FACULTY OF SCIENCE

UNIT OF STUDY OUTLINE

School: School of Medical Science

Unit of Study Code: AMED4101
Unit of Study Name: Research Skills and processes
Session: 1

Unit Coordinator: Dr Najla Nasr

Location: Level 6, Room 06.5, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead
Email: najla.nasr@sydney.edu.au
Phone: 02 8627 3622
Consultation Hours: by appointment

Lecturing and Teaching Staff

Dr Najla Nasr
Associate Prof Andrew Harman
Associate Prof Scott Byrne

Work Health and Safety

 Mr Darryn Capes-Davis, BE (Hons), MIEAust
Email: dcapes-davis@cmri.org.au
 Dr Amanda Capes-Davis, MB BS, BSc(Med), PhD
Email: acapes-davis@cmri.org.au

Epidemiology
 Dr Michael Walsh, PhD
Email: michael.walsh1@sydney.edu.au

Genomics: PCR
 Dr Joey Lai, PhD
Email: joey.lai@sydney.edu.au

Flow Cytometry
 Dr Suat Dervish, BMedSc (Hons)
Email: suat.dervish@sydney.edu.au

Western blot
 Dr Mark Graham, PhD
Email: mgraham@cmri.org.au

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Introduction to Social Science Research Methods
 Dr Karen Scott, BEd, MA, PhD
Email: karen.scott@health.nsw.gov.au

 Prof Victoria Flood, PhD

Email: vicki.flood@sydney.edu.au

 Prof Rachel Skinner, PhD

Email: rachel.skinner@sydney.edu.au

Ethics
 Prof Wayne Hawthorne, PhD, MD
Phone: 02 8890 6176

 Ms Sharon Lee
Email: Sharon.Lee1@health.nsw.gov.au

 Mrs Callista Rainey

Phone: 02 8890 6176

Unit Description:
We face major health challenges in today’s society that require new insights and approaches from
bright minds. Tackling the big questions in medical sciences and health requires the research
skills that will inform tomorrow’s health outcomes for individuals and populations. Immersed in a
multidisciplinary medical science and health research environment, you will develop the core skills
required to undertake laboratory, clinical and population health research. You will learn to design,
execute and evaluate studies, and to scrutinise data and research outcomes. You will work
individually and collaboratively in small teams of students from different areas of specialisation to
learn theoretical and practical aspects of specific research techniques, as well as the ethical and
regulatory frameworks relevant to medical and health research. The practical classes, face-to-face
workshops and online learning activities will equip you with knowledge and skills that will enable
you to play an active role in finding meaningful solutions to difficult problems in a technical or
research setting.

Assumed Knowledge / Prerequisites:

A major in one of the following areas: Applied Medical Science, Immunolobiology; Biochemistry &
Molecular Biology; Biology; Microbiology; Cell & Developmental Biology, Pharmacology; Medicinal
Chemistry; Neuroscience, Physiology, Anatomy and Histology, Genetics & Genomics; Quantitative
Life Science

Co-requisites: none

Prohibitions: none

Mode of Delivery: Face-to-face and online

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Learning Outcomes: (Graduate Qualities detailed in Appendix 1.1)

Description Graduate Qualities (X relevant boxes)

After successful completion of this unit, A B C D E F
students should be able to:
1. Evaluate the methodological bases of X X
core research techniques
2. Dissect complex medical science and X X
health problems through careful design
and evaluation of a research plan
3. Execute research methods competently X X X
and safely in various research
environments
4. Compare and contrast the approaches X X X
taken to solve research questions
5. Identify common problems encountered X X
in a research environment and develop
solutions to overcome these challenges
6. Be accountable for your own learning by X X X
being an independent, self-directed
learner and demonstrate effective
teamwork skills through collaborative
learning
7. Demonstrate critical thinking, problem X X
solving skills and professionalism in a
research context
8. Apply appropriate risk assessment, X X
research integrity and ethical processes
in research
9. Demonstrate skills required to work in a X X X X
complex learning environment, e.g. time
management, persistence, and learning
from failure
10. Communicate effectively using a range X
of modes to a variety of audiences

Unit Content / Schedule:

In this unit, you will work individually and collaboratively in small teams to learn about the
regulatory frameworks relevant to medical and health research. You will also learn the theoretical
and practical aspects of seven core skills:
 Work health and safety
 Epidemiology
 Introduction to social science research methods
 Flow cytometry
 Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
 Western blot
 Ethics

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Each core skill will enhance your ability to comprehend, apply and conduct, analyse and
synthesize information leading to a broader understanding of a specific goal.

Each core skill is designed to have two to three components:

 Online series as Pre-Lectures
 Interactive workshops
 Practical classes

Timetable

Week 1 Monday Thursday

5/3 8/3
9-12pm Work health and safety workshop
Darryn Davis-Capes
Amanda Davis-Capes
WECC-Cabaret
12-2pm Overview of Honours Year
Andrew Harman
Overview of AMED4101
Najla Nasr
WECC-Cabaret
2-3pm Laboratory Inducation
Soma Vignarajan
REN

Week 2 Monday Wednesday Friday

12/3 14/3 16/3
9-10:30am Epidemiology Workshop PCR Workshop Flow Workshop
Najla Nasr Najla Nasr
Joey Lai Suat Dervish
Michael Walsh WECC-Case Study WECC-Case Study
10:30-
10:50am
11am-1pm WECC-Cabaret PCR Practical Flow Practical
REN REN
1-2pm
2-5pm PCR Practical Flow Acquisition
REN WIMR-L2

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 Timetable (continued)

Week 4 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

27/3 28/3 29/3
9-10:30am Human and Animal Ethics Western Blot Western Blot
Workshop Workshop Practical
Najla Nasr REN
Mark Graham
Wayne Hawthorne WECC-Case Study PCR Analysis
Sharon Lee REN
10:30- Callista Rainey
10:50am
11-1pm Western Blot Flow Analysis
WIMR Practical REN
Seminar Rooms L2 REN
1-2pm
2-5pm Western Blot Flow Analysis
Practical REN
REN

Week 6 Monday 16/4

9-5pm Introducation to Social Science Research Methods Workshop
Karen Scott, Victoria Flood and Rachel Skinner
WECC-Cabaret
Week 11 Friday 25/5
10-11am Next Generation Genomic Seminar
Joey Lai
WIMR Seminars L2
Week 12 Wednesday 30/5
10-12pm Assessment for Flow, PCR and WB
Unit evaluation (survey)
REN/WECC-Cabaret

WECC: Westmead Education and Conference Centre, REN: Research and Education Network
Building, WIMR: Westmead Institute for Medical Research

Textbook/ Reading Requirements:

This information is available on the AMED4101 Canvas page for each of the seven core skills

Special Requirements (equipment etc.):

 A wireless enabled, electronic BYO device that you can type on (e.g. Laptop). You will need
a word processing package (preferably Microsoft word) and a web browser.
 A laboratory gown for the laboratory practicals
 Safety glasses for the laboratory practicals
 Closed-toe shoes for the practicals
 Pen and paper to the workshops for off-line activities

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Attendance:
Policy on attendance, lateness in workshops and practical classes
Teaching activities in AMED4101 are an essential part of your learning as they complement the
online materials.
Satisfactory attendance and participation in all tutorials and practical classes is therefore a
requirement to get full marks for this unit.

 A signature is required for attendance to all workshops and practicals.

 Students must attend all tutorial and practical activities during the course of AMED4101.
Failure to do so without an approved special consideration may lead to an absent fail mark
being applied
 Students are to be deemed absent if they are more than 15 min late for a workshop or
laboratory experiment.

What do you do if you can’t make or miss a workshop, practical class, submission of an
assessment?
In the first instance, you should contact the unit of study coordinator by email
(najla.nasr@sydney.edu.au)who will discuss your options with you. Depending on the specific
teaching activity you may need to follow the step by step instructions provided in the link below to
apply for special consideration.
https://sydney.edu.au/students/special-consideration-and-arrangements.html
The Associate Dean may determine that a student has failed a unit of study because of
inadequate attendance.
Further details are available at: Science Undergraduate Handbook 2018.

Online Components:
This unit of study requires regular use of the University’s Learning Management System (LMS).
This unit can be found in Canvas. Internet access is required to use the LMS.

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Assessment Table

Assessment Category Assessment Description Individual/ Group Length / Duration Weight Due Date & Time
Name (quiz/ essay Type
etc)
WHS Quizzes Online Assessment of the workshop Individual Variable 8% Thur 29 March
MCQ and online materials Due Week 5
12pm Fri 13 April
Flow/PCR Laboratory Online Assessment of the practical Individual Maximum 5 pages 24% Thur 29 March
Western report submitted classes of flow, PCR and WB Due Week 6
assignment 12pm Fri 20 April
Ethics MCQ, Online Assessment of the workshop Individual Variable 8% Fri 20 April
Quizzes and online materials Due Week 7
12pm Fri April 27
Epidemiology Quizzes, Online Online assessment for the Individual Variable 16% Fri 27 April
MCQ, workshop materials Due Week 8
Exercices 12pm Fri 4 May
Introduction Report Online Report summarising the data Individual 750 words 16% 4 May
to social submitted collect through the workshop Due Week 9
science assignment 12pm Fri 11 May
research
methods
Flow/PCR MCQ, In class Assessment for the online Individual 2 hours 24 % Online in the WECC & REN
Western Quizzes, Exam materials, workshop and 10-11:40am
Answers to practical classes of Flow, PCR Wed May 30
questions, and Western blots Week 12
Evaluations
and
comments
on plots,
graphs and
data

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Assessment Table (continued)

Participation Participation Engagement Attend to the online materials Individual Variable 1% Online 5 March
and and with the prior to workshop and attempt Due Week 12
enagement engagement online the online quizzes 12pm 30 May
materials

Productive Levels of preparations and

attendance quality of answers to questions Individual Variable 1%
during the posed during practicals and
workshops/ workshops
practicals
Constructive and frequent
Discussion online participation through the
boards discussion boards with a
minimum of 3 posts per core Individual Variable 2%
skill

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Assessment Submission
Assessment tasks must be submitted by the due date. Submission will be online through
the LMS unless instructed otherwise.

Compliance Statement
All students must submit a signed statement of compliance with each piece of work
submitted to the University for assessment, presentation or publication. A statement of
compliance certifies that no part of the work constitutes a breach of the Academic Honesty
in the Coursework Policy 2016.

Late Submissions
Work not submitted by the due date is subject to a penalty of 10% loss of the total mark
(= grade (%) awarded for the assignment minus 10%) for each day your assessment task is
overdue will be applied.
Assessments submitted more than 4 calendar days late without approved special
consideration will receive zero marks.

Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism

Academic honesty is a core value of the University. Therefore, all students are required to
act honestly, ethically and with integrity. Academic dishonesty is defined as any dishonest
or unfair action in order to gain academic advantage. It also includes knowingly assisting
another student to do this.

The University will not tolerate academic dishonesty or plagiarism, and will treat all
allegations of academic dishonesty and plagiarism seriously.

Plagiarism is defined as presenting another person’s work as one’s own by presenting,

copying or reproducing it without appropriate acknowledgement of the source.

Plagiarism includes presenting work for assessment, publication, or otherwise, that

includes:
a. phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs or longer extracts from published or
unpublished work (including from the internet) without appropriate acknowledgement
of the source; or
b. the work of another person, without appropriate acknowledgement of the source and
in a way that exceeds the boundaries of legitimate co-operation.
Further information is available in the Academic Honesty in Coursework Policy 2015.

Similarity Detection Software

Students should be aware that the University has authorised and mandated the use of the
text-based similarity detecting software called Turnitin for all text-based written
assignments. Turnitin searches for matches between text in your written assessment task
and text sourced from the Internet, published works, and assignments that have previously
been submitted for analysis.

Further information regarding plagiarism detection is available in the Academic Honesty in

Coursework Policy 2015.

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 Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM)
All students commencing their study at the University of Sydney are required to complete
the Academic Honesty Education Module. You will find the AHEM in your Learning
Management System.

Special Consideration
In the event of serious illness or misadventure which affects your preparation or
performance in an assessment task, you may be eligible for Special Consideration. Further
information is available at: https://sydney.edu.au/students/special-consideration-and-
arrangements.html.

Student Feedback
The Unit of Study Survey
At the completion of each Unit of Study, students are asked via email to complete an online
survey to provide feedback on their experiences in that Unit of Study. This feedback is
invaluable when reviewing curriculum design and implementation styles.

University Work, Health and Safety Policy

We are governed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Work Health and Safety
Regulation 2011 and Codes of Practice. Penalties for non-compliance have increased.
Everyone has a responsibility for health and safety at work. The University’s Work Health
and Safety policy explains the responsibilities and expectations of workers and others, and
the procedures for managing WHS risks associated with University activities.

General Laboratory Safety Rules

· No eating or drinking is allowed in any laboratory under any circumstances
· A laboratory coat and closed-toe shoes are mandatory
· Follow safety instructions in your manual and posted in laboratories
· In case of fire, follow instructions posted outside the laboratory door
· First aid kits, eye wash and fire extinguishers are located in or immediately outside each
laboratory
As a precautionary measure, it is recommended that you have a current tetanus
immunisation. This can be obtained from University Health Service
(http://www.unihealth.usyd.edu.au/).

For more details please refer to ‘Emergencies and safety on campus’:

https://sydney.edu.au/students/emergencies-and-safety-on-campus.html

Student Support Services

A guide for new students:
https://sydney.edu.au/students/browse.html?category=new-students&topic=getting-started
Counselling and mental health support:
https://sydney.edu.au/students/counselling-and-mental-health-support.html
Disability Support: https://sydney.edu.au/students/disability-support.html
International Student Support:
https://sydney.edu.au/students/support-for-international-students.html
Learning Services / Study Skills Support: https://sydney.edu.au/students/learning-services.html
Student IT and online learning: https://sydney.edu.au/students/browse.html?category=student-it-
and-online-learning&topic=online-learning
Academic Writing: https://sydney.edu.au/students/writing.html

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Appendix
1.1 Graduate Qualities
Graduate qualities
A. Depth of disciplinary expertise
B. Broader skills:
− critical thinking and problem respond effectively and creatively to novel problems
solving
− communication (oral and written)
− information/digital literacy
− inventiveness
C. Cultural competence
D. Interdisciplinary effectiveness
E. An integrated professional,
ethical and personal identity
F. Influence
Purpose
To excel at applying and continuing to develop
expertise in the graduate’s chosen discipline or
disciplines
To increase the impact of expertise, and to learn and
and opportunities
To work productively, collaboratively and openly in
diverse groups and across cultural boundaries
To work effectively in interdisciplinary (including
inter-professional) settings and to build broader
perspective, innovative vision, and more
contextualised and systemic forms of understanding
To build integrity, confidence and personal resilience,
and the capacities to manage challenge and
uncertainty
To be effective in exercising professional and social
responsibility and making a positive contribution to
society
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