Course Title: Research Project (Advanced level)

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Research Project (Advanced level)

Credit Points: 12.00


Course Coordinator: Dr Liam Ward

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 1713

Course Coordinator Email: liam.ward@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 10.12.28E

Course Coordinator Availability: Email for appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

The assumed knowledge for this course requires that you have successfully completed “core” courses associated with six semesters of the Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) (Honours) Program.

The prerequisite for this course is that you have successfully completed PROC2122 Research Project. 


Course Description

This course is intended to represent a continuation of a project that was undertaken as part of PROC2122 Research Project. In PROC2122 you conducted a detailed literature review and/or feasibility study of a specific theoretical or applied (industrial) problem. In this course, you will gain further experience in the undertaking of a research based project through conducting an experimental investigation (laboratory based or otherwise) on an assigned open-ended project that has been developed as a result of the literature review conducted in PROC2122. This course is specifically designed to integrate your knowledge gained throughout the earlier years of your program. You will enhance your knowledge and skills in a particular field of process engineering, and practice the skills of project planning, implementation and project management.

You will be responsible for the definition of project goals, development of your experimental research program and critical path, and conducting the program in consultation with the project supervisor. You will be expected to focus on continuing with and refining a critical review of the literature, generating experimental data (laboratory or otherwise), critically analysing and interpreting this data, discussing in detail your findings and drawing relevant conclusion, producing a report and presenting the results at a poster/seminar session.

You will undertake your project as an individual or in pairs; where there is a level of similarity associated with the topics in general, but may differ slightly in process conditions, material, etc. In such cases, you must specifically acknowledge the contribution of your colleagues.

This is an opportunity to develop and display your personal qualities. You will be responsible for the application of initiative, creativity, innovative thinking, motivation and organisational skills. Your supervisor will have a mentorial rather than a directorial role.

Project topics may be in (but not limited to) areas such as nano-structured composites and materials; interface and surface engineering; polymer rheology; micro-fluidics; multi-phase mixing; renewable energy; water and waste-water treatment; solid waste management; slurry transport; separation processes; catalyst technologies; corrosion engineering; computational fluid dynamics; pyrometallurgical processes; resource utilisation.

Please note that if you take this course for a bachelor honours program, your overall mark in this course will be one of the course marks that will be used to calculate the weighted average mark (WAM) that will determine your award level. (This applies to students who commence enrolment in a bachelor honours program from 1 January 2016 onwards. See the WAM information web page for more information.)


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

The course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for B.Eng Chemical Engineering (Honours):

1.3. In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline
1.4. Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering discipline
2.1. Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering solving
2.2. Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources
2.3. Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes
2.4. Application of systematic approaches to the conduct and management of engineering projects
3.1. Ethical conduct and professional accountability
3.2. Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains
3.3. Creative, innovative and pro-active demeanor
3.4. Professional use and management of information


On successful completion of this course you will also be able to:

  1. Conceptualise, plan and design a procedure for conducting an experimental (laboratory or otherwise) based project through the identification of research questions associated with specific Chemical Engineering issues
  2. Conduct a detailed review of the literature on your selected research topic to identify information required to conduct appropriate experimentation and to gather, analyse and discuss the experimental data, using various resources such as library searches, internet searches and various correspondence
  3. Communicate ideas, concepts, design issues and project findings
  4. Apply chemical engineering principles, collate necessary data for the project, develop and implement a research methodology and a plan to arrive at a solution to the specific problem
  5. Prepare a comprehensive and professional engineering project report covering all aspects of the study


Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities revolve around advancing the project that was defined in PROC2122. This will involve conducting independent (or in pairs) research, guidance by your supervisor, project meetings with your project supervisor, self-directed research and laboratory work will engage you in this course.

You are expected to hold regular meetings with your supervisor and work to an agreed schedule. You will produce a progress report and taking into account the feedback, produce a final report and present your findings to an audience.

As a professional engineer and some-one who is engaging in adult learning, you are expected to:

  • complete all pre-reading and preparatory work;
  • effectively utilise the academic resources provided (consultation time, library etc);
  • submit, on time, all work for assessment as described below;
  • manage time so as to facilitate efficient study and maximise learning, as far as reasonably possible.


Overview of Learning Resources

There are no prescribed references for this course. However, the nature and expectations from this project are such that you will need to access professional level resources such as specialist books, journals and other reference resources that are accessible via the RMIT library and other major libraries. The internet and course notes may be helpful, but will not be sufficient by themselves to support an entire project at this level. Other resources such as those needed for laboratory activities, or provided by industry may be appropriate - depending on the nature of the project.


Overview of Assessment

☒ This course has no hurdle requirements.

Assessment Task 1: Progress Report

Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Assessment Task 2: Final Report
Weighting 70%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,

Assessment 3: Presentation
Weighting 10%
This assessment supports CLOs 3, 4,

Assessment rubrics and marking criteria are available for the Progress Report, Final Report and Presentation. Feedback, both formative and summative, is provided to the students via the Supervisor – Student consultation period.