This course provides students with an opportunity to work with a Chemical Engineering Faculty Member on a project related to a Professor’s research program. The structure of the course requires students to produce similar deliverables to those expected of a Masters candidate working on a similar project. This course is an excellent fit for someone considering an advanced engineering or science degree.
Research Project
Personnel
Instructor
| David Poirier | Dupuis 210 | david.poirier@queensu.ca | 613-533-6000 x 79114 |
Chemical Technologist
| Dani Sanderson | Dupuis B9 | d.sanderson@queensu.ca | 613-533-6679 |
| Kelly Sedore | Dupuis B24 | kelly.sedore@queensu.ca | 613-533-6000 x 78384 |
Course Description
This course provides an opportunity for students to work on an individual basis with faculty members of the department. Students will submit interim oral and written progress reports and a final oral presentation and technical report. They will be expected to present and defend their results in a conference/seminar setting. The projects may be concerned with engineering design and development work or may be of a more fundamental research nature. Students enrolling for this course are advised to consult with the faculty member concerned late in the winter term of their 3rd year of study.
(0/0/28/0/56) (Mathematics/Natural Sciences/Complementary Studies/Engineering Science/Engineering Design)
Objectives and Outcomes
Specific course learning outcomes include:
| CLO | DESCRIPTION | INDICATORS |
| CLO1 | Identify the knowledge/skills required, evaluate available literature, and design experiments and/or develop methodology to meet the project objective(s) safely and efficiently. |
IN-Conduct |
| CLO2 | Apply appropriate engineering techniques, tools, and processes to accomplish the task. |
ET-Create |
| CLO3 | Synthesize information from experimentation, investigation, and literature to reach substantiated conclusions. | IN-Synthesis |
| CLO4 | Describe nature and possible causes of uncertainty in analysis, interpretation, and measurement. | ET-Limitations |
| CLO5 | Generate a traceable and defensible record of the project using an appropriate project records system. |
TW-Contribution |
| CLO6 | Write and revise technical memos and reports to communicate intentions and findings using appropriate conventions and concise, precise, and clear language. |
CO-Written |
| CLO7 | Demonstrate confidence in formal and informal oral communications with supervisor and colleagues. |
CO-Spoken |
This course develops the following attributes at the 4th year level:
Investigation (IN):
IN-Conduct Conduct investigations to test hypotheses related to complex problems. Analysis Analyze and interpret data using appropriate techniques and tools.
IN-Synthesis Synthesize information from investigations, considering sources of uncertainty and limitations to reach substantiated conclusions.
IN-Safety Adhere to appropriate workplace safety protocols in all work environments.
Engineering Tools (ET):
ET-Create Develop, adapt, and/or extend appropriate software, equipment, models, and simulations for a range of engineering activities.
ET-Apply Apply and manage appropriate techniques, apparatus, databases, models, tools, and/or processes to accomplish a task.
ET-Limitations Evaluate limitations and errors of instrumentation/ measurement techniques/models/ simulations to assess appropriateness of the results.
Individual and teamwork (TW):
TW-Contribution Take initiative to plan, organize and complete tasks, as an individual and team member, in order to meet goals.
TW-Feedback Share ideas and information by eliciting, giving, and applying positive and effective feedback.
Communications (CO):
CO-Written Produce clear, concise, precise, and well-organized written communication with language appropriate for the audience.
CO-Spoken Deliver formal and informal oral presentations with suitable language, content, style, timing, and flow, while adapting format, content and tone to audience and purpose.
CO-Graphics Create figures, maps, tables, and drawings to engineering report standards.
CO-Documentation Generate a traceable and defensible record of a technical project using an appropriate records system.
Professionalism (PR):
PR-Interpersonal Demonstrate professional conduct and integrity.
Economics and Project Management (EC):
EC-Management Effectively plan project, including mitigating risk and managing change, to complete project on-time and on-budget.
Life-long learning (LL):
LL-Reflection Evaluate and reflect on own knowledge, skills, and learning. Acquisition Independently acquire new knowledge and skills for ongoing personal and professional development.
LL-Information Identify, organize, and critically evaluate information from an appropriate range of sources, to meet learning needs.
Relevance to the Program
Course Structure and Activities
There are no regularly scheduled lectures for this course. Students are required to spend a minimum of 7 hours/week in the Fall term and 11 hours/week in the Winter term working on their research projects. Students submit regular progress memos to the Course Instructor and are required to have regular meetings with their Research Supervisor/s.
The research project course involves the following main tasks/events:
- Mandatory course orientation and safety presentations are provided during the 1st week of Fall term.
- Meeting with Project Supervisor to clarify project objectives.
- A literature search workshop is provided in the 2nd week of Fall term.
- A literature review and project proposal are due mid-November.
- Interim oral presentations are made at the end of Fall term.
- A journal article writing workshop is provided in the 2nd week of February.
- A final report in the form of a journal article is due at the end of Winter term.
- Final oral presentations are made at the end of Winter term
Information related to CHEE 421 deliverable expectations, evaluation, safety, schedules, etc., can be found on the CHEE 421 website. Complete course information, including submission links for electronically submitted deliverables can be found on the course onQ (D2L) website.
Resources
No textbook required
The main information resource for CHEE 421 is the course onQ (D2L) website. Information related to deliverable expectations, evaluation rubrics, safety, schedules, project information, etc. can all be found in content modules on the course onQ website.
Technical information related to research projects can be found in published scientific literature and materials provided by your Research Supervisor.