Master´s Thesis Syllabus

 

• I) IDENTIFICATION
  COURSE TITLE: Master’s Thesis
  CREDITS: 30 ECTS
  STATUS: Obligatory
  MATERIAL: Research Project developed in a Research Group
  MODULE: Final Master’s Project
  DEGREE: Master in Biochemistry , Molecular Biology and Biomedicine
  LENGTH OF COURSE: Second semester
  DEPARTMENT: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

 

• PROFESOR RESPONSABLE/DIRECTOR: Master’s Coordinator

Professor: CRISTINA CASALS CARRO
Faculty: Faculty of Chemistry
Department: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Location: Lab 4, 1st Floor, Faculty of Biology (Building B)
e-mail: ccasalsc@ucm.es

 

• II) SUPERVISORS:
  The experimental work for the completion of the master’s thesis must be carried out under the direction of a director/tutor Ph.D. in the area of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and/or Biomedicine from Complutense University (UCM), a national or foreign research center, an academic institution of higher learning, or a company that has an agreement with the UCM. A maximum of two tutors, from the same or different institutions, are involved in the supervision of a master's thesis.
  Students should contact the research group of their choice directly and agree on the objectives of their research. The research groups that offer TFM places will be published on the master's website and on the virtual campus of the TFM course in each academic year.
  Students who complete their master’s thesis with a research group belonging to a center outside the UCM or a company will also be assigned an Academic Cotutor from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Complutense University.
  The functions of the Academic Cotutor are:
  • i) to advise the student and to help him or her in any administrative procedure related to the student’s TFM.
  • ii) to follow the student in the performance of his or her research activity.
  • iii) to evaluate the student’s report on the master’s thesis.

The grade given tothis report by the Academic Cotutor constitutes 15% of the final grade on themaster’s thesis.

• III) OBJECTIVES
  The objective of the master’s thesis is to give the student the opportunity to carry out a research project in the area of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biomedicine, making use of the necessary experimental methods and instrumentation. This allows the student to acquire a solid knowledge of the context in which the project is developed, using the appropriate scientific and technical literature. In addition, the student learns how to formulate a working hypothesis, define objectives, design experiments, and develop skills and
  dexterity in the execution of experimental techniques. Finally, the student develops the ability to present his/her research work in written and oral form, describing the methods used, quantifying, analyzing, and critically evaluating the results obtained.
  
  IV PREREQUISITES
  The Postgraduate Programme admission requirements. The master’s thesis may be written in English and/or Spanish, so a good knowledge of both languages
  is required.

 

• IV) COURSE CONTENTS

  • DESCRIPTION OF COURSE CONTENTS

  The student must carry out a research project with a Research Group from either the UCM or a Research Center that has an agreement with the UCM. The Research Group must have offered a TFM position for this master’s program. This project will have a teaching load of 30 ECTS and will be carried out full time during the second semester. However, during the first semester, students should familiarize themselves with the topic of their TFM and attend conferences and workshops that increase their training and improve their communication skills.

   

  During this period, the student learns how a research project is developed and presented. He or she is initiated not only into the research process but also into the use of specific techniques and teamwork.

   

  At the end of the experimental work, the student will present a written document (“Master's Thesis”) in which the background of the research field, hypothesis, objectives, methodology, results, discussion, and bibliography are reflected. This document must be written in Spanish or English, but the summary and conclusions must be in both languages.

   

  The TFM report must follow the same format and requirements as a scientific publication, although the results obtained are not yet  sufficient for publication. The objective of the TFM report is to demonstrate in the standard format of a scientific article i) thorough and detailed knowledge of the specific research topic; ii) precision in data management and its statistical value; iii) understanding of the results generated and their significance in the body of knowledge; iv) ability to write scientifically and care in the use of language (clarity, brevity, and correct syntax).

   

  Finally, the student must make an oral presentation and defense of his/her research before a tribunal designated by the Master's Academic Committee. The tribunal is formed by a Professor, an Assistant Professor, and a Researcher belonging to the staff of Public Research Organizations.

•  

  • PROGRAM:
  • a) Performing an experiment.
  • b) Attending transversal training activities (conferences of a general nature) that allow students to reach general and transversal competences.
  • c) Completion of a report on the master’s thesis with the following contents:
    1. Summary
    2. Introduction and Background
    3. Hypothesis and Objectives
    4. Materials and Methods
    5. Results
    6. Discussion
    7. Conclusions
    8. Bibliography
• • d) Presentation and defense of the thesis before an evaluation tribunal.

 

• EVALUATION OF LEARNING

In evaluating the master's thesis (TFM), the scores issued by the tutor or tutors who have supervised the TFM will count as 20%. The score issued by the tribunal will include both the score of the written report (60% or 45%) and the presentation and oral defence of the TFM (20%). In addition, the Academic Cotutor’s score (for TFM carried out in Research Centers outside the UCM) represents 15% of the final grade of the TFM.

MASTER THESIS	EVALUATION
	TUTOR	ACADEMIC COTUTOR	TRIBUNAL (3 people)
	Student attitude and learning	TFM Report	TFM Report	Exposition and defense
TFM CARRIED OUT IN UCM	20 %	-	60 %	20 %
TFM CARRIED OUT IN RESEARCH CENTERS OUTSIDE THE UCM	20 %	15 %	45 %	20 %