Research Training
Structured training in research methods, ethics and good practice — the foundations that determine whether results can be trusted.
Most research fails before the first experiment
The commonest reasons research produces unreliable conclusions are not exotic. They are an underpowered study, an outcome chosen after seeing the data, a control that does not control for the right thing, or an analysis repeated until something reached significance.
None of these are failures of laboratory skill, and none are caught by working harder at the bench. They are failures of method, and they are entirely teachable. Our research training exists to prevent them, and it is taught alongside ethics and regulatory practice rather than separately from them — because in practice those questions arise at the same moments.
What research training covers
Study design
Statistics in practice
Research ethics
Data integrity
Regulatory requirements
Scientific writing
What participants should be able to do
The practical capabilities the training is designed to produce.
- Frame a research question that a study could actually answer
- Choose a design appropriate to that question and justify it
- Estimate the sample size a study needs before starting it
- Prepare an application for ethical approval
- Maintain data records that would withstand scrutiny
- Pre-specify an analysis plan and adhere to it
- Report results, limitations and negative findings honestly
- Recognise and declare a competing interest
Course schedule and enrolment will be published here
Module structure, dates, delivery format, eligibility and any fees will be listed here once each training cycle is scheduled.
Enquire about research training
Training can also be delivered to partner institutions and research groups on request.