• To know the rules to apply the scientific method and the dynamics of working in a research laboratory.
• To learn the techniques necessary to perform experimental work.
• Understanding the importance of planning and organizing the work and the rigor in the presentation of results.
• Understanding the importance of teamwork and cooperation among researchers.
• Being able to formulate goals for work, plan the work, conduct experiments, presented the results and draw conclusions.
• Being able to discuss and defend publicly the results of the research project undertaken in the Masters.

Specific Competences

1. Being able to plan and carry out experiments independently and seek the necessary information.
2. Being able to properly use laboratory apparatus and software tools for data processing, statistical analysis and presentation of results as graphs, tables, diagrams and image composition.
3. Being able to interact and collaborate with other members of the research team, contributing their knowledge and ideas.

General Competences

1. Knowing how to choose and apply different methodologies to analyze molecular biochemistry, cellular, genetic and phenotypic for the diagnosis and study of disease.
2. Knowing how to plan and execute a research project. following the scientific method and appropriate technology with a high degree of initiative and commitment.
3. Capacity for teamwork, leadership and decision making.
4. Critical and creative thinking skills to their own work and that of other researchers.
5. Ability to prepare, process and interpret the results rigorously and applying appropriate technologies
6. Learn oriented research in areas of interest and translational medical (diagnosis and therapy)
7. Being able to present scientific reports and scientific papers may be considered for publication in international journals

Basic Skills

1. Possess knowledge and understanding to provide a basis or opportunity to be original in developing and / or applying ideas, often in a research context
2. Applying the knowledge and have the ability to solve problems in new or unfamiliar contexts broader (or multidisciplinary) related to their field of study
3. Being able to integrate knowledge and handle the complexity of formulating judgments based on information that remains incomplete or limited include reflecting on social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgments
4. Knowing how to communicate the conclusions, and the knowledge and rationale underpinning the latest specialized and non-specialized audiences in a clear and unambiguous
5. Possessing learning skills to enable them to continue their education in a way that will be largely self-directed or autonomous

Transversal Competences

1. Having a correct oral and written expression
2. Mastering a foreign language
3. Mastering ICT
4. Respect the fundamental rights of equality between men and women for the promotion of human rights and the values ??of a culture of peace and democratic values
    

The student and the supervisor will design the research project to be developed by the student during the period of the master. Based on a hypothesis they will define the main goals of the project and plannify the experimental work.

The student will join the research group and learn the skills needed to develop his project, perform the experiments, analyze the results and draw conclusions.

At the end of the experimental period, the student will prepare a written report of the work done and he will publicly present  his work to a committee composed of three master’s professors.

The process of teaching and learning will take place through the following activities:

• Tutoring with supervisor
• Preparation of a project
• Practical laboratory work
• Computer user training
• Teamwork
• Individual written work
• Oral communication

1. Definition and characteristics of the Master's Thesis
 

The Master's Thesis  (TFM) consists on the execution of an original research project by using all the knowledge and competences acquired during the Master syudies. The TFM may be carried out as part of the habitual research activity of a group therefore the subject can be related to any of the Master’s subjects. The TFM will be conducted under the supervision of a master professor or an outside director. In this case the student will have a tutor inside the master.

2. Election of TFM project

The student can choose to perform the TFM in a group of IRBLleida or external, depending on his/her preferences on the investigation subject.

On the website there are available some TFM offers from IRBLleida research groups (www.biotecnologiasalut.udl.cat/ca/ofertes-TFM). However the student should not be limited to those offers, but he/she can contact directly with researchers working on projects of interest.

TFM coordinator will guide and help to find a group those students who are doubtful or not easily find what they seek.

3. Inscription of TFM

Once the student has a project supervisor, he/she must fill-in the application for TFM registration and submit it to the coordinator of the Master (before the first week of February)

4. Performance of experimental work

The student can join the research group from the beginning of the Master, and so he/she can start to learn techniques that will require in their work. From February to June, the student will be devoted full time to complete the realization of the experimental part of the TFM.

With the help of the supervisor, the student must hypothesize, define the objectives and plan the experiments. He/she will learn all research techniques needed, will perform the experiments and finally analyze the results to draw conclusions.

5. TFM memory

The TFM memory must be written on a scientific report format with the following structure:

• Abstract (maximum 500 words)
• Introduction
• Objectives
• Materials and methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusions
• Bibliography

The memory will have a length of  30-50 pages with font size 12 and spacing of 1.5.

The student will deposit 3 printed copies and bound to the Coordinator of the Master within the deadlines. He also deposit a copy in electronic form in the "Espai compartit" in the Virtual Space of “Treball Final de Màster” (14708).
    1st term: before July 25
    2nd term: before October 24 (by request).

6. Oral Defense

The oral and public defense will be of 15-20 minutes and discussion with the evaluation committee will be about 10-15 min. The total time for the defense of the TFM can not exceed 30 minutes.

Composition of the Evaluation Committee

The committee that will evaluate the TFM will be composed of 3 professors of the Master: two professors proposed by the Academic Committee of the Master will be Evaluator-1 and 2, and the Master’s coordinator will be the evaluator-3 of the committee. The Academic Committee will decide the evaluator alternates.

Evaluation of the TFM.

The evaluation of the TFM will be done on the basis of the evaluation rubrics stated at the virtual campus of TFM.

The TFM director will grade the execution of the experimental work and the student attitude by filling-in the “Ficha de evaluación del director”.

Each member of the committee will grade the student, considering the written scientific report and the oral defense by filling-in the “Ficha de evaluación del comité”.

The final score will be calculated as the average of the grades from the evaluation committee and the director.

• Rodríguez, ML, Llanes, J (2013). Cómo elaborar, tutorizar y evaluar un TFM. Agència per a la Qualitat del Sistema Universitari de Catalunya.

           www.aqu.cat/doc/doc_18533565_1.pdfhttp://www.aqu.cat/doc/doc_18533565_1.pdf

• Walker, M. (2000). Cómo escribir trabajos de investigación. Barcelona: Gedisa
• Carter. W. (2010). How to Write a Master Thesis or Dissertation?

           www.tadafinallyfinished.com/how-to-write-a-masters-thesis.html

• Purdue University (2000). Thesis Format Guidelines.

          collaborate.education.purdue.edu/edci/docs/Thesis_Format_Guidelines_for_CI.pdf

 

The student, guided by his supervisor, will plan a project of experimental research (as it was planned at the beginning) or of open-access database research (either bibliographic or of experimental results) and that will be performed during the second term of the course. The work will focus on a research topic of the biomedicine which is of interest to both the student and the director.

The student will learn the experimental techniques, to do bibliographic and / or database research, organize the information obtained, graphically represent the data obtained in tables and / or graphic diagrams and discuss with the director about the relevance of the information collected. The student will also make a critical analysis of the current state of the issue and highlight the aspects that need to be further studied.

The student will make a written report of the work done and present it publicly to a panel of three professors.

The teaching-learning process will be carried out through the following activities:

• Individual tutoring with the supervisor
• Elaboration of a project
• Practical computer work
• Work with autonomy
• Individual written work
• Oral presentation

For the students that have been able to carry on an experimental part of the project, they will also use the methodology:

• Practical laboratory work
• Team work

1. Definition and characteristics of the Master's Thesis

The Final Master’s Thesis (TFM) consists of carrying out an original research project that involves the application of the knowledge acquired throughout the Master’s studies, and demonstrates the achievement of specific, general and transversal competences. The TFM can deal with any subject that is related to the subjects of the Master, and will be carried out under the supervision of a professor of the master or an external researcher. In this case, the student must have a tutor who is a teacher of the master's degree.

Due to the exceptional situation caused by the COVID-19, the major part of the final master's thesis can’t be carried out in person but from home. Therefore it is impossible to carry out an  experimental laboratory work for the students that haven’t started the experimental project during the first semester. As a solution to this situation, in addition to the experimental project that wasinitialy planned, it will be also possible to carry out bibliographic research or interrogation of open-access databases to collect experimental data to analyse related to the subject of interest.

2. Choice of TFM project

The student can choose to do the TFM in a group of the IRBLleida or from outside, depending on his preferences in the subject of the research.

TFM offers from some IRBLleida groups can be found on the Master's website (www.biotecnologiasalut.udl.cat/ca/ofertes-TFM). Despite this, students can ask researchers working on projects of interest directly.

The coordinator will guide and help group students who are hesitant or unable to find what they are looking for.

3. Registration of the TFM

Once the student has a supervisor and project, he / she must apply for the TFM registration to the Master's Coordinator (before the first week of February). The project title may be modified later on, until the deposit of the written report.

4. Carrying out the experimental work

The student can integrate into the research group from the beginning of the academic course, and therefore he can can begin to learn the techniques that he will need later on. From the month of February to June, the student will have to work full time to the development of the TFM.

With the help of the supervisor, the student will have to decide the topic of the project. He will learn to use the necessary techniques and tools to carry out the research, the organization of information and give shape and structure

It is the responsibility of the student:

• to maintain regular contact with the supervisor to inform him about the work progression and ask any questions he may have.
• to make proposals on how to approach the chosen topic and get the agreement of the supervisor
• to have the computer tools and knowledge to use them
• to write and plan the TFM

Therefore, the student must be proactive at all stages of work development.

The role of the supervisor is to guide the student on his proposals.

5. Preparation of the TFM Report

Once the experimental part has been completed, the student will prepare a scientific report of the work carried out with the following chapters:

1) Experimental work:

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Hypothesis and objectives
• Materials and methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusions
• Bibliography

2) Bibliographic work

• Summary (maximum 500 words)
• Introduction
• Objectives of the work
• Methodology used in the review: The databases used must be indicated, how the information searches have been carried out and other aspects that are considered relevant in terms of the research carried out.
• Research results: A brief description, accompanied by graphic material, of the results obtained in the research of public data must be presented (for example: number of articles, years of publication, sources of publication, etc.).
• Review or Results : The body of the review will set out the most relevant aspects known so far in relation to the topic reviewed (state-of-the-art). Subsections may be made as deemed appropriate, including bibliographic references). If a search has been carried out in databases, the results obtained will be presented graphically and commenting on the most relevant aspects.
• Discussion
• Future perspectives
• Bibliography

The report will have an extension of 30-50 pages with font size 12 and line spacing of 1.5.

The student will deposit 3 printed and bound copies to the Master Coordinator within the established deadlines. He will also deposit a copy in electronic format (PDF format) in the Shared Space of the Virtual Space of the subject Final Master's Thesis (14708)

1st deadline: before July 25

2nd term: before October 24: (upon request for adjournment)

6. Oral Defence

The oral and public presentation will be of 15-20 min length and the debate with the court will be about 15-10 min. The total time for the defence of each TFM should not exceed 30 min.

In the event that it is not possible to make the oral defence being physically present, videoconferencing can be permitted through the Virtual Campus videoconferencing tool and the session will be recorded.

Composition of the Evaluation Committee

The panel that will evaluate the TFM will be composed of 3 members, one of whom may be a professor and / or researcher external to the master's degree. Two members will be appointed by the Academic Committee and will act as Evaluator-1 and Evaluator-2 while the master's degree coordinator will act as Evaluator-3. The Academic Committee will decide on the composition of the alternate evaluation members.

TFM evaluation

The evaluation of the student's work will be done based on the rubrics available in the virtual space of the TFM:

Experimental work: Fichas-Evaluación-TFM-MIBiomed.xlsx

Bibliographic work: Addenda-COVID-19-Fichas-Evaluación-TFM-MIBiomed.xlsx

• The MFP's director will value the execution of the work by the student using the “Ficha de evaluación del director”
• Each member of the panel will evaluate the written report and the oral defense using the “Ficha de evaluación de la comisión”.
• The student's final grade will be the result of the average of the four grades obtained.