Oral Biology (Dental Science)

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THIS COURSE IS UNDER REVIEW AND WILL NOT BE TAKING ENROLMENTS IN 2012

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We offer research within a multidisciplinary environment. Hence we welcome students from a variety of backgrounds including chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology, microbiology, immunology, genetics and anatomy. The research component offers students the opportunity to use state-of-the-art techniques in protein chemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, immunobiology, mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy, molecular modelling, skeletal biology, histomorphometry, aging of the skeleton and image analysis.

Web site: http://www.dent.unimelb.edu.au/dsweb/postgrad_programs/honours.html

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Admission requirements: Students must satisfy the Faculty of Science entry requirements. Information about the departmental entry requirements can be obtained from the department.

Assessment:

• attendance at no less than 75 percent of lectures, workshops and seminars;
• give an oral presentation of aims and methods of research project;
• give an oral presentation to the School on the research project towards the end of second semester;
• an essay of not more than 2000 words on a selected topic in dental science;
• a written assignment (specific critique of a journal article) of not more than 2000 words; and
• a written assignment or a two hour examination based on the lecture series.

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The program comprises a research project subject and an advanced coursework subject. These subjects are as follows:

• Dental Science: Oral Biology Research Project subject (75 points)
• Dental Science: Oral Biology Advanced Coursework subject (25 points)

Research Project

Students conduct an original research project supervised by a member of staff in one of the four research units within the School of Dental Science.

Current areas of major research activity with the school include the molecular biology of oral diseases and microbial pathogens, the cell biology and development of oral tissues, dental epidemiology, and the evaluation and development of novel dental restorative materials.

Students prepare a report (thesis) at the end of the period not exceeding 10,000 words

Advanced Coursework

Students undertake:

• lectures and seminars on selected topics of oral biology including oral molecular biology, oral microbiology, growth and development, oral biochemistry, biomaterials and biostatistics;
• lectures or workshops on the critical analysis of a scientific paper, library resources, research design, and writing and communication skills;
• participation in the school and research unit's research seminars;
• an oral presentation of the aims and methods of the research project during the period, and a seminar to the school on the research project at the end of the period;
• an essay of not more than 2000 words on a selected topic of dental science;
• a written assignment (scientific critique of a journal article) of not more than 2000 words; and
• written assignments based on the lecture series.