Students will be assessed on a final written report consisting of four sections:

1. Literature review (25%)
2. Introduction and theory (25%)
3. Methods, results and analysis (40%)
4. Conclusions and outlook (10%)

The report is expected to be no longer than 20 pages in length.

Students will hand in a draft of each section of the report at different stages throughout the semester, and receive detailed feedback.

Draft sections of the written report are due in Week 4 (Literature review), Week 7 (Introduction and theory), Week 10 (Methods, results, analysis) and Week 11 (Conclusions, outlook, future work). Detailed feedback and guidance on each section will be provided by the unit convenor / supervisor in the following week.

In Week 6, students are expected to orally present their progress to date to the entire class in 10-15 minute presentations (unassessed in 2022 S1, but feedback will be provided).

Final report due on the Friday of Week 13 at 5pm (this is a university-mandated time).

This unit focuses on learning advanced concepts and acquiring important generic and technical research skills in physics within the context of a research project. Delivery of the unit is therefore primarily through supervised laboratory experiments and independent reading, with weekly meetings for discussion, feedback and guidance with the supervisor and (at times) the unit convenor, and additional consultation as required. Laboratory projects are placed within an active research group in the School, and students will work closely in the lab with senior PhD students, postdocs and/or academics from that research group.

Laboratory projects will consist of fifteen days in the laboratory spread over the semester, e.g. a day per week for ten weeks with a one-week block during semester break. Timetabling of laboratory days will be arranged between the student and the supervising research group.

Students will be provided with relevant reading material including scientific papers and text book chapters, and will also conduct literature searches to supplement their reading.

Regular meetings with the unit convenor for progress updates, discussion of reading materials, theory, etc., will be arranged between the student and the unit convenor.

Classes

15 days of laboratory experiments, spread over the semester and arranged for mutually-agreeable days between students and laboratory supervisors.

Weekly meetings with unit convenor / supervisor for discussion of project progress, theory, research context, experimental aspects, etc., starting from week 2.

Required and Recommended Texts and/or Materials

Research papers, textbook chapters, or other reading material as advised by unit convenor and laboratory supervisors.

Part of the unit will involve online searching and accessing of current literature.

The unit will begin in Week 2 with an introduction to the unit and the research projects available. By the end of Week 2 students will be allocated to research projects, be introduced to laboratory supervisors, and be given initial reading material. Weekly research days (a total of 15) will be organised between the students and the supervising researchers, to be one day per week for most of the semester with a larger block timetabled for in or around the mid-semester break. Weekly individual meetings with the unit convenor will be arranged to start in Week 3. Additional classes may be arranged where necessary to cover common topics or questions.