Advanced Studies in Biomedicine: Surgery

This subject is not offered in 2013.

120 hours

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

Undergraduate 3 year sequence in relevant experimental science discipline.

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 extend the student’s education and intellectual development in Biomedicine, Physiology and Surgery through the attendance and participation in Workshops, Research Seminars and Journal Club presentations. The students will be exposed to experimental design and development of a question as an approach to research, covering the main research areas of the department; Cancer, Transplantation, Liver regeneration, and Immunobiology. The students will attend three different series of seminars; The first series of lectures/workshops is designed to assist the student in acquiring necessary skills to successfully complete the B Sc Hons/B Biomed Honours course. This program includes workshops covering information relating to oral presentations, making scientific posters, and preparation of abstracts (approximately 12 hours in total). The second series is the Surgery/Ludwig Research Seminar Series (LICR/DOS) held on a weekly basis (approximately 12 hours in total). These talks cover a wide range of topics of central interest to contemporary biomedical research and are presented by external invited speakers and senior scientists within the departments. Thirdly, students will attend the weekly Departmental Research In Progress and Journal Club Seminars (50 minutes duration, which are given by research staff and postgraduate students and are held throughout the year on a weekly basis (approximately 12 hours).

To develop student awareness and knowledge of how contemporary biomedical research questions are addressed in a range of areas. Students will gain a specific understanding of the successful experimental approaches and strategies used in the research areas of focus within the Department of Surgery: Gastrointestinal and Uro-genital Cancer, Transplantation, Liver regeneration, and Immunobiology. Students will develop knowledge which they can and are encouraged to apply to their own research projects.

• Assignment (up to 3000 words) based on one of the focus areas of research with the department, not associated with the research project (45%)
• An oral presentation (10 minutes) including response to questions (5 minutes) on assignment topic (45%)
• Co-ordinator assessment of attendance and participation in Continuing Education Seminars during semester 1 (10%)

No specific text. Recommended reading may be provided prior to some seminars/journal clubs/workshops.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Overall the aim of this subject is to provide students with first-rate skills that will enhance their application for a Research Higher Degree or provide the necessary skills to pursue a successful career in one of the many science and technology fields:

• Design of a scientific project and consideration of ethical principles and processes used in biological research;
• Utilising information and data available in scientific and medical literature, and identification of key data and essential factors from a large body of information;
• Critical analysis of complex information, including statistical assessment of experimental data;
• Ability to contribute to intellectual discussion in research;
• Development of understanding of research concepts to generate new ideas for experiments;
• Acquiring excellent oral and written communication skills.