All final grades are determined by a grading committee, in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor. Students will be awarded a final grade, which corresponds to the grade descriptors specified in the Assessment Procedure (clause 128).

To pass this unit, students must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, meet any ungraded requirements including professionalism, and achieve a final mark of 50 or better.

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

Student Professionalism

In the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our courses. As part of developing professionalism, students are expected to attend a minimum of 80% of all small group interactive sessions including tutorials, as well as clinical- and laboratory-based practical sessions.

Similarly, as part of developing professionalism, students are expected to submit all work by the due date. Applications for assessment task due date extensions must be supported by appropriate evidence and submitted via AskMQ. For further details, please refer to the Special Consideration Policy and the overview of eligibility requirements for 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:

Delivery

The research placements make up the majority of contact hours within this unit. These placements may include work within the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences laboratory (when COVID restrictions allow it) or work with other teams within other settings within the Faculty. The remaining contact hours are delivered through a co-location model with other Research Placement Units (MEDI7042 and MEDI3900). 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 Macquarie Medical School 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 will be assessed within your Research Engagement assessment task. This document serves as an important written record in research and may be used to guide future work in your host group and will remain the property of the research group at the end of the placement.

Week 1: You will nominate your list of preferred research projects from a provided booklet, or projects that you have organised with supervisors yourself. You will be notified of your allocated research projects late in Week 1.

Weeks 2-6: You will work on your first research project under the supervision of a research team. You may be required to undertake online laboratory and/or ethics training modules to commence your project.

Weeks 8-12: You will work on your second research project under the supervision of a research team. You may be required to undertake online laboratory and/or ethics training modules to commence your project.

Week 1, 2, 5 and 10: You will have classes or workshops scheduled to help develop the skills required for your assessment tasks.