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ENVB40480

Academic Year 2024/2025

Applied Microbial Ecology (ENVB40480)

Subject:
Environmental Biology
College:
Science
School:
Biology & Environment Science
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Professor Evelyn Doyle
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module will present state of the art approaches for the assessment of microbial communities and describe how these can be applied to real environments. These approaches will relate to how microbes function in both natural ecosystems and where environments have been perturbed by Man's activities. Specifically, the role of microbes in the cycling of nutrients, interactions between microbes and higher organisms, the role of microbes in the biodegradation of recalcitrant compounds and bioremediation will be discussed.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:
1) Demonstrate a knowledge of state-of-the-art techniques for profiling microbial diversity and function in the environment;
2) Describe the role of microbes in nutrient cycling;
3) Describe potential linkages between microbes and higher organisms;
4) Discuss the application of microorganisms in the biodegradation of pollutants;
5) Critically assess the various strategies used for bioremediation of contaminated environments.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

30

Autonomous Student Learning

80

Lectures

12

Total

122


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures
Critical thinking and essay writing

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Students should have completed ENVB30100 Ecological and Environmental Microbiology before taking this module


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): Essay type questions End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
Graded No
70
No
Assignment(Including Essay): Assignment based on one section of the course Week 8 Graded No
30
No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Class feedback on essay once submitted Individual feedback in the form of comments on submitted essay

Name Role
Dr Tancredi Caruso Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Fiona Doohan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Graham Hughes Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Sean Storey Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 24, 25, 26, 29 Thurs 09:00 - 09:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 24, 25, 26, 29 Tues 09:00 - 09:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 24, 25, 26, 29 Wed 14:00 - 14:50