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Electronics and Computer Science

COMP6230 Implementing Cyber Security

Module Overview

The module complements the Foundations of Cyber Security module for Cyber Security MSc students by providing a practical grounding in the implementation of cyber security practices, including both methodology and technical applications. The module is also offered to select other MSc programmes.

The aims at a high level are to:

  • Investigate security issues around web-based and database systems;
  • Introduce core technical security theory and concepts;
  • Review a variety of security frameworks, standards and best practices, and understand how to apply these to exemplar scenarios;
  • Implications of passive monitoring for communication software systems
  • Provide examples of posture assessment, network penetration testing and exploring system vulnerabilities;

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • Cyber security frameworks, standards and best practices, and how to apply these within an organisation;
  • The core technical elements of security systems;
  • The current trends in cyber security; threats, their importance, and why they are hard to face
  • Managing security incidents, including digital forensic principles

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Recognise and discuss examples of cyber security vulnerabilities

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Communicate effectively on a broad range of issues with security professionals

Subject Specific Practical

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Perform a security assessment for an organisation as part of a team
  • Use examples of security penetration testing tools

Syllabus

The syllabus includes the following topics:

  • Frameworks for implementing cyber security;
  • Cyber security standards, and best practices;
  • Implementation of secure cryptography (ciphers, hashing, digital signatures, PKI)
  • Implementation of authentication (passwords and access control)
  • Managing cyber security threats and their impact;
  • Posture assessment;
  • penetration testing;
  • Web-based systems; OWASP;
  • vulnerabilities and exploitation;
  • Security of database applications;
  • injection attacks, cross-site scripting;
  • Network security;
  • Network security monitoring (NSM) systems;
  • Case study: the Domain Name System;
  • Introduction to Malware detection and analysis;
  • Denial of service attacks, detection and mitigation;
  • Implications of pervasive passive monitoring for communicating systems
  • Incident management;
  • Principles of digital forensics;
  • Disaster recovery procedures;
  • Trust-based systems;
  • Trusted systems and the Trusted Computing initiative
  • Case study: eCash; Bitcoin;
  • Case study: Mobile platform;

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

  • Lecture - 36 hours per semester
  • Seminar - 8 hours per semester
ActivityDescriptionHours
LectureRegular lectures36
TutorialTutorials to support material and coursework8
SeminarGuest seminars by relevant experts4

Assessment

Assessment methods

MethodHoursPercentage contribution
Individual hands-on security exercise; exploring vulnerabilities in specific systems, including web-based and/or database systems-20%
Group security assessment exercise-30%
Exam2 hours50%

Referral Method: By examination

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COMP6224 Foundations of Cyber Security

Module Overview

This compulsory module aims to give an overview of cyber security. The module will equip students with a clear view of the current cyber security landscape considering not only technical measures and defences, but also the other subject areas that apply, including legal, management, crime, risk, social and human factors.

Lectures will be given by staff from the University's Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security with invited expert speakers from industry.

Case studies are used to reinforce the concepts being introduced.

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • The importance of taking a multi-disciplinary approach to cyber security
  • The cyber threat landscape, both in terms of recent emergent issues and those issues which recur over time
  • The roles and influences of governments, commercial and other organisations, citizens and criminals in cyber security affairs
  • General principles and strategies that can be applied to systems to make them more robust to attack
  • Key factors in cyber security from different disciplinary views including computer science, management, law, criminology, and social sciences.
  • Issues surrounding privacy, anonymity and pervasive passive monitoring

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Analyse case studies, to reinforce the different disciplinary perspectives of cyber security

Syllabus

The syllabus includes the following topics:

  • The cyber security threat landscape; history and evolution;
  • Security surfaces; intelligence, case studies, trend analysis;
  • Actors in cyber security; governments, organisations, citizens, criminals;
  • The multidisciplinary nature of cyber security;
  • ISPs as intermediaries; DPI;
  • Principles of secure communications; digital signatures, PKI, encryption, hashing.
  • Cryptography; crypto-primitives and ciphers;
  • Introduction to biometrics;
  • Privacy and anonymity protocols;
  • Crowds, onion routing, ToR;
  • Data management - anonymisation and de-anonymisation;
  • Access control; authentication techniques;
  • Passwords and password analysis; 
  • Social engineering; phishing; 
  • Security assurance and evaluation; 
  • Offensive cyber-attacks; cyber war; hacktivism;
  • Advanced Persistent Threats;
  • Critical infrastructures;
  • Security aspects of social networks, the web science perspective;
  • Management of cyber risks;
  • Multilevel security; security policies;
  • Security economics; investment, cost of breach;
  • Cyber law, regulating the online environment;
  • Computer access offences, data protection law;

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

  • Lecture - 36 hours per semester
  • Seminar - 8 hours per semester
ActivityDescriptionHours
LectureModule lectures24
SeminarGuest seminars by expert speakers.8
TutorialTutorials to support coursework and lecture material4

Assessment

Assessment methods

MethodHoursPercentage contribution
Coursework related to the foundations of Cyber security -30%
Exam120 mins hours70%

Referral Method: By examination

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COMP3217 Secure Systems

Module Overview

The aim of this module is to equip students with the necessary skills and experience to understand, and attempt to counter, the principal threats to data and electronic system security.

It is compulsory for students wishing to obtain a GCHQ accredited MSc in Cybersecurity.

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • the range of electronic and software systems which present potential security hazards

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • understand and recognise instances of the principal attacks on such systems

Subject Specific Practical

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • take straightforward measures to protect systems from security breaches

Syllabus

  • Background: types of attack and attacker, range of systems
  • Software systems and vulnerabilities
    • Software Vulnerabilities : Buffer overflow
    • Reverse engineering of suspicious codes
    • OS vulnerabilities: patch management, rootkits and viruses
    • Software systems
    • Penetration testing
  • Hardware systems and vulnerabilities
    • Side channel attacks: power analysis and resistant designs
    • Wireless ID: ISO14443, Mifare, E-Passports and related near-field communications systems
    • Card security, EMV payment systems, GSM and SIM cards
    • Physical security: chip and pin machines, secure modules
    • Wired and WiFi network security
    • Examples of weak cryptosystems: GSM, WEP
  • Mixed hardware and software systems (restructured)
    • Infrastructure attacks: smart grids, the Italian Job, cyber-warfare

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

This is an unusually intensive module.

There are thirty-six lectures and a further four four-hour laboratories, making for a total of 52 contact hours.

Further reading and code practice outside the lectures and laboratories will be essential.

ActivityDescriptionHours
LectureLecturing will be split between teaching team36
Specialist LabOrganised as 4 four-hour sessions.16

Assessment

Assessment methods

Students will have the opportunity to repeat failed (<50%) or missed laboratories on their own during the semester.

MethodHoursPercentage contribution
Buffer Overflow Exploitation -25%
Reverse Engineering of Code-25%
Advanced Penetration Testing and System Infiltration-25%
Tor and Tails. -25%

Referral Method: See notes below

A referral will consist of a special one-day laboratory with different morning and afternoon exercises conducted alone.

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COMP3215 Real-Time Computing and Embedded Systems

Module Overview

This module gives a broad introduction to development of real-time and embedded systems.

Aims

We will study the tools and techniques necessary for the development of real-time and embedded systems. These will include:

  • System architecture,
  • low-level programming,
  • high-level languages,
  • design methodologies, and
  • verification

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • The requirements placed on real-time systems
  • The design space in which real-time system designers operate

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Select an appropriate architecture to meet a real-time requirement
  • Select an appropriate operating system and program design

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Use graduate-level literature to expand your understanding of real-time and embedded systems

Subject Specific Practical

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Implement the design of a real-time system
  • Verify at least some of the functionality of a real-time system

Syllabus

  • Issues and concepts
    • Definition of real-time
    • Temporal and event determinism
    • Architecture review and interfacing
    • Interrupts, traps and events
    • Response times and latency
    • Real-time clocks
  • Application domains
    • DSP
    • Safety critical
    • Small embedded
    • Large-scale distributed
  • Low-level programming for real-time
    • I/O
    • Concurrency: memory models and synchronisation primitives.
    • Monitors/condition variables
    • Semaphores
    • Optimistic scheduling
    • ARM and Intel assembly language, integration with C.
    • Architectural issues, memory models.
  • Scheduling
    • RMS
    • EDF
    • priority inversion
    • Time triggered
  • Operating systems
    • Protected modes, virtual memory.
    • Device drivers
    • Internet of things: examples including Contiki
    • FreeRTOS
  • Languages in embedded and real-time systems
    • C and C++
  • Correctness
    • Concurrency Issues
    • Process algebras
    • Model checkers, temporal logic
  • Embedded Systems
    • example systems/applications
    • hands-on experience with software development
    • Operating systems (eg ContikiOS, FreeRTOS, Android)

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

ActivityDescriptionHours
Lecturelectures24
Tutorialpre-lab discussion and extra material as required3
Demonstration or Examples Sessionpre-lab or in-lab demonstration/discussion6
Specialist LabLaboratory practical sessions - self-paced learning. Weekly dedicated lab sessions. Assessed in the final lab session of that practical session.27

Assessment

Assessment methods

MethodHoursPercentage contribution
Real-time and embedded laboratories, three assessments-30%
Exam2 hours70%

Referral Method: By examination

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ELEC3200 Industrial Studies

Module Overview

Students on our MEng and MComp programmes can follow a variety of curricula in their third and fourth years, offering a number of different experiences and opportunities.

Each programme will offer slightly different challenges yet students graduating from them will have achieved the same level of learning outcomes and studied the same extensive core curriculum.  However, they will have had different opportunities for specialisation in both practical and theoretical research.

To be eligible for the one year placement our students are required to meet specified progression criteria at the end of their first, second and third years where appropriate.  We require that they reach a standard of 58% averaged across all their studies, and that they pass all their studies at the first time of asking.  Students achieving at this level at the end of the second year should be aspiring towards a minimum of an upper second class degree on graduation. We would anticipate that the majority of our placement students would achieve at a significantly higher level than this.

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • Experience of applying your academic skills and knowledge to solving real problems in industry.
  • A deeper understanding of the relevance of the material studied in your degree to a successful career in industry.

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Relate the academic knowledge and skills acquired in your studies to real industrial problems.
  • Apply Design skills to real problems in industry.

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the business practices and environment of the host company selected for your placement.
  • Evaluate health and safety risks associated with industrial work and identify procedures to keep them to an acceptable minimum
  • Work successfully as a member of a diverse team.
  • Understand the importance of intellectual property rights and confidentiality issues related to industrial project work.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of cost analysis.

Syllabus

Throughout the placement each student is contracted to their host organisation but remain enrolled on their university degree.  The nature of the work undertaken by our students on placement is managed by the host organisation but we do ask that the following key aspects of the placement are recognised and accommodated.

(a)        We are looking for placements on which our students work in a safe, supervised environment on activities that will use and develop their academic skills.

(b)        The students need to have the opportunity to demonstrate initiative and their ability to apply their knowledge and develop research skills in the placement environment.

(c)         The placement is assessed and contributes directly to their degree. Successful completion of the placement and assessments will mean that the title of the degree awarded will be appended ‘with Industrial Studies’. Elements of the assessment include a 1500 word mid-term report, a 10000 word final report, a poster and a 45 minute oral examination.

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

A briefing session will be held at the start of the placement.

Applicants will be rquired to attend an interview training workshop and CV clinic with the Careers Hub.

There will be regular (quarterly) meetings with an Academic Supervisor. 

The day-to-day supervision and direction of the project is carried out by a designated Industrial Supervisor at the collaborating organisation for the duration of the placement.  Each student is assigned an Academic Supervisor at the University whose role is to liaise between the University, the placement organisation and the student. Academic Supervisors will maintain regular contact with the student and their Industrial Supervisor in the host organisation by phone, email and Skype as required. Additionally the Academic Supervisor will make at least two on-site visits to the student and their Industrial Supervisor to discuss their progress. 

Assessment

Assessment methods

If the student fails this year, she will go on to complete the final year of her degree without earning the 'with Industrial Studies' title.

MethodHoursPercentage contribution
Report on placement (10,000 Words)-55%
Oral examination-20%
Poster-10%
Mid-term report (1,500 words)-15%

Referral Method: There is no referral opportunity for this syllabus in same academic year

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Aims & Objectives

Aims

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

Assessment

Assessment methods

MethodHoursPercentage contribution

Referral Method:

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FPProvisional000010 ELEC3 - USMC3216 Advanced Electrical and Electronic Systems

Module Overview

This module focuses on how to create real electronic systems. It covers 'building block' circuits using biplolar transistors and FETs, and looks at the use and operation of op-amps. It also covers how to deliver timing in circuits, interfacing in mixed-signal electronic systems (using ADCs and DACs), and filters. It also looks at how to provide power to systems, and interface with sensors.

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • Demonstrate understanding of circuit analysis for bipolar and MOS circuits. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the requirements for and operation of sensor interface circuits, power supplies, data converters and oscillators. Understand the key concepts of feedback in electronic circuits. Understand the concepts of filter design, and be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how to design a simple filter using operational amplifiers

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Apply key circuit analysis theory to allow the abstraction of problems. Use feedback in circuit design and explain its importance. Apply filter design methods to design simple filters. Derive circuits for sensor interface circuits and oscillators. Use simulation to investigate a range of problems related to electronic circuits. Interpret datasheets and use them to aid the design of systems

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Record and report laboratory work. Define problems in standard form to allow standard solutions

Subject Specific Practical

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Analyse simple circuits containing active elements such as bipolar and MOS transistors, and Op-amps. Appreciate the practical limitations of such devices. Apply links between mathematical concepts to a range of engineering problems

Syllabus

Transistor Modelling and Circuits

  • Ebers Moll Model for the bipolar transistor and its modifications.
  • Hybrid pi model and high frequency effects.
  • SPICE parameters for bipolar transistors.
  • Common emitter, common base and common collector amplifiers.
  • Bode Diagram, Bandwidth, low and high frequency effects.
  • Miller effect
  • Amplifier design.
  • Differential pair.

Operational Amplifiers

  • Design and properties of simple op amps
  • Effect of feedback network on BW.  Closed loop and open loop Gain and BW with feedback.  Interaction with internal pole of op-amp.  Stability
  • Limitations of real op amps
    • Slew rate
    • Input and output range
    • Offset voltage and current
    • Noise sources

Timing

  • Why timing is important
  • Ring oscillators
  • Relaxation oscillators and 555 timers
  • Voltage-controlled oscillators
  • Frequency references – principles of quartz crystal as a frequency reference, use of dividers for different frequencies, integration of crystal oscillator into circuits

Data Conversion

  • Basic specs of converters: inc. sample rate (relation to Nyquist) linearity, resolution (relation to SNR)
  • Introduction to Analogue-to-Digital Conversion
    • Sample and Hold, analogue multiplexing
    • Anti-alias filter requirements.
    • Topologies: Successive Approximation, Dual Slope, Binary Weighted
  • Introduction to Digital-to-Analogue Conversion
    • Properties of DACs
    • R/2R ladder topology
    • The need for reconstruction filters

Filters

  • Butterworth design using Sallen-Key circuit
  • Introduction to HF passive filters:  Passive lumped element filters; SAW and ceramic filters

Sensor Interfacing

  • Resistive-output sensors
  • Bridge circuits
  • Differential amplifiers

Power supplies

  • Transformers and rectification
  • Linear regulators
  • Switching regulator types

System Considerations

  • System-level stability: decoupling, ground loops
  • Basics of EMC and screening
  • Examples of complete electronic systems

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

  • Lecture - 36 hours per semester
  • Tutorial - 12 hours per semester
  • Specialist Lab - 6 hours per semester

Assessment

Assessment methods

MethodHoursPercentage contribution
Feedback amplifier-5%%
Active filter-5%%
Design task -10%%
In class test-5%%
Exam2 hours75%

Referral Method: By examination

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FPProvisional000009 ELEC3 - USMC3214 Circuits and Mechatronic Systems

Module Overview

The module aims to provide a detailed understanding of the representation and analysis of dynamic systems, and their solution. It goes on to apply this to simple circuit problems as well as to mechanical systems. Vibration problems in mechanical systems are further studied using frequency response and energy approximation methods, and modelling and analysis is then extended to continuous mechanical systems, including beams and shafts. It will also provide an introduction to vibration measurments and testing as well as distributed systems that cannot be approximated by lumped parameters.

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of: State-space method applied to circuit problems and mechanical systems. The causes and effects of vibration within various mechanical systems. Methods of analysis, measurement and control of vibration.

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Students will be able to: Analyse and solve simple electrical circuit and mechanical system problems. Translate a physical problem in mechanical vibration to an appropriate dynamic model. Make engineering judgement on the problem or reducing vibration when required. Analyze the step and frequency response of a system to identify the form and paremeter values of a model.

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Students will be able to: Undertake laboratory experiment as part of a small team. Record and report laboratory work.

Subject Specific Practical

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Students will be able to: Undertake measurements to estimate dynamic parameters of mechanical beams. Describe the commonly used equipment for stimulating a vibratory response and for collecting response data. Perform a transform analyis of signal data to estimate natural frequencies.

Syllabus

Mechanical Systems:

  • One Degree of Freedom Systems Application of Laplace transform and state space methods to mechanical systems. Analysis of dynamic response and role of Damping (Viscous and Coulomb) Base Excitation, Displacement Transmissibility Vibration Isolation.
  • Two Degree of Freedom Systems Modelling of two degree of freedom systems in state space form. Physical interpretation of solutions. Free Vibration and Normal Modes, Co-ordinate Coupling and Principal Co-ordinates, Forced Vibration, Damping, Impedance Matrix, Vibration Absorber. Decoupling using Modal Matrix.
  • Multi Degree of Freedom Systems Orthogonality, Modal Space Matrix Methods, Approximate Frequency Analysis, e.g. Rayleigh’s, Dunkerley’s Methods Lagrange’s Equations
  • Continuous Systems Vibration of Strings, Rods, Beams and derivation of equations of motion.
  • Application of Rayleigh’s method to approximate natural frequencies. Vibration and Instrumentation, Transmissibility.
  • Vibration measurement and testing - system identification, transform analysis of signals, random processes, data aquisition and signal processing
  • Distributed systems - solution of wave equation, sepration of variables, transverse vibration of beams.

State Space:

  • Application of circuit and mechanical analogies.
  • Need for state space method; definition of terms: state-variable, state-matrices, etc; consideration of the elements that store energy; formation of equations, in particular the formation of matrix equation in the form of X = A.X + B.E, nature of these terms.
  • Solution of state space equations by Laplace transform methods; solution of simple circuit network problems.
  • Solution of state equations in the time domain (linear-time invariant case): solution of the state differential equation (exponential of a matrix, its computation, forced- and free response in the state-space setting).

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

  • Lecture - 24 hours per semester
  • Tutorial - 12 hours per semester
  • Specialist Lab - 6 hours per semester

Assessment

Assessment methods

MethodHoursPercentage contribution
Cantilever vibration experiment-5%%
System identification experiment.-5%%
Exam2 hours90%

Referral Method: By examination

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FPProvisional000008 ELEC3 - USMC 3217 Mechatronic System Design Exercise

Module Overview

This module aims to introduce students to a range of electrical, electronic and mechanical devices and from this to provide an opportunity for then to explore the design process, to make mistakes and learn from them in a benign environment. The design and devlopment of a mechatronic system will be at the herat of this module.

Conventional laboratory experiments are useful mainly to assist understanding or analysis: because they are of necessity stereotyped; they are of limited usefulness when a circuit or system must be designed to meet a given specification.  The majority of engineering tasks fall into this latter category, and therefore require design or synthesis skills that are distinct from the understanding of underlying engineering principles.  This is additional to the analysis skills emphasized in the course so far.  This module includes design assignments that have been devised to provide a bridge between 'conventional' experiments and the project work in the third and fourth years, (which in turn provide a bridge to 'real' projects in industry).  The exercises have real deadlines and concrete deliverables and students are encouraged to be creative, develop imaginative solutions and to make mistakes.

 

The assignments have a common format:

·         Customer orientated rather than proscriptive specifications are given

·         Design work carried out, bringing academic knowledge to bear on practical problems

·         Laboratory sessions are used for construction and verification of designs

·         Allow students to demonstrate their communication skills in writing individual and group reports.

 

The differences between the assignments are in:

·         Complexity

·         Size of team

·         Assessment credit

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • Defining the specification of an artifact that needs to be designed, tested and commissioned. The design process and the processes involved in project management. The problems associated with designing practical circuits and systems.

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Develop a plan for the implementation of the design and the undertake those activities. Analyse the design as it evolves, and deduce problems with the subsequent rectification. Undertake an evaluation of the complete design and prepare a critical proccess. Appreciate the problems in dealing with uncertain and possibly ambiguous specifications. Synthesise simple circuits and systems.

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Write formal reports in a clear, technical style. Address problems associated with personal and group time management in a problem solving environment. Demonstrate an awareness of team structure and dynamics, together with an appreciation of individual responsibilities working both as a pair and in a larger grouping.

Subject Specific Practical

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Undertake small scale mechanical and electronic construction Undertake realtime and embedded programming. Undertake detailed faultfinding of the developed circuits if required. Demonstrate familiarity with the advanced use of function generators, oscilloscopes and complex devices such as logic analysers and spectrum analysers. Understand and interpret technical literature and data sheets.

Syllabus

  • The development of individual practical skills through completion of a simple build and test exercise, incorporating soldering, circuit construction, tand integration with a part mechanical which needs to be controled and 'smart'.
  • Groups of students are required to undertake a design, build and test project against a predefined specification. The project assessment includes a competitive trial, individual log books, group reports and quality assessment of the designed system.
  • The groups will have seminars on project management and principles of design to support the activities.
  • The specific design exercises will include the designed and development of a 'simple' Segway

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

  • Specialist Lab - 63 hours per semester
  • Lecture - 10 hours per semester

Assessment

Assessment methods

MethodHoursPercentage contribution
Report and demonstration -100%

Referral Method: There is no referral opportunity for this syllabus in same academic year

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FPProvisional000006 ELEC6 - Bionanotechnology

Module Overview

Bionanotechnology is the study of biology, in particular biological machines, and the application of biological building blocks to solve engineering challenges and create new areas of technological development. Learning about the structure and function of the inner workings of biological systems such as cells, bacteria and viruses has been used to improve existing applications of nanotechnology and to develop entirely new applications.  Examples of bionanotechnological study include: mechanical properties of materials, such as cell interaction with surfaces, nanopatterns and nanoparticles; electrical and optical effects, such as electrical stimulation, energy storage, absorption, luminescence and fluorescence; and computing via chemical wet computers and DNA computing.

This module provides an introduction to the theory and practice of bionanotechnology, and introduces students to working in a cleanroom and a wet laboratory.  It covers the types of macromolecules which form the building blocks of life, covering cell components such as DNA and proteins, describing how they are synthesised, interact and the role they play in cells.  The structure and forms of the different molecules and the process by which they are constructed and how they exchange information will be framed within the context of the operation of machines and the potential engineering uses that the naturally occurring mechanisms can be put to.

ELEC6205 includes an experimental exercise involving state-of-the-art equipment that is normally only used by researchers, to investigate the methods used for integrating biological materials and mechanisms with the artificial constructs of engineering. The experiment starts with fabrication and characterisation of a microstructured master mould, and continues with casting of an elastomeric stamp and printing microscale patterns of biological molecules.  This will take place partly in the Mountbatten Teaching Cleanroom and partly in the bio-ECS lab (Centre for Hybrid Biodevices) in the Life Sciences building.

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • Biomolecules and biomolecular interactions
  • The relationship between Molecular Dynamics, nanoscale physics and macroscopic system behaviour

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Explain biophysical mechanisms in the context of bionanotechnology and application areas
  • Evaluate the experimental techniques used to characterise bio-nano systems

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Critically analyse experimental procedures and results
  • Write concise and informative engineering laboratory reports

Subject Specific Practical

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Perform engineering design calculations of molecular and biological effects
  • Perform some basic wet laboratory procedures, including soft lithography procedures involving biomolecules

Syllabus

  • Fundamentals
    • Cells, antibodies, carbohydrates (storage and structural)
    • Nucleotides, nucleic acids and DNA
    • Amino acids, peptides, proteins and protein structure
    • Biological membranes and ion channels
    • The behaviour of molecules in solution
    • Enzymes, kinetics and reaction rates
    • Ligand-Protein interactions
    • Sensing biomolecules (optical and electrical techniques)
    • Electrokinetics and particle/molecular interaction forces
  • Applications
    • Single molecule detection techniques
    • Interfacing bio-systems with electronics
    • Molecular motors
    • Patterning single molecules and self-assembled monolayers
    • Cell interactions with nano-structured surfaces.
    • DNA technologies (e.g. sequencing)
  • Practical work:
    • Fabrication of patterned wafer in clean room
    • Surface modification procedures and evaluation
    • Patterning biomolecules and guiding cells on patterned surfaces

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

This module uses a combination of lectures, practical work, literature study and discussions of scientific publications. The laboratory report will require a short literature review.

ActivityDescriptionHours
Lecture22
Specialist Lab12
Tutorial6

Assessment

Assessment methods

The coursework will not be marked if the student has not attended the laboratory sessions.

MethodHoursPercentage contribution
30% - Assignment. A discussion of the recent developments in microcontact printing, an explanation of rationale for lab procedures, and a critical and quantitative evaluation of the experimental printing performance.-30%
Exam2 hours hours70%

Referral Method: By examination and a new coursework assignment

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