Students

MEDI3900 – Research Experience and Training

2021 – Session 1, Weekday attendance, North Ryde

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Angela Laird
Contact via email
Level 1, 75 Talavera rd
By Appointment
Course Director
Cara Hildreth
Contact via email
Level 1, 75 Talavera rd
By Appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
(130cp at 1000 level or above) and permission by special approval
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit will provide you with an insight into how research is conducted and research experience through a placement within a research team within the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences . You will develop research skills and contribute to a research project under the supervision of a researcher within the Faculty. You will also develop your scientific communication skills allowing you to confidently discuss and present scientific methodology and findings. This unit is subject to a quota. Limited places are available. Please refer to the Faculty for further information.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Describe main fields of contemporary medical and health-related research.
  • ULO2: Perform research under supervision.
  • ULO3: Critique and review medical and health-related research methods and/or data.
  • ULO4: Evaluate scientific literature and relate to medical and health-related research data collected.

General Assessment Information

Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in Schedule 1 of the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, which is available at: https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/assessment.

Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn.

All final grades are determined by a grading committee and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor.

Students will be awarded a final grade plus a Standardised Numerical Grade (SNG). The SNG is not necessarily a summation of the individual assessment components. The final grade and SNG that are awarded reflect the corresponding grade descriptor in the Grading Policy.

To pass this unit, students must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, attempt all assessment tasks, meet any ungraded requirements including professionalism and achieve an SNG of 50 or better.

Student Professionalism

In the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our courses. As part of developing professionalism, students are expected to attend all small group interactive sessions including tutorials, as well as clinical- and laboratory-based practical sessions.

Furthermore, lectures and seminars are key learning activities that you are expected to attend throughout completion of the Bachelor of Clinical Sciences. While audio recordings and lecture slides may be made available following these large group sessions, it is important to recognise that such resources are a study aid and should not be considered an alternative to lecture or seminar attendance.

Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of all sessions. Students that do not meet this requirement may be deemed unable to meet expectations regarding professionalism and may be referred for disciplinary action (which may include exclusion from assessments and unit failure).

Similarly, as part of developing professionalism, students are expected to submit all work by the due date. Applications for assessment task extensions must be supported by appropriate evidence and submitted via www.ask.mq.edu.au. For further details please refer to the Special Consideration Policy available at https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration.

Late Submission

All assignments that are officially received after the due date, and where no extension or special consideration has been granted, will incur a deduction of 5% per day, including weekends and public holidays and the actual day received. This will continue up until 10 days after due date, after which the assignment if submitted will be awarded a mark of zero. For example:

Due date

Received

Days late

Deduction

Raw mark

Final mark

Friday 14th

Monday 17th

3

15%

75%

60%

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Research proposal 20% No Week 4
Graphical abstract 20% No Week 9
Poster Presentation and Discussion 30% No Please refer to iLearn
Research Engagement 30% No weeks 2 to 11, lab book/diary due Week 11

Research proposal

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Week 4
Weighting: 20%

 

Research proposal based on the research placement.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe main fields of contemporary medical and health-related research.
  • Evaluate scientific literature and relate to medical and health-related research data collected.

Graphical abstract

Assessment Type 1: Professional writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Week 9
Weighting: 20%

 

Creation of a graphical abstract of the work of a peer.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe main fields of contemporary medical and health-related research.
  • Critique and review medical and health-related research methods and/or data.

Poster Presentation and Discussion

Assessment Type 1: Poster
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Please refer to iLearn
Weighting: 30%

 

A poster presentation on the research activities undertaken during your placement and engagement in discussion with peers of of own and others research activities.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe main fields of contemporary medical and health-related research.
  • Perform research under supervision.
  • Critique and review medical and health-related research methods and/or data.
  • Evaluate scientific literature and relate to medical and health-related research data collected.

Research Engagement

Assessment Type 1: Log book
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: weeks 2 to 11, lab book/diary due Week 11
Weighting: 30%

 

Engagement in your research placement, including documentation of research activities in a laboratory book or research diary and participation in research activities and discussion.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe main fields of contemporary medical and health-related research.
  • Perform research under supervision.
  • Evaluate scientific literature and relate to medical and health-related research data collected.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Delivery

The research placements make up the majority of contact hours within this unit. The remaining contact hours are delivered through a co-location model with the Research Placement Units offered within the Masters of Research (MEDI7041 and MEDI7042). Learning activities, outcomes and assessments differ between the different cohorts but co-locating these units allows candidates to participate in peer activities relevant to research engagement such as research discussions, presentations and critique.

Resources

Technology

Completion of online training and learning activities throughout the unit will require you to have access to a tablet, laptop or similar device. If you do not have your own device you may borrow one from the University library.

Required Unit Materials

For placements in laboratories within the Department of Biomedical Sciences you are required to wear closed shoes that cover the whole foot and a laboratory gown/coat (provided) whilst in the laboratory venue.

Online training modules and laboratory inductions

If you need access to the laboratory you will be required to complete online training modules and a face-to-face laboratory induction.

Recommended Readings

Details of recommended readings will be provided by supervisors in the host research group. You should use this material to actively seek further reading through searching the current literature (e.g. research articles and reviews) using tools such as PubMed, Scopus, and/or GoogleScholar. This material should supplement and extend your understanding of the research topic, and assist in preparation of assessed material.

Research Documentation

You should keep a laboratory book or research diary for documentation of your day-to-day work, including details such as experimental methods, observations, results, analysis, and conclusions. This document serves as an important written record in research and may be used to guide future work in your host group. This documentation will remain the property of the research group at the end of the placement.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.


Unit information based on version 2021.05 of the Handbook