Genetics Research Project

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2013:

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.

Admission into the Honours program in the Department of Genetics through either the Bachelor of Science (Degree with Honours) or the Bachelor of Biomedicine (Degree with Honours).

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For the purposes of considering requests 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 for 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 website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject involves laboratory, bioinformatics or field-based research in an area of genetics. The research projects available cover a broad range of research from molecular to population and evolutionary genetics in micro-organisms, insects, plants and animals including humans. The project will be based in the laboratory of an academic staff member of the department or an approved external supervisor, depending on the particular research project.

The research project aims to develop a range of experimental and technical skills, a capacity to set goals and to design and plan experiments. It also provides students with skills and knowledge for understanding original research and enhanced written and oral communication skills.

In additional to help and guidance from their supervisor(s) each student has a committee, which regularly meets with them and provides additional help and expertise. This committee is responsible for assessment of the research project subject.

Students enrol in a total of 75 points of research project across the duration of the Honours program. This is achieved by enrolling in a combination of the following subjects in appropriate semesters to achieve a total 75 credit points.

• GENE40001 Genetics Research Project – 25 points

• GENE40005 Genetics Research Project – 50 points

This subject (GENE40005 Genetics Research Project) is the 50 point version for one semester (semester 2).

Upon completion of this subject, students should have:

• acquired experience in planning and executing experimental genetics research;

• understood the way I which experiments in genetics are designed, communicated and interpreted;

• extended their abilities in oral and written scientific communication;

• gained the ability to read and assimilate specific research papers and to understand how the research reported relates to the broad field of genetics; and

• developed effective skills in data collection and analysis, and postulating testable hypotheses based on these data.

The subject involves experimental research in the area of genetics under the direction of a supervisor.

The following assessment requirements are applicable to the entire 75 point Research Project component.

• One written exercise (not more than 1000 words) due early in Semester 1 (10%)
• One written thesis (not more than 12,000 words) due at the end of Semester 2 (75%)
• Committee assessment of research performance (5%)
• One 30-minute oral presentation late in Semester 2 (10%)

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This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

This subject will provide students with the opportunity to develop the following generic skills:

• the ability to evaluate scientific literature;

• the ability to use conceptual models to assess experimental data;

• the ability to conduct research;

• the capacity to articulate their knowledge and understanding in written and oral presentations;

• the capacity for high level written report presentation skills;

• the capacity for oral communication and presentation skills;

• time management and self-management skills.