Advisory Pre-requisites

Student is expected to have completed Levels 1000 and 2000 essential and elective requirements for Life Sciences Major and to conduct the project with certain advanced elective knowledge in life sciences. Preferably at least Year 3 or senior.

Course Code Variants

There are two course code variants for LSM4288, one for each specialisation.
– LSM4288M – Specialisation in Biomedical Science (BMS)
– LSM4288E – Specialisation in Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity (EEB)

Workload

Two contiguous regular semesters.

Each student works on a research project under the supervision of a LS academic staff as the main supervisor. The requirements for a Life Sciences Major specialisation involves choosing a project for that specialisation. The experimental work, project presentation and report must be completed within two contiguous regular semesters. The 8 units of LSM4288 will be equally distributed between the two regular semesters; LSM4288 takes up 4 units of workload per semester. The total 8 units will be credited to the academic record when a grade is received for LSM4288. There should be no scheduled semester-long pause in between the two regular semesters.

LSM4288 Cohort Naming

Each LSM4288 batch will be named after the academic year and semester that the project officially begins. For instance, the LSM4288 cycle where registration for projects is done in Academic Year 2024/2025 Semester 1, it will be termed LSM4288 Batch AY24/25 S1.

The LSM4288 batch starting projects in Semester 1 will end in Semester 2 of the same academic year. The LSM4288 batch starting projects in Semester 2 will end in the Semester 1 of the following academic year.

1. To be eligible as a project main supervisor, he/she has to be an academic staff member, full-time, joint or adjunct, to the LS departments. A list of eligible supervisors can be found at the LSM4288 website.
2. Each main supervisor may host up to THREE students by default. This student quota is applicable to one LSM4288 cycle each time.
3. Students are encouraged to proactively approach LS academic staff eligible as main supervisors to seek project opportunities. There is no window when students may do so. Please visit the websites of the six LS departments to learn about the academic staff members and their research work. Ensure the staff is an eligible supervisor appointed with the LS department. Students may view available projects at LSM4288 website during the project registration period.
4. Students should contact potential supervisors to discuss the project opportunities. Take note the emphasis whether the project is aligned with the declared specialisation.
5. Projects for Life Sciences Majors are to be indicated with one of the Life Sciences Major specialisations.
6. Projects for students in the BES (Bachelor of Environmental Studies) programme are to be tagged BES.

1. LS academic staff members eligible as main supervisors may submit projects during the registration windows. It can be done before it is taken up by a student or after an agreement has been made with a student to offer a project specifically for him/her.
2. After both main supervisor and student have agreed to work on a research project, the student should provide the main supervisor with the official student’s name and student number (i.e., A0123456X) to complete the project registration.
3. The main supervisor and student will mutually agree on the exact date to commence the project work.

1. Every main supervisor is directly responsible for the supervision of the project offered by him/her and the student registered under his/her supervision, and this responsibility cannot be transferred to postdoctoral or postgraduate members of the research group. Nonetheless, the help of laboratory staff and senior students may be recruited as mentors. The final responsibility still lies with the main supervisor.
2. Main supervisor is responsible for:
   1. The supervision of his/her registered student and the project progress.
   2. The project registration.
   3. The nomination of assessors for his/her registered student (if requested).
   4. The participation as assessor for research projects assigned by the department which covers project report and presentation.
   5. The assessment of the performance of his/her registered student.
   6. The submission of all the marks by the stipulated deadlines.
3. When encounter issues concerning research projects, the main supervisor should seek the assistance of the Department research project coordinator for LSM4288.
4. In case of unresolved issue between the main supervisor and student, it should then be presented to the Department research project coordinator for LSM4288, who will decide on the appropriate actions to be taken.

1. Students will be assessed on their general work performance during the term of the project by their main supervisors. Each student will also be assessed by two examiners on the project report and presentation.
2. The report submission will be on a stipulated date early April (around Week 11 of Semester 2) and late October (around Week 11 of Semester 1) for Semester 1 and Semester 2 batches respectively. 
3. The project presentation will take place during a stipulated window (Weeks 12-13) in November in Semester 1 and in April in Semester 2 for respective project batches.
4. In the event a student is unable to meet the assessment timeline, the student and his/her main supervisor will have to inform the Department research project coordinator for LSM4288/LSM4199. This will be reviewed on a case-by case basis for the appropriate action.