Course Title: Bioinformatics Research Project

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Bioinformatics Research Project

Credit Points: 24.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

BIOL2399

City Campus

Postgraduate

135H Applied Sciences

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2015,
Sem 2 2016

BIOL2399

City Campus

Postgraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2017,
Sem 2 2017,
Sem 1 2018,
Sem 2 2018

Course Coordinator: Dr Andrew Hung

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 1974

Course Coordinator Email: andrew.hung@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 03.02.24 (City campus)

Course Coordinator Availability: Please email for appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Successful completion of BIOL2034 Bioinformatics and ONPS1052 Gene Technologies 1.


Course Description

This is a research-focused course that gives you an opportunity to engage in scientific research, while extending your knowledge and practical skills in applying bioinformatics and computational biology techniques to a particular area of interest. You will undertake a research project under the supervision of an academic staff member.

Collaboration with an external organisation may occur in some projects.

With the assistance of your supervisor, you will define the problem to be studied, design a detailed research proposal, develop the appropriate computational methods, carry out research on your project, and finally present a written report and an oral presentation.

This unit offers a challenge to postgraduate students, and allows innovation by the student with respect to both method and research direction. You are required to make a presentation regarding your project to your peers. 

This course includes a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) experience in which your knowledge and skills are applied and assessed in a real or simulated workplace context and where feedback from industry and/or community is integral to your experience.

 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following program learning outcomes:

1. Understanding Science

  • 1.3 You will demonstrate knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to biological sciences.

 

2. Advanced skills to critically analyse and solve problems in biotechnology

  • 2.1 You will demonstrate cognitive skills in mastery of advanced theoretical knowledge in biotechnology and apply this knowledge to solve complex problems in existing and new areas.
  • 2.2. You will generate and evaluate complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level.

 

3. Application of knowledge and skills
You will critically analyse and solve problems in biotechnology by:

  • 3.1 Demonstrating creativity, initiative and a high level of autonomy in research and/or professional practice;
  • 3.2 Planning and executing a substantial research or work-based project and/or pieces of scholarship.

 

4. Communication

  • You will be able to effectively communicate concepts of biotechnology to specialist and non-specialist audiences, using a variety of presentation modes.

 


On successful completion of this course you should be able to:

  1. Carry out a research project in a professional and scientific manner
  2. Plan and execute a discipline specific research project
  3. Demonstrate an in-depth, project specific, detailed knowledge of computational methodologies, procedures and theories associated with the project.
  4. Communicate the results of a research project to a wide audience
  5. Develop a concise written report that conforms to the accepted scientific practices.

 


Overview of Learning Activities

.Despite the differences between individual projects, each aims to provide you with the opportunities to gain expertise in project design, management and reporting.

Any or all of the following learning activities are involved:

  • Completion of library, field, or industry project designed to give you further practice in the application of theory and procedures in your field 
  • Private study, working through the requirements of the project with the assistance of a supervisor, and gaining practice at solving conceptual and numerical problems. 
  • Communication of the results of your project to an appropriate audience

 You are expected to develop skills in: 

  • locating and synthesising information available in scientific (and in some cases other) literature in order to establish the need for, and potential scope and context of, the research project;
  • developing creative ways of solving unfamiliar problems by devising a methodological approach to address the research question being raised;
  • managing the time allocated to completing specific tasks;
  • collecting and analysing data (qualitative and/or quantitative) including an assessment of the validity of the research results; and
  • communicating the results in written form, requiring critical analysis, synthesis and organisation of knowledge, and the construction of a rational and lucid scientific argument.

 Depending on the project, you may also find you learn other important skills such as how to work effectively in teams and how to take into consideration other complex issues associated with research.

 Total Study Hours

240 hours per semester. Face to face content and private study hours will vary depending on project

 


Overview of Learning Resources

There is no recommended reading or prescribed texts. You are expected to access appropriate information via the RMIT library and the internet. Material may be provided by the project supervisor.


Overview of Assessment

Note that:

☒This course has no hurdle requirements.

Assessment will be based on contract between the student and supervisor and will depend on the nature of the project. 

The final report forms the major part of the assessment for this course. Assessment is also based on presentation of a seminar on the results of the research project.

Assessment tasks 

Assessment Task 1: Project Proposal

Weighting 30%

This assessment task supports CLOs 1 and 2

Assessment Task 2: Project Progress Report

Weighting 30%

This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2 and 3

Assessment Task 3: Oral Presentation

Weighting 10%

This assessment task supports CLOs , 2, 3 and 4

Assessment Task 4: Project Report

Weighting 30%

This assessment supports CLOs 1-5