LQN305-3 Diagnostic Genomics Research and Dissertation
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | LQN305-3 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | LQN305-2. LQN305-2 can be studied in the same teaching period as LQN305-2. |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,744 |
| International unit fee | $5,148 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Online
| Unit code: | LQN305-3 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | LQN305-2 as a concurrent pre requisite. LQN305-2 can be studied in the same teaching period as LQN305-3 |
Overview
The dissertation component of the Master of Diagnostic Genomics program provides the opportunity to build on the knowledge and skills acquired during the Master's degree. Students can gain placement in a diagnostic (clinical) or research laboratory to undertake a project in the field of genomics. Alternatively, students may elect to author a meta-analysis or systematic review on a research question pertinent to diagnostic genomics.
Undertaking the project fosters critical evaluation and interpretation skills and increases confidence in the design, execution and analysis of research. This research is reported in a written dissertation formatted to current APA guidelines.
Students are required to verify their identification in this unit by showing their student identification card to their supervisor during supervision sessions.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Evaluate relevant methodologies and execute research pertinent to human diagnostic genomics.
- Reflect on and critique empirical and theoretical genomics information to formulate clear research questions.
- Employ coherent theoretical, methodological, practical and contextually relevant research knowledge, skills, and values in order to solve complex genomics research questions.
- Critically interpret research findings in the context of the published literature, examining strengths and weaknesses of study design, and clearly identifying all ethical aspects of the research.
- Exercise high level autonomy, collegiality, collaboration with peers, and ethical judgement in both research and clinical decision-making.
Content
The dissertation units involve planning, designing, and executing an original piece of genomics research under the guidance of a supervisor. This process will culminate in the presentation of a dissertation (representing one-quarter of the Master of Diagnostic Genomics program). The dissertation will include clearly stated research question(s), an empirical literature review, data analysis, results and discussion.
Learning Approaches
This capstone experience provides the opportunity to apply your theoretical knowledge to a real-world problem. This experience will provide exposure to genomic digital practices and technologies, thereby delivering experience to help you gain employability. As a student enrolled in this unit you will be expected to meet on a regular basis with your placement supervisor, though the format and frequency of these meetings can be negotiated between you and your supervisor. The supervisor's role will be to guide and assist you through the planning, execution and reporting of the research project.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Feedback will be given regarding your ability to conduct research, review the literature, undertake diagnostic tests and interpret their results (where applicable). Your supervisor will provide you with ongoing feedback at your regular meetings. At the end of the semester, your supervisor will provide you with an assessment of how well you performed in your placement. Formal feedback on your written dissertation will be in the form of examiners' reports.
Assessment
Overview
There are three assessment items in LQN305-3. The first assessment is a Placement Performance Assessment which is completed by your supervisor at the end of your placement. This will be completed by a supervisor regardless of the placement type (clinical, research or review project). The second piece of assessment is an up to date and validated copy of your research and/or literature review workbook to be submitted in the final week of your placement. The final piece of assessment (Assessment 3) is a 10,000 word dissertation that details the aims, methodology, outcomes and significance of the project.
The first two assessment items are formative and are graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory. The final assessment item is summative and the awarded grade is applied to the unit.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale and S (Satisfactory) / U (Unsatisfactory)
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Supervisor evaluation
Workplace or academic supervisors will complete a student engagement assessment form addressing the student's professional skills and engagement during their project.
Due within four weeks following completion of project.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Threshold Assessment:
A favourable performance report needs to be submitted and marked as satisfactory in order to pass this unit.
Assessment: Research Workbook
Hardcopy laboratory book, electronic lab book diary, journal, or logbook outlining systematic review process, that provides a continuous, contemporaneous record of your research work.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
.
Assessment: Dissertation
A 10,000 word dissertation that details the aims, methodology, outcomes and significance of the project.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Threshold Assessment:
The dissertation needs to be passed in order to pass this unit
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Requirements to Study
Requirements
For WILs placements, the hosting institution will have mandatory workplace health and safety requirements which you will be informed about when accepted into your placement.
Costs
Associated workplace health and safety requirements (eg vaccinations)
Resources
You will source materials relevant to your dissertation from the published scientific literature.
Your chosen laboratory may request that provide some of your own equipment (eg personal protective equipment).
Risk Assessment Statement
If you are conducting your placement in a laboratory other than your place of employment then a Health and Safety Risk Assessment application must be approved by the School/ Faculty Health and Safety Officer before data collection can commence.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.LS81 Master of Diagnostic Genomics
- Apply scientific knowledge and skills, focused on current genomic trends in practice and research, utilising digital capabilities.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO4, Dissertation - Critically evaluate scientific findings and locate solutions to solve complex genomics problems, employing high order cognitive skills, clinical reasoning, and reflective practice.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Research Workbook, Dissertation - Develop and apply professional oral and written communication skills that inform effective collaboration and digital interactions with colleagues and other stakeholders across the medical and scientific contexts.
Relates to: ULO4, Research Workbook, Dissertation - Practise within a framework of personal accountability, collegiality and ethical judgement, drawing upon Indigenous perspectives, cultural safety and sensitivity in professional practice, clinical decision-making and research.
Relates to: ULO4, ULO5, Supervisor evaluation, Research Workbook, Dissertation - Plan and execute a substantial academic activity in the field of diagnostic genomics to address a specific research question.
Relates to: ULO3, ULO4, Research Workbook, Dissertation
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Online
| Unit code: | LQN305-3 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | LQN305-2 as a concurrent pre requisite. LQN305-2 can be studied in the same teaching period as LQN305-3 |
Overview
The dissertation component of the Master of Diagnostic Genomics program provides the opportunity to build on the knowledge and skills acquired during the Master's degree. Students can gain placement in a diagnostic (clinical) or research laboratory to undertake a project in the field of genomics. Alternatively, students may elect to author a meta-analysis or systematic review on a research question pertinent to diagnostic genomics.
Undertaking the project fosters critical evaluation and interpretation skills and increases confidence in the design, execution and analysis of research. This research is reported in a written dissertation formatted to current APA guidelines.
Students are required to verify their identification in this unit by showing their student identification card to their supervisor during supervision sessions.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Evaluate relevant methodologies and execute research pertinent to human diagnostic genomics.
- Reflect on and critique empirical and theoretical genomics information to formulate clear research questions.
- Employ coherent theoretical, methodological, practical and contextually relevant research knowledge, skills, and values in order to solve complex genomics research questions.
- Critically interpret research findings in the context of the published literature, examining strengths and weaknesses of study design, and clearly identifying all ethical aspects of the research.
- Exercise high level autonomy, collegiality, collaboration with peers, and ethical judgement in both research and clinical decision-making.
Content
The dissertation units involve planning, designing, and executing an original piece of genomics research under the guidance of a supervisor. This process will culminate in the presentation of a dissertation (representing one-quarter of the Master of Diagnostic Genomics program). The dissertation will include clearly stated research question(s), an empirical literature review, data analysis, results and discussion.
Learning Approaches
This capstone experience provides the opportunity to apply your theoretical knowledge to a real-world problem. This experience will provide exposure to genomic digital practices and technologies, thereby delivering experience to help you gain employability. As a student enrolled in this unit you will be expected to meet on a regular basis with your placement supervisor, though the format and frequency of these meetings can be negotiated between you and your supervisor. The supervisor's role will be to guide and assist you through the planning, execution and reporting of the research project.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Feedback will be given regarding your ability to conduct research, review the literature, undertake diagnostic tests and interpret their results (where applicable). Your supervisor will provide you with ongoing feedback at your regular meetings. At the end of the semester, your supervisor will provide you with an assessment of how well you performed in your placement. Formal feedback on your written dissertation will be in the form of examiners' reports.
Assessment
Overview
There are three assessment items in LQN305-3. The first assessment is a Placement Performance Assessment which is completed by your supervisor at the end of your placement. This will be completed by a supervisor regardless of the placement type (clinical, research or review project). The second piece of assessment is an up to date and validated copy of your research and/or literature review workbook to be submitted in the final week of your placement. The final piece of assessment (Assessment 3) is a 10,000 word dissertation that details the aims, methodology, outcomes and significance of the project.
The first two assessment items are formative and are graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory. The final assessment item is summative and the awarded grade is applied to the unit.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale and S (Satisfactory) / U (Unsatisfactory)
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Supervisor evaluation
Workplace or academic supervisors will complete a student engagement assessment form addressing the student's professional skills and engagement during their project.
Due within four weeks following completion of project.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Threshold Assessment:
A favourable performance report needs to be submitted and marked as satisfactory in order to pass this unit.
Assessment: Research Workbook
Hardcopy laboratory book, electronic lab book diary, journal, or logbook outlining systematic review process, that provides a continuous, contemporaneous record of your research work.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
.
Assessment: Dissertation
A 10,000 word dissertation that details the aims, methodology, outcomes and significance of the project.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Threshold Assessment:
The dissertation needs to be passed in order to pass this unit
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Requirements to Study
Requirements
For WILs placements, the hosting institution will have mandatory workplace health and safety requirements which you will be informed about when accepted into your placement.
Costs
Associated workplace health and safety requirements (eg vaccinations)
Resources
You will source materials relevant to your dissertation from the published scientific literature.
Your chosen laboratory may request that provide some of your own equipment (eg personal protective equipment).
Risk Assessment Statement
If you are conducting your placement in a laboratory other than your place of employment then a Health and Safety Risk Assessment application must be approved by the School/ Faculty Health and Safety Officer before data collection can commence.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.LS81 Master of Diagnostic Genomics
- Apply scientific knowledge and skills, focused on current genomic trends in practice and research, utilising digital capabilities.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO4, Dissertation - Critically evaluate scientific findings and locate solutions to solve complex genomics problems, employing high order cognitive skills, clinical reasoning, and reflective practice.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Research Workbook, Dissertation - Develop and apply professional oral and written communication skills that inform effective collaboration and digital interactions with colleagues and other stakeholders across the medical and scientific contexts.
Relates to: ULO4, Research Workbook, Dissertation - Practise within a framework of personal accountability, collegiality and ethical judgement, drawing upon Indigenous perspectives, cultural safety and sensitivity in professional practice, clinical decision-making and research.
Relates to: ULO4, ULO5, Supervisor evaluation, Research Workbook, Dissertation - Plan and execute a substantial academic activity in the field of diagnostic genomics to address a specific research question.
Relates to: ULO3, ULO4, Research Workbook, Dissertation