200 and XS2200 or XS2201).
APE project evaluation
Peggy Gregory, Katie Taylor and Dr Karen Whittaker
Duration: 8 weeks
No of interns: 1
Project description:
The Adolescent & Parent Experiences - APE - Project has developed an innovative
interactive DVD that uses cartoon characters to play out typical family situations. The aim is
that families can use the DVD to stimulate and improve communication. A student intern is
needed to help evaluate the DVD by gathering data about responses from young people and
parents. This will involve visiting schools and parenting groups in order to run viewing and
discussion sessions as well as distributing questionnaires. You will also help to analyse and
write up the field research, write a literature review and prepare reports for publication and
further research funding.
Criteria:
1. Prepared to do field work in schools and in parenting groups
2. Preferable (but not essential) to have Criminal Record Board clearance and/or experience
of working with young people
Examining male rape myths, victim blame, homophobia and ambivalent sexism
Michelle Davies
Duration: 10 weeks
No of interns: 2
Project description:
The aim of this project is to investigate, across two studies, attributions towards male victims
of sexual assault. The first study involves attributions towards drug related sexual assault, and
the second examines male rape myths. Data will be collected by distribution of questionnaires
across the UCLan campus, which you will be responsible for. You will have the opportunity
to gain theoretical knowledge about this project, and to increase your experience in data
analysis and journal report writing. It is good experience for anyone wishing to pursue a
career in social or forensic psychology.
Criteria:
1. Applicants must be studying psychology (Single Honours, Major, or Joint) and must have
completed PS2700 to at least 2(1) standard. Applicants thus will be confident in using SPSS,
and knowledgeable about how to input data (with assistance) into SPSS. In addition,
preferably applicants will have gained good marks in social and/or forensic psychology
modules. They preferably will have some knowledge about research into sexual assault,
although this is not absolutely essential.
2. Applicants must be able to, and confident at approaching people in public places, such as
on or around campus, as the work involves collecting a large amount of questionnaire data for
an ample sample size.
Analysis of minerals with ESEM/EDAX & MASNMR
Dr. Richard W. McCabe
Duration: 10 weeks
No of interns: 1
Project description:
The project has three parts:
1. Calibration of the ESEM/EDAX instrument to give more accurate element sensitivities for
determining the elemental compositions of several minerals, especially aluminosilicates.
2. MASNMR spectroscopic determination of the environments of several elements in
aluminosilicates, coupled with the EDAX analysis, to give important structural information
about the minerals for improving understanding of their catalytic activity.
3. Use of EDAX and MASNMR to determine the changes in aluminosilicates on acid
activation (a process which improves catalytic activity).
You will learn to operate and interpret data from the scanning electron microscope
(ESEM)/EDAX and solid-state NMR (MASNMR) spectrometer.
Criteria:
1. Knowledge of Chemistry
2. Good computer skills
Explorations of neuroimmunine and cognitive functioning
Sarita Robinson
Duration: 10 weeks
No of interns: 1
Project description:
This project aims to improve our understanding of human survival in life-threatening
situations. This study will examine psychological and physiological changes in humans
exposed to acute stress. Specifically, the impact of elevated state anxiety on working memory
and immune function (Secretory Immunoglobulin A –s-IgA).
You will be involved in data collection at Fleetwood Nautical College taking cognitive
performance measures, questionnaires and collect saliva samples for analysis. You will have
the opportunity to complete some laboratory work.
Criteria:
1. Completion of PS2850 would be a great advantage or you should have a strong interest in
psychobiological research.
2. An expectation of achieving PS2700 to 60% of more
How does everyday distractibility impact on visual attention performance?
Dr Jeannie Judge & Paul Taylor
Duration: 10 weeks
No of interns: 1
Project description:
This project involves designing/running experiments on selective visual attention; a
background in cognitive psychology and statistics is essential. The role involves using the
‘flanker task’ to explore perceptual load theory.
You will conduct literature searches and discuss the literature with the member of staff during
informal meetings. In addition, you will be responsible for recruiting/testing participants for
the experiments and will receive training in programming skills. You will have the
opportunity of contributing to the design/programming of studies and will receive guidance
and support on written/oral presentation skills and statistical training.
Criteria:
1. The intern should have passed the PS2700 module on research methods offered in the
psychology department and have obtained a minimum mark of 60% for the module overall
and for the individual components of this module (with the exception of the qualitative
assignment).
2. They should have also passed the PS1200 module on cognitive psychology (minimum
mark 60% on the module) and be currently taking the second year cognitive psychology
module (PS2400).
Dispersion stability of magnetic nanoparticles in suspension
Tapas Sen
Duration: 10 weeks
No of interns: 1
Project description:
Controlling the surface chemical composition and mastering its modification at the
nanometre (a billionth of metre) scale are critical issues for high-added value applications
involving colloidal particles. Magnetic nanoparticles have become important materials for the
quick, easy, sensitive and reliable separation of specific biomolecules or magnetic
hyperthermia agents in medical diagnostics and therapeutics. One of the major problems of
working on such nanoparticles is the aggregation. This proposal concerns the study of
dispersion stability of well defined magnetic nanoparticles such as magnetite and maghemite
using a series of biocompatible dispersing agents (i.e. Triton, Tween, Pluoronic and
Polyethylene glycol).
You will be involved in day to day laboratory work on the chemical synthesis of magnetic
colloidal nanoparticles in the presence and absence of various dispersing agents and will
carry out characterisation using laser particle size analyser (Nanosizer), Scanning electron
microscopy (SEM) and magnetic (vibrating magnetometer) measurements.
Criteria:
1. Knowledge of colloid and surface science
2. Knowledge of computation and data analysis
Computer modelling of nano-materials
Dr AV Zvelindovsky
Duration: 6 weeks
No of interns: 1
Project description:
The project will make use of Undergraduate Research Laboratory in Computational Physics.
The aim is to study nanostructure formation by means of computer models. You will perform
“virtual experiments” to mimic experimental situation. The specific system to be investigated
is di-block copolymers under an externally applied electric field. The work has several subtasks: performing a physical parameter space search; determining the range of the parameters;
performing a large series of computer runs; computer visualization; comparison with the
experiments.
Criteria:
1.Programming skills in Linux
2.Knowledge of condensed matter physics
Chromosome aberration analysis for large-scale radiaiton incidents
Ms Caroline Whitehouse
Duration: 10 ks
No of interns: 1
Project description:
In the event of a large-scale radiation accident individuals requiring medical intervention will
be assessed using a biological dosimetric method. The current ‘gold standard’ technique is
the analysis of chromosome aberrations, specifically dicentric chromosomes, in a peripheral
blood sample. Software has recently become available to allow automatic dicentric
chromosome analysis using specialised imaging equipment. This UCLan intern research
project, based at Westlakes Scientific Consulting, Cumbria, will involve training in
chromosome aberration analysis and the establishment of a working protocol for automatic
dicentric scoring. Validation will be performed using test slides analysed both manually and
using our image analysis system.
Criteria:
1.Good computer literacy is required for this project as you will be expected to become
familiar with and use specialised image analysis equipment.
2.Team working - the ability to work well in a tem environment is essential
3.Ability to commute to Westlakes
HEA Psychology Network Miniproject: Emotional Intelligence Awareness in
Undergraduate Students
Dr Debbie Pope
Duration: 10 weeks
No of interns: 1
Project description:
Recent studies have examined the role of Emotional Intelligence (EI) in education with
evidence that students who demonstrate a high EI score have a smoother transition from
school to university.
We require a Psychology (SHs, major or joint) student with excellent communication and
presentation skills to be involved in the collection of data and the delivery of a workshop on
EI competencies to Flying Start students throughout the summer. Information obtained will
help us to develop materials to improve EI skills in undergraduate students.
Under supervision, the position will also involve the analyses of existing data and the
preparation of a research paper.
Criteria:
1. A Psychology (SHs, major or joint) student.2. An expectation of achieving PS2700 to
60% of more
2. Excellent proven communication and presentation skills.
Female Intra-sexual Competition
Gayle Brewer
Duration: 10 weeks
No of interns: 1
Project description:
The project will investigate the extent to which women are aware of same sex rivals (when
competing for suitable partners) and the way in which women deter these rivals or retain
male partners. The research will assess how the characteristics of the woman and her
perception of the rival influence the selection and use of competitive behaviours. You will be
directly involved in the design of a research project, involving the preparation of materials /
ethics submission. Additional responsibilities include data collection, data entry and. You
will also have the opportunity to assist the presentation and dissemination of findings.
Criteria:
1. Psychology student (PS2700 completed to at least a 2.1 level)
Novel Fluorene-based Conjugated Materials for Optoelectronic Applications
Dr. Igor F. Perepichka
Duration: 10 weeks
No of interns: 2
Project description:
Conjugated organic molecules, oligomers and polymers with semiconductive properties offer
many exciting prospects in materials science and nanoelectronics. This project offers you the
opportunity to be involved in a research on design, synthesis and studies of novel conjugated
molecules and polymers potentially promising for applications in light-emitting diodes and
sensors. Particularly, we will make new fluorescent compounds based on fluorene moiety.
Your role in the project will be synthesis, purification and characterisation of new compounds
by modern physical methods (NMR, MS, chromatography, etc.) and their further studies by
spectral methods (UV-Vis and fluorescent spectrophotometry), as well as literature search.
Criteria:
1. Basic knowledge of organic chemistry, performed practicals in organic synthesis and
analysis.
Catalytic synthesis of pharmaceutically important amides
Dr Tim Snape
Duration: 10 weeks
No of interns: 1
Project description:
The project will involve the chemical preparation of a number of amides of importance to the
pharmaceutical industry and it has already received the support of Pfizer Global R&D. The
student, with close support from the supervisor, will develop the conditions to facilitate the
catalytic synthesis of amides, which are traditionally difficult to prepare, using enzymes. You
do not need to have an understanding of synthetic chemistry, but you must have experience of
general lab work and be enthusiastic and motivated to aid the pharmaceutical industry in
developing new methods for the synthesis of drugs for the benefit of society.
Criteria:
1. An experience of practical lab work
2. Good analytical skills