Biochemistry with Professional Placement

Kingston University

This module immerses you in the world of analytical science applied to problem solving in biochemistry, clinical chemistry, forensic analysis and pharmaceutical science applications. It develops critical thinking, helping you identify the best approaches to prepare samples, collect results and analyse data, whether it is quantitative or qualitative in various scenarios. You will build knowledge, practical skills and interpretation skills whilst implementing the analytical process model using scenario-based learning.

This module delves into the fascinating world of microorganisms, that play a big role in health and disease. We’ll explore how our immune system responds to these microscopic agents. Through interactive lectures and workshops, we’ll examine various microbiological processes. You will learn about controlling these organisms in laboratory settings and within patients. The second part broadens the scope to encompass the wider aspects of biochemistry, pharmacology and beyond. It focuses on developing your Future Skills by engaging with Explore, to enhance your research, problem-solving, and critical thinking abilities, and preparing you for your final year capstone project. This is further supported by tutor meetings, which helps you work on tasks to develop, articulate, and reflect on your progress and graduate attributes.

This module builds on topics covered in your first year and explores advanced concepts in cell and molecular biology. The module provides a molecular insight into the structure and function of cells and takes an integrated approach to understand how cells respond to changes in their environment – from receptor interactions and intracellular signalling pathways through to the regulation of gene expression and changes in cellular processes.

This module provides you with knowledge of the structure and methods of analysis of proteins, with particular emphasis on enzymes. This is followed by the study of the major catabolic and anabolic pathways and investigates how organisms obtain and use energy. These processes, and their regulation in health and disease, are considered at the molecular level, which involves many proteins including enzymes.

This module aims to further develop the scientific, research and Future Skills that were introduced at level 4, and to relate the application of these skills to the broader discipline and beyond. You will be provided with the opportunity and encouragement to apply original and unconventional ideas, to be imaginative, and to tackle problem-solving using techniques that develop individual and group creativity, using design thinking and scientific method.

Enormous amounts of data are generated in Life Sciences research every day with a wide range of applications such as providing insight into genetic diseases, modelling how a drug interacts with its target protein, exploring the diversity of microbes in our digestive systems, establishing changes of gene expression in cancer/disease, and tracking the spread of cancerous cells. Bioinformatics forms an interface between biological sciences and information technology. In this module, you will develop the skills necessary to write your own computer programs (using R and/or Python) and use online tools to analyse and interpret real-world biological datasets. Alongside this, you will explore genomic variability, molecular evolution and phylogenetics in the context of bioinformatics. The module introduces an area of increasing importance in many areas of bioscience research, including molecular diagnostics and drug development.

This module provides you with the opportunity to integrate the knowledge you have gained from all other modules on the course. We will use case studies to provide an overview of biomedical techniques, including the use of point of care testing (POC) and traditional laboratory diagnosis. You will examine their applications in clinical diagnosis, prognosis, and patient management, including drug interactions and the basis of individual variation in drug responsiveness. The use of pertinent clinical cases encourages you to think 'outside the box’ and realise that when dealing with a real patient, knowledge gained from the discipline is required simultaneously to make a rational diagnosis. The module will also examine the importance of “quality control” (QC) and “quality assurance” (QA) in clinical diagnosis enabling you to understand the importance of both QC and QA in the correct day to day running of clinical diagnostics. The Future Skills Apply learning outcomes are delivered in this module.

This module’s primary aim is to provide you with comprehensive insights into the exploration of current innovations and technological advances within the biomolecular sciences. The module emphasises how these innovations can be effectively translated into public benefits, including through commercial exploitation, social enhancement, or environmental improvement. By the end of the module, you will have a comprehensive understanding of the processes involved in bridging the gap between scientific innovation and real-world application, preparing you for a successful career in the biosciences.

Your independent project forms a very important part of your degree programme. There are several types of projects that may be offered to you: a laboratory or field-based project, data projects involving acquisition of data and information from surveys, computer simulations or bioinformatics, or a systematic review of research literature that includes the collection, analysis, and original presentation of reported research data.  

This module gives you a dedicated opportunity to develop your Future Skills Graduate Attributes. At the start of the module, you will be supported to self-assess your current skills profile. You will determine which attributes and skills you need to develop to support your career ambitions. In this process, you will be supported by a dedicated career coach, helping you explore a range of options that includes self-employment/freelancing, starting your own business, higher level study, and other professional graduate-level opportunities. Throughout the module, you will be given opportunities to engage with external mentors, to support reflection and to develop a professional network.