UnitLevel 5Postgraduate

MPS5203 Experimental investigations: Learning from the lab

Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

MPS5203 Experimental investigations: Learning from the lab is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, offered in 2025 in Semester 2 at Malaysia and Parkville. It has no prerequisites.

Credit points
6
Offered in 2025
Semester 2
Malaysia, Parkville
Assessment
No exam
5 tasks

This is the 2025 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.

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Overview

This unit gives you direct experience of contemporary laboratory-based research in pharmaceutical science.

You will observe and participate in a range of relevant activities sampling the gamut of skills required to be a successful and responsible researcher. These will include the planning, execution and analysis of experiments and other research/laboratory work, as well as the professional skills of record keeping, peer review and effective communication. To assist you with your learning, you will interview a research scientist and participate in a series of laboratory/research sessions and workshops focussed on the modern pharmaceutical science research experience. This includes a research intensive at the end of semester involving hands-on experience in experimental and/or computational research activities as well as the associated data analyses and interpretations.

You will create a written and oral portfolio of your laboratory and research experience, which will include a detailed laboratory journal, a comprehensive project outline, and an oral presentation.

Upon completing the unit, you will have a working understanding of the factors that facilitate and challenge research progress, which you can use to critically guide your professional behaviour, be it in a research environment or the broader workplace.

Offerings in 2025

Teaching periodCampusMode
Second semesterMalaysiaOn campus
Second semesterParkvilleOn campus, block

Assessment

  • Laboratory competency assessmentDemonstrationCompetency hurdle
    -
  • Laboratory JournalWritten
    40%
  • Project outlineProject
    45%
  • Oral presentationPresentation
    10%
  • In-class testQuiz / Test
    5%

Learning outcomes

When you finish this unit, you should be able to:

  1. 1

    Explain responsible conduct of research principles and demonstrate these principles when participating in a range of activities relevant to contemporary laboratory research

  2. 2

    Show evidence of accurate record-keeping via a detailed laboratory journal

  3. 3

    Synthesise and critically evaluate information from a range of sources to create a detailed outline of the rationale, research question and methods of a research project in an area of contemporary pharmaceutical science

  4. 4

    Use effective written and oral communication skills to record and critically report on laboratory / research activities

  5. 5

    Use effective reflective practice to demonstrate the development of professional practices appropriate to working in a contemporary research environment.

  6. 6

    Design and safely conduct laboratory experiments and demonstrate mastery of foundational laboratory techniques.

Workload and teaching

  • Assessments2 hours
  • Workshops22 hours
  • Laboratories28 hours
  • Teaching approachActive learning
  • Teaching approachResearch activities
  • Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
  • Teaching approachPeer assisted learning
  • Eleven 2-hour workshops
  • 56 hours of laboratory/research work and preparation
  • 56 hours of project outline preparation
  • 10 hours of oral presentation preparation and assessment

Learning resources

Technology resources

This unit requires access to a laptop that meets minimum specifications. Free specialist software is available via MoVE.

Contacts

Unit Coordinators
Professor Paul Ho Chi Lui
Associate Professor Karen Gregory
Chief Examiners
Associate Professor Karen Gregory

Common questions

What are the prerequisites for MPS5203?

MPS5203 has no prerequisites.

When is MPS5203 offered?

In 2025, MPS5203 runs in Semester 2 at Malaysia and Parkville.

Does MPS5203 have an exam?

No. MPS5203 has 5 assessment tasks and no exam.

More details

Credit points
6
Level
5
Study level
Postgraduate
Faculty
Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Type
Coursework
EFTSL
0.125
Student contribution
SCA Band 2
Study abroad
Not available
Handbook years
202220232024202520262027