Project in Biomedical & Health Sciences

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

Students must satisfy the requirements for entry into the MSc program.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study and reasonable steps will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. This subject requires all students to actively and safely participate in laboratory activities. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their participation are encouraged to discuss this with the subject coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit.

This subject provides students with the opportunity to design and conduct, under supervision, independent research in biomedical and health sciences. Specific research projects will depend upon the availability of appropriate expertise and resources. Students will take responsibility for a research project, including the design of field and/or laboratory experiments; collection, appropriate statistical analysis, and interpretation of data; and oral and written presentations of the results. The report describing the research will more closely resemble a scientific paper than a traditional thesis. Students will assimilate and critically evaluate new knowledge within a scientific paradigm and communicate that knowledge to others. Students will also develop skills in managing a scientific research project, writing scientific reports, providing and responding to peer reviews, and making an oral presentation.

Subject to supervisor approval, students may enrol in a combination of research project subjects as indicated below over their two years of full-time study or four years of part-time study, to ensure they have completed a total of 125 points for the major research project by the end of their course.

125 point Major Research Project:

• 510-671 Project in Biomedical & Health Sciences Major – 12.5 points
• 510-672 Project in Biomedical & Health Sciences Major – 25.0 points
• 510-673 Project in Biomedical & Health Sciences Major – 37.5 points
• 510-675 Project in Biomedical & Health Sciences Major – 50 points

The objectives of this subject are to provide students with skills in:

• conducting research in biomedical and health sciences;

• designing experiments;

• taking responsibility for managing a research project;

• preparing and giving an oral and written presentation of the results;

• expressing intellectual, scientific arguments;

• assimilating and critically evaluating existing knowledge within a scientific paradigm; and

• developing a justified budget for their proposed research.

The assessment requirements below are applicable to the entire 125 point Research Project.

A literature review of 4,000 words, due toward the end of the first semester of this subject (10%); a grant proposal/project brief of 2,000 words, due in the early part of the second semester of this subject (5%); a final 20 minute oral presentation (5%), due towards the end of the final semester of this subject; and a major research report of 12,000 words, due towards the end of the final semester of this subject (80%).

None.

None.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

At the completion of this subject, students should gain skills in:

• articulating the breadth of knowledge gained in a particular discipline;

• critical appraisal of draft documents;

• developing the ability to exercise critical judgement;

• expressing persuasive intellectual arguments;

• high level written report presentations;

• managing a research project;

• oral communication and presentation;

• rigorous and independent thinking; and

• time management and self-management skills.