Unit Outline

This unit provides students with ‘hands‐on’ experience in research in an area of biomedical science. This research project-based unit provide an opportunity for students to work with a research group and provides opportunities to further develop their research skills, including experiment planning and design, conducting a research project and analysing data. Students will develop skills in scientific communication, presenting the results of their research project to their peers and writing a scientific paper.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Use biomedical knowledge to critically evaluate scientific literature, interpret and apply information to a research topic in health and disease.
2	Communicate scientific information clearly and effectively in oral and written form to a broad audience.
3	Interpret and analyse scientific data and assess the strengths and weaknesses of methodological approaches to propose valid and supported hypotheses and conclusions.
4	Conduct research experiments and demonstrate good research practice by adhering to ethical and legal principles and keeping accurate experimental records.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	CAM203 and CAM204
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)	CBA344

Alterations as a result of student feedback

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Literature Review	Week 5	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Abstract (lay)	Week 12	5 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 3:	Project Record Book	Week 12	10 %	LO4
Assessment Task 4:	Presentation	Week 13	25 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 5:	Report	Week 14	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Literature Review

Task Description:

Literature Review
This assessment task involves the preparation of a review of the literature relating to the research project.
This will form the introduction to the Research Report (Assessment Task 5).

Further guidelines will be provided on MyLO.

Task Length:

1000 words (not including references)

Due Date:

Week 5

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Apply theoretical knowledge relevant to research investigation	LO1, LO3
2	Effectively describe and evaluate published research literature demonstrating clear understanding of the biological concepts	LO1, LO3
3	Communication in the form of scientific writing	LO2

Assessment Task 2: Abstract (lay)

Task Description:

This assessment task involves the preparation of a lay (plain English) abstract on the research project.

The result will contribute 5% to the final grade.

Task Length:

250 words

Due Date:

Week 12

Weight:

5 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Communicate theoretical and practical scientific knowledge relevant to research investigation	LO1, LO2
2	Communicate scientific concepts in lay or plain language	LO1, LO2

Assessment Task 3: Project Record Book

Task Description:

This assessment task involves the accurate recording and reporting of all experimental protocols performed during your research project. Your record book should be completed during semester and submitted for assessment following the completion of your experiments. It should be a clear and easy to follow record of all experiments performed.

Task Length:

To be advised –as appropriate to the research discipline

Due Date:

Week 12

Weight:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Accurately record scientific data, results and methods	LO4

Assessment Task 4: Presentation

Task Description:

This assessment task involves the preparation and delivery of a 15 minute oral presentation (12 mins plus 3 mins for questions) on the research project. The presentation should include a description of the background of the project, research methods used, results obtained, conclusions drawn and future directions for the project, if applicable.

Task Length:

15min presentation (12min + 3 min questions)

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate and apply knowledge relevant to their research investigation	LO1, LO3, LO4
2	Communication to a broad scientific audience in the form of an oral presentation	LO2
3	Demonstrate ability to organise content and make use of visual aids	LO2

Assessment Task 5: Report

Task Description:

This assessment task involves the preparation of a research project report in the form of a journal article. The report should follow the format of an article from ‘The Journal of Biological Chemistry’ and include: Title, Abstract, Introduction, Experimental Procedures, Results, Discussion, References, Figure Legends.

Further details will be provided on MyLO.

Task Length:

3000 words

Due Date:

Week 14

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes and achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.