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 period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Malaysia | On campus |
| Second semester | Parkville | On campus, block |
Assessment
- Laboratory competency assessmentDemonstrationCompetency hurdle-
- Laboratory JournalWritten40%
- Project outlineProject45%
- Oral presentationPresentation10%
- In-class testQuiz / Test5%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Explain responsible conduct of research principles and demonstrate these principles when participating in a range of activities relevant to contemporary laboratory research
- 2
Show evidence of accurate record-keeping via a detailed laboratory journal
- 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
Use effective written and oral communication skills to record and critically report on laboratory / research activities
- 5
Use effective reflective practice to demonstrate the development of professional practices appropriate to working in a contemporary research environment.
- 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.