You can download the list of projects in pdf file format by clicking "PROJECTS!'

Office : ED246

Internal ext : 3529 .

From outside the University : direct line 0115 8483529 (with voicemail : 24h answering service)

What do I do first?

Where will I find information?

You’ve been here 3 to 4 years and are asking this? It depends on the project itself. Some projects are closely linked to ongoing research, but the research students frequently do not keep photocopies of articles in the laboratory (take up too much space) so you may have to wait for them to bring material in. Please remember the research students have their own research projects to work on fulltime and are not there to do the library work for you. I subscribe to Journal of Applied Bacteriology, Letters in Applied Microbiology and Microbiology (formerly Journal of General Microbiology) and have a number of reprints in my office on some topics you may be looking for. You can also try the library for previous year’s project students reports, internet sites – see my homepage and database searches such as BIDS. The library liaison officer Rob May is very helpful. But remember interlibrary loans can take a few weeks to arrive and so are best to get asap.

How do I write up?

I strongly suggest you starting writing up certain sections before the end of the practical period. For example you could probably write most of the Methods section in weeks 2 and 3, there will probably be little change in methods used afterwards. Collate your references as you go along. Refer to the student guide on project thesis preparation you were given by the module leader.

It would be good after 4 weeks to get summary table(s) together to show me and have an idea as to what you think you'll be doing next.

I strongly suggest you photocopy a related paper and study the format in detail; Table presentation, Figure (not `Graph’!) presentation, Reference section ,etc.

Tips for media and reagent preparation

It is difficult at first to predict how much media, stock solutions you will require. This depends on the nature of your work and the shelf-life of the solution. As a rough guide to get started I would suggest 500ml of culture media to give yourself approx. 20 agar plates. Start to plan ahead as soon as possible. Are there reagents which may need replacing (this can take time 3 weeks even). Try to avoid the dry ovens, instead prepare plates at least one day before required and store at 30C (constant temperature room) or 37C if there is enough room. Not only will this partially dry the plates, but also show any contamination before it ruins your experiment.

Remember to label with your name and date.

Tips for keeping microbial cultures

Prepare agar slopes (5x20ml in Universal bottle). Initially inoculate 3 slopes, only use each slope 5 times before using another one, remember to inoculate a fresh slope in the meantime. These slopes can be kept in the fridge during the project period.

Frequently check the purity of your cultures using at least the Gram stain. Get into the habit of checking the purity daily. You do not have the luxury of loosing a week’s work because you assumed the turbid culture was the same organisms you inoculated it with.

Speakers

I am in charge of the Department's Friday lunchtime (1:10-2pm, ED282) seminar programme and there will occasionally be speakers which are relevant to your modules or research. Please try to attend.

Thanks

Steve