PENINSULA SCHOOLS
of
MEDICINE & DENTISTRY
INFORMATION BOOKLET
APPENDIX
POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH
STUDENTS
August 2015
Welcome to the Peninsula Schools of Medicine & Dentistry at Plymouth University. You
are joining a dynamic research community of students studying for an MPhil or PhD,
ResM, MS or MD award.
In choosing to study at Plymouth University you will be awarded a top qualification
recognised in industry and research.
This Postgraduate Student Handbook contains School specific information which the
Graduate School hopes will answer some of your initial questions about your research
studies here in Plymouth.
This booklet should be used in conjunction with the generic postgraduate research
student information booklet.
The Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry consists of three Schools:

Plymouth University Peninsula School of Medicine

Plymouth University Peninsula School of Dentistry

School of Biomedical & Healthcare Sciences
Who are my administrative contacts? Where can I find them?
Senior Programme
Administrator (Research) –
Peninsula Schools of Medicine
& Dentistry
Doctoral Training Centre
Administrator – School of
Biomedical & Healthcare
Sciences
Bernice Wilmshurst
Catherine
McCoulough (until
October 2015)
bernice.wilmshurst@plymouth.ac.uk
Tel: 01752 437471
(John Bull Building, Tamar Science
Park, Plymouth PL6 6LH)
catherine.mccoulough@plymouth.ac.
uk
mandarin.macdonald@plymouth.ac.u
k
Mandarin
Macdonald (from
October 2015)
Tel: 01752 584539
(Graduate School, 305 Link Building,
Plymouth University main site)
Office Hours:
The office is normally open: 9.00 am – 4.30 pm, Monday to Thursday and until
4.00 pm on Friday but we are available by telephone or email
(pupsmd-research@plymouth.ac.uk). Note: There may be times when the
Administrator is not available due to attendance at meetings, staff development/
training, sickness or annual leave. When possible these absences will be advertised.
Who are my academic contacts?
Position
Chair,
PSMD Research Degrees
Committee (RDC)
Professor David Moles
Vice Chair PSMD RDC
Name
Professor David Moles
Contact Details
david.moles@plymouth.ac.uk
Professor Oliver
Hanemann
oliver.hanemann@plymouth.ac.uk
Institute for Translational and
Stratified Medicine
Centre for Biostatistics,
Bioinformatics & Biomarkers
Centre for Clinical Trials and
Population Studies
Centre for Biomedical &
Healthcare Science
Oral Health & Dentistry
Collaboration for the
advancement of Medical
Education, Research and
Assessment (CAMERA)
PenCLARHC
Head of School for Biomedical
& Healthcare Sciences
Research Coordinator for
Biomedical & Healthcare
Sciences
Professor
Oliver Hanemann
Susan Ball
oliver.hanemann@plymouth.ac.uk
Professor Adrian Taylor
Adrian.taylor@plymouth.ac.uk
Professor Simon
Jackson
Professor David Moles
Dr Julian Archer
simon.jackson@plymouth.ac.uk
Dr Richard Byng
Professor Craig
Donaldson
Dr Michael Jarvis
richard.byng@plymouth.ac.uk
craig.donaldson@plymouth.ac.uk
susan.ball@plymouth.ac.uk
david.moles@plymouth.ac.uk
julian.archer@plymouth.ac.uk
michael.jarvis@plymouth.ac.uk
If you have any questions you would like to raise with the PUSMD Research Degrees
Committee on your behalf please contact:
Student Representatives:
Martin Helley
martin.helley@plymouth.ac.uk
Sheridan Roberts
sheridan.roberts@plymouth.ac.uk
CHECKLIST FOR NEW RESEARCHERS
Enrolment
Please call in to meet your Research Administrator at your earliest convenience, at the
relevant Research Office (listed above). Your administrator will be able to help with
enrolment.
On Arrival at the University

Visit your Research Administrator to collect your ID card, log book and any other
necessary information.

Sort out your working space with your Administrator (FT students). The School
office will arrange this for Biomedical & Healthcare Sciences students.

Sort out where your mail is delivered with your Administrator. The School office
will arrange this with Biomedical & Healthcare Sciences students.

Request any necessary alarm codes.

Meet with your Director of Studies.
Maintenance Grant/ Bursary payments (if applicable): If the Faculty is aware of your
Bank details, all grants will be electronically transferred directly into your account via
BACS. Otherwise, contact your Research Administrator.
MODULE INFORMATION
School of Biomedical & Healthcare Sciences
 MPhil/PhD students in the School of Biomedical & Healthcare Sciences who do
not hold a UK M.Sc or M.Res qualification must take and pass one 20 credit module
BIO5131 Postgraduate Research Skills and Methods that runs in the autumn term.
Assessment for this module is by 100% coursework. The coursework is (a) a
Literature Review (approx 3000 words) on the topic of the PhD study, (b) an Oral
Presentation and (c) a Research Proposal (approx 1500 words) that should include
an outline of the key objectives, research design, methodologies, practicalities and
safety issues. Deadlines for these assessments are set by the Module Leader.
Optional Modules for PhD students in Biomedical & Healthcare Sciences
 All registered MPhil/PhD students in SoGEES, SoBS, or on the Marine Sciences
programme wishing to engage in paid/unpaid demonstrating and marking must
take the Introduction to Teaching and Learning (ITL) course (previously General
Teaching Associates (GTA) course). This ensures that the University maintains its
standard of provision to undergraduate courses. For more information about the
course, including dates and how to apply visit https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/youruniversity/teaching-and-learning/qualifications-and-accreditation/itl


Following discussions with their supervisors, MPhil/PhD students may elect to take
additional credits of appropriate training selected from the list of taught modules
overleaf. All students are encouraged to obtain new skills through the option
modules on offer.
For some schools, the training also requires essential attendance at School
seminars and production of the annual report.

It is compulsory for all students within the School of Biomedical & Healthcare
Sciences to give poster (first year) or oral presentations (2nd and 3rd year) in one of
the research events or in the seminar programme in consultation with their
supervisors. It is also required to participate regularly in the seminar programme
arranged by the School.
ResM Programmes in the School of Biomedical & Healthcare Sciences


Students taking this award take a minimum of 40 credits of taught modules up to a
maximum of 120 credits (can include up to 30 credits of stage 3 level modules).
These optional credits are determined by the supervisor and candidate depending
on previous experience and the needs of the proposed research project element.
Compulsory credits include BIO5131 Postgraduate Research Skills and Methods
(20 credits), and taught module applicable to the subject area (20 credits). Optional
credits include taught modules as applicable to the student and topic chosen (up to
80 credits). These modules may be chosen from a variety of existing Taught
Masters Programmes and can span disciplines and faculties as appropriate, and by
prior arrangement could include a module(s) from another institution. If appropriate,
then the optional credits may also include the Graduate Teaching Associates
(GTA) course and/or courses from the Graduate Skills Programmes
You may be required to undertake some taught modules during your studies.
Biomedical & Healthcare Modules
Autumn Modules
Module
Code
Module Title
BIOM 5001 Molecular Biology: Genomics, transcriptomics &
Proteomics*
BIOM 5007 Cellular Basis of Clinical Immunology
BIOM 5008 Clinical Mocrobiology
BIOM 5009 Haematology and transfusion
BIOM 5010 Medical Genomics and personalized medicine
BIOM 5011 Molecular and Cellular Pathology
BIOM 5012 Clinical Biochemistry
Patient Safety and human factors
SIM 712
*runs over 2 semesters
Leader
Assessment (%)
(CW:EX:Practical)
E. Green
70: 0: 30
A. Foey
M. Gilpin
C. Donaldson
N. Avent
S. Fox
K. Jeremy
M. Hill
35: 50: 15
35: 50: 15
35: 50: 15
35: 50: 15
35: 50: 15
35: 50: 15
100% CW
Spring Modules
Module
Code
Module Title
Leader
Assessment
(CW:EX)
BIOM 5002
BIOM 5003
BIOM 5014
Contemporary applications of cell biology
Contemporary science of infection and immunity
Bioinformatics
C. Donaldson
M. Upton
R. Belshaw
80: 0: 20
0: 50: 50
75: 20 test
Timetables can be accessed from https://timetables.plymouth.ac.uk/
ResM Programmes in the Schools of Medicine and Dentistry


Students taking these awards also take a minimum of 40 credits of taught modules
up to a maximum of 120 credits. All credits are determined by the supervisor and
candidate depending on the previous experience of the candidate and the
requirements of the proposed research project element.
There is no compulsory module, however candidates without significant previous
research experience will normally take at least one research skills module
appropriate to their topic. Modules may be chosen from a variety of existing Taught
Masters Programmes and can span disciplines and faculties as appropriate.