Surgery and Biomedicine 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.

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

None

Completion of Biomedicine or Science Bachelor degree with a relevant major.

None

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 Overview, Objectives, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry. It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability will impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject aims to provide students with an understanding in the practice of biomedical research. Students are required to complete a research project within the Department of Surgery and/or affiliated institution under the guidance of at least one supervisor.

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.

SURG40005 Surgery and Biomedicine Research Project – 25 points, semester 1

SURG40001 Surgery and Biomedicine Research Project – 50 points, semester 2

The research project is designed to provide students with skills including:

• Design of scientific project and consideration of ethical principles and processes used in biological research;
• Develop the ability to propose hypotheses for testing;
• Locating and utilising information available in scientific and medical literature, and an understanding of experimental data in order to construct a rational scientific argument;
• Research techniques to apply to a specific project;
• Skills and techniques relevant to the research in surgery and biomedicine including the use of humans and animals in science;
• Enhanced problem solving skills by undertaking methodological approaches to research;
• Time management skills to manage the completion of specific tasks;
• Collection and critical analysis of data and information, including statistical assessment of experimental data;
• Communication of research results in both written and oral form, including the organisation of knowledge and identification of the potential scope of the research project.

• Written literature review in the area of the research project under study of 3000-5000 words due end of March (10%)
• Written thesis - 10,000 words, to be submitted mid-end October (75%)
• An abstract and poster presentation describing the findings of the research project . Poster presentation due mid-October (7.5%)
• An oral presentation of thesis results and response to questions due early November (7.5%)

None

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students should expect to develop skills in the following areas:

• critical analysis of complex scientific issues
• ability to make decisions and problem solve based on current knowledge
• seeking and retrieving relevant and key information from a large body of data;
• how to work effectively in a team environment;
• time management: planning and organization;
• extended observation and ability to contribute in intellectual discussion;
• good oral and written communication.