Pathology Research Project

Subject PATH40001 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points:

Level:

4 (Undergraduate)

Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

Semester 1, Parkville - Taught on campus.

Pre-teaching Period Start	not applicable
Teaching Period	not applicable
Assessment Period End	not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol	not applicable
Census Date	not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail	not applicable

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.

Time Commitment:

Contact Hours: This subject is an individual research project and weekly contact hours will vary depending on the nature of the project.
Total Time Commitment: Students should discuss total time commitment with their supervisor but as a guide, a student would be expected to be engaged in their research for an average of thirty hours per week over two semesters.

Prerequisites:

Students must be enrolled in the Bachelor of Biomedicine (Honours), Bachelor of Science (Honours) or Postgraduate Diploma in Science to complete this subject.

Corequisites:

Please refer to the notes section below for details regarding the subjects to be completed.

Recommended Background Knowledge:

It is recommended that students complete 50 points of the 300-level pathology major before enrolling in this subject.

Non Allowed Subjects:

None

Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.
The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit websiteH: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Coordinator

Dr John Underwood

Contact

Academic Coordinators:

Dr Joe Ciccotosto and Dr Anthony White
j.ciccotosto@unimelb.edu.au and arwhite@unimelb.edu.au

Administrative Coordinator:

Ms Lesley Robinson
lesleyr@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:	The Honours program in the Department of Pathology provides an introduction to the challenging area of investigation of disease processes at the cellular and molecular level. This program involves candidates undertaking a full-time research project based in a laboratory within the Department of Pathology or at one of our affiliated institutions. The objectives of the course include the development of the individual student's skills in the areas of acquisition, interpretation and critical analysis of laboratory data, planning and design of experiments and reporting of experimental data in a concise and scientific manner consistent with that published in scientific articles and by communication to a scientific audience. A student undertaking the Pathology Honours Research Project will have an interest in understanding the mechanisms of disease. Students will be enrolled in a combination of the research project subjects indicated below to ensure they have completed a total of 75 points for the research project by the end of their course. PATH40001 Pathology Research Project 25 points (semester 1) PATH40005 Pathology Research Project 50 points (semester 2)
Objectives:	The course objectives include the development of an individual student’s skills in the areas of - • Planning and design of experiments. • Constructing a hypothesis and relevant aims for a project. • Acquisition, interpretation and critical analysis of results. • Reporting of experimental data in a concise and scientific manner consistent with that published in scientific articles. • Communication of the research project via oral presentations to a scientific audience.
Assessment:	The assessment consists of 4 tasks – students are required to submit a literature review article and research thesis and provide 2 oral presentations throughout the year. • A critical review of the literature (a maximum of 30 pages) that is relevant to the research project is submitted as a hurdle assessment at mid-year and an updated final version is submitted along with the honours research thesis at the end of semester 2 (15%). • The honours research thesis (a maximum of 35 pages) is based on research work undertaken in the laboratory and is prepared as a thesis report at the end of the second semester (65%). • An introductory seminar (15 min duration) outlining the project hypothesis, aims and methods to be used is presented to the Department towards the end of semester 1 (5%). • A defence-of-thesis seminar (30 minute duration) is presented to the Department at the end of semester 2 (15%).
Prescribed Texts:	None
Breadth Options:	This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information:	Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:	• Develop an appreciation for working in a laboratory research environment. • Become an expert in the area relating to the research project. • Acquire oral communication skills for discussion of research ideas. • Develop skills in time management and planning. • Become proficient in a number of technical laboratory skills.
Links to further information:	http://www.path.unimelb.edu.au/
Notes:	To be awarded Honours with a specialisation in Pathology, students must successfully complete the following: Semester 1 BIOM40001 Introduction to Biomedical Research (12.5 points) PATH40002 Critical Analysis of Pathology Research (12.5 points) PATH40001 Pathology Research Project (25 points) Semester 2 PATH40005 Pathology Research Project (50 points)
Related Course(s):	Bachelor of Biomedicine (Degree with Honours) Bachelor of Science (Degree with Honours)

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