Biomedical Engineering Capstone Project

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

400 hours

Either

(BMEN90026 Clinical Trials and regulation may be taken concurrently)

OR

AND

At least four level 9 Biomedical Engineering (BMEN) subjects

AND

BMEN90018 Semester 1 and BMEN90018 Semester 2 can only be taken in the final semester of enrolment

None

433-464 Project Work

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 website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

AIMS

This subject involves undertaking a major research or advanced innovative design project requiring an independent investigation and the preparation of reports on an approved topic. Students will present their findings in a conference presentation format, held at the end of the project cycle in the latter half of semester two. The emphasis of the project can be associated with either:

• Explorative approach, where students will pursue outcomes associated with new knowledge or understanding within the biomedical engineering or science disciplines, often as an adjunct to existing academic research initiatives.
• A well-defined innovative project, usually based on a research and development required by an external industrial client. Students will be tutored in the synthesis of practical solutions to complex technical problems within a structured working environment, as if they were research and development professional engineers.

This subject has been integrated with the Skills Towards Employment Program (STEP) and contains activities that can assist in the completion of the Engineering Practice Hurdle (EPH).

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILO)

Having completed this unit the student should be able to:

1. Search, analyse and document engineering science and other relevant literature in order to determine the need for further research in a chosen area
2. Devise a methodology of investigation to improve knowledge or understanding of a chosen topic
3. Collect and analyse a range of data (both qualitative and quantitative) to improve our collective understanding of a chosen topic
4. Write a project report that follows good engineering science practice
5. Present an oral presentation of the findings of an investigation to an audience of peers or lay people.

The Major Project (100% of the overall mark) is made up of:

• A professional engineering research report of 5,000 words per student, excluding appendices or supporting material that can include diagrams, tables, computations and computer code/output, requiring 210-220 hours of work. A draft of the report is due in week 9 of the final semester (10%). A Final Report is due in week 12 of the final semester (60%). ILOs 1-4 are assessed in this report.

• A technical oral examination of no more than one half hour duration per student. Technical oral examination includes a formal presentation of 15 minutes per student followed by questions from an academic supervisor and academic examiner, (15%). ILOs 1-3,5 are assessed in this examination.

• A lay person oral examination of no more than 15 minutes duration, (5%). ILOs 1-3,5 are assessed in this examination.

• Static display materials (e.g. poster, computer demonstration, prototype), requiring 30-35 hours of work, (10%). ILOs 1-3 are assessed in this component.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) 1, 2 and 3 are assessed in all assessment components. ILO 4 is assessed in the interim and final written reports. ILO5 is assessed in the technical and lay person oral examinations.

None

None

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• Ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution
• Ability to function effectively as an individual and as a member of a collaborative research team
• Understanding of the principles of research
• Capacity for independent critical thought, rational inquiry and self-directed learning
• Openness to new ideas and unconventional critiques of received wisdom.

LEARNING AND TEACHING METHODS

The subject is delivered through two one-hour lectures, and weekly meetings with academic project supervisors.

CAREERS / INDUSTRY LINKS

Exposure to biomedical engineering in industry, hospitals and research laboratories through collaborative projects with external co-supervision arrangements.