Students

MEDI7011 – Research Frontiers in Medical Science 1

2021 – Session 1, Fully online/virtual

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
Dr Dane Turner
Prof Jacqueline Phillips
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MRes
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

In this unit you will develop an advanced conceptual knowledge of breakthrough discoveries relevant to a range of topics within the field of medical research. Through mentoring by senior research-active staff and postdoctoral researchers within the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, you will gain discipline-specific knowledge that will be relevant to your future research career. You will attend seminars and lectures focused on ongoing research projects from the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences and from invited speakers from leading national and international research institutes.You will also participate in self-directed and group tasks in which you will learn to conduct research, read and critically review seminal research findings that have shaped contemporary thinking, and to disseminate these findings in written and oral form.

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: Explain the ethical and practical requirements forresearch with humans and animals.
  • ULO2: Synthesise and analyse information regarding medical/health research from a wide variety of sources.
  • ULO3: Identify and discuss complex problems and issues in medical research with intellectualindependence
  • ULO4: Articulate cogent arguments in written and oral form for a variety of audiences.
  • ULO5: Apply skills in research literacy and research related information technology.

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 in the Masters of Research 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, Health and Human Sciences, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our programs. 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 Masters of Research program. 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 who do not maintain adequate attendance (greater than or equal to 80% of scheduled classes) 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.

Online Training

Complete both the RACE (Research Animal Care and Ethics) Training  Module (Module 1 only) and the Biosafety Training Workshop.

Students will be required to complete both the RACE and Biosafety online training, prior to Week 3, the Communications lecture. The courses cover the legislative and institutional requirements governing the use of animals and genetically modified organisms for research and teaching at Macquarie University, and the principles and practice of animal care and welfare.

Late Submission

All assignments which are officially received after the due date, and where no extension has been granted, will result in a 5% penalty per day late, up until 10 days. If you submit after 10 days, this will not be accepted and you will automatically receive a failing grade of zero.Weekends and public holidays are included. 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
Journal Club Presentation 25% No Week 4, Monday 15th March
Scientific News Article 20% No Week 6, Thursday 1st April
Critical Review Essay 35% No Week 9, Friday 7th May
Seminar attendance and critique 20% No Week 13, Friday 4th June

Journal Club Presentation

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 24 hours
Due: Week 4, Monday 15th March
Weighting: 25%

Presentation of seminal research paper in journal club format.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the ethical and practical requirements forresearch with humans and animals.
  • Synthesise and analyse information regarding medical/health research from a wide variety of sources.
  • Identify and discuss complex problems and issues in medical research with intellectualindependence
  • Articulate cogent arguments in written and oral form for a variety of audiences.
  • Apply skills in research literacy and research related information technology.

Scientific News Article

Assessment Type 1: Media presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 19 hours
Due: Week 6, Thursday 1st April
Weighting: 20%

 

Popular science article of a recent publication.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Synthesise and analyse information regarding medical/health research from a wide variety of sources.
  • Identify and discuss complex problems and issues in medical research with intellectualindependence
  • Articulate cogent arguments in written and oral form for a variety of audiences.
  • Apply skills in research literacy and research related information technology.

Critical Review Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 33 hours
Due: Week 9, Friday 7th May
Weighting: 35%

Critical essay on selected topic from the unit.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Synthesise and analyse information regarding medical/health research from a wide variety of sources.
  • Identify and discuss complex problems and issues in medical research with intellectualindependence
  • Articulate cogent arguments in written and oral form for a variety of audiences.
  • Apply skills in research literacy and research related information technology.

Seminar attendance and critique

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 18 hours
Due: Week 13, Friday 4th June
Weighting: 20%

 

Attendance log and critical review of seminar presentations.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the ethical and practical requirements forresearch with humans and animals.
  • Synthesise and analyse information regarding medical/health research from a wide variety of sources.

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

Classes

The weekly format of MEDI7011 will be: 2 hour lectures every Monday,10am-12noon. Classes will predominantly be online. However, in week 2 students will be required to attend class onsite for the Library session where social distancing rules will be adhered to.

Resources

Throughout the semester students will be provided with references to various journal papers which they will be expected to read and reflect on. Students are also encouraged to expand their knowledge and understanding of topics presented by further reading of the current literature (using databases such as Scopus and PubMed).

Technology used

Active participation in learning activities throughout the unit will generally require students to have access to a tablet, laptop or similar device. Students who do not own their own laptop computer may borrow one from the university library.

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 2021.04 of the Handbook