Unit Outline

Before a successful experiment can begin, it first must be planned. This unit provides students with experience in planning research in biomedical science. Students will learn to identify the motivation behind the design of experiments, and how to understand their potential impact. Students will learn about the legal and ethical framework that Australian science is conducted within. Finally, students will learn how to pitch an idea and craft a persuasive and evidence-based argument for research funding.

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	Critically evaluate scientific literature to identify research motivation, hypothesis, findings and impact.
2	Communicate scientific information orally and in writing in an evidence-based manner to a broad audience.
3	Describe the ethical and legal constraints on experiments in biomedical research.
4	Design and plan experiments in biomedical research.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	CAM203 and CAM204

Alterations as a result of student feedback

In 2024, the ethics assignment (AT4) has been changed from completing an ethics application to a worksheet covering ethics in research in general. This removes any difficulty for students investing research that does not need an ethics application, and more clearly differentiates the task from AT2 and AT5.

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:	Annotated Bibliography	Week 4	20 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 2:	Grant Plan Worksheet	Week 9	10 %	LO1, LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Elevator Pitch	Week 10	10 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 4:	Ethics Worksheet	Week 11	20 %	LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 5:	Grant Application	Week 14	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Annotated Bibliography

Task Description:

You are required to read 5 peer reviewed biomedical publications and produce a paragraph for each explaining the motivation of research, what the research entailed, what the research found and what the impact of the work was.

Task Length:

1000 words

Due Date:

Week 4

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Communicate research motivation, findings and impact	LO1
2	Communication in the form of scientific writing	LO2

Assessment Task 2: Grant Plan Worksheet

Task Description:

You are required to complete a worksheet which you detail a) the fundamental problem your research plan attempts to address, b) the direct benefit your research would have c) the general impact your research would have if completed and d) the design of your experiments such that confounds are avoided.

Task Length:

Approximately 700 words.

Due Date:

Week 9

Weight:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Communicate motivation for your research	LO1
2	Design experiments that will test stated hypothesis	LO4
3	Communicate scientific information in an evidence-based fashion	LO2

Assessment Task 3: Elevator Pitch

Task Description:

It is often important for scientists to be able to explain why their work is important and fundable in a very short time window: this is the art of the elevator pitch. In this assessment you will be required to give a 3 minute talk explaining why a given research project is important and fundable.

Task Length:

3 minute presentation

Due Date:

Week 10

Weight:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Communicate research motivation, findings and impact	LO1
2	Communication in the form of an oral presentation	LO2

Assessment Task 4: Ethics Worksheet

Task Description:

You are required to complete worksheet that covers a) critical ethical questions regarding your research project, b) general ethics in scientific research c), the legal framework of research in Australia. Completion of this worksheet will be supported by in-class activity.

Task Length:

1000 words

Due Date:

Week 11

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Design research experiments within ethical and legal constraints and apply ethical principles to discuss and evaluate research	LO3, LO4
2	Communicate scientific information to a broad audience	LO2

Assessment Task 5: Grant Application

Task Description:

This assessment task requires students to write a small grant based on their research project. Further details will be available on MyLO.

This task will contribute 40% to the final grade.

Task Length:

2000 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, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

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.