STB200 Advanced Research Skills and Techniques

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

A research project is an integral component of the second year of the Bachelor of Science Advanced (Honours) and introduce discipline-specific research opportunities. A research project will involve working within a research group on a project for approximately eight weeks, with the aim of learning or extending skills in laboratory/field techniques and general research approaches. In this core unit, you will undertake a single research project to enable you to experience research in your interest area and to continue to develop new professional skills. This unit provides opportunities to network with research staff aligned to your research interest and identify research opportunities for your Honours project. You will also participate in the STB300 symposium where you will communicate the outcome of your research experience through a poster presentation.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. 1. Apply research skills, including experimental design, record keeping and technical proficiency to answer scientific questions. [CLO1; CLO2; CLO3; CLO6]
2. 2. Communicate research outcomes to an audience of peers from diverse scientific backgrounds [CLO1; CLO4]
3. 3. Evaluate research outcomes presented by peers from diverse scientific backgrounds [CLO4]

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit will provide an authentic practical experience in a research environment where you will have an opportunity to further develop your skills and experience using research techniques. Students will be mentored by a range of researchers (academics, postgraduate and higher degree research students) in their research group throughout the research project.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Oral and written feedback on your progress will be available during the semester. 

Assessment

Overview

Assessment in this unit relates to the research project undertaken during the semester. Your achievement in the project will be evaluated by the project supervisor (mentor) based on your integration into the research group, skills acquired, effort demonstrated, and knowledge obtained. At the end of the project you will prepare a report that includes a research summary of your experimental outcomes and a reflection on your research experience and how that informs your future research and career goals, and on the evaluation provided by your supervisor. Your final piece of assessment will be to prepare a poster based on the research undertaken in the project, which will be presented at the symposium organised by students in STB300 where you will also be required to peer review other posters. You will be assessed on your poster and on the feedback you provide. Achievement in this unit is assessed as Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. You must demonstrate competency in all assessment tasks to achieve Satisfactory.

Unit Grading Scheme

S (Satisfactory) / U (Unsatisfactory)

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Supervisor Evaluation of Research Performance

An evaluation given by the rotation supervisor (mentor) based on your integration into the research group, skills acquired, effort demonstrated, and knowledge obtained.

Assessment: Research Summary and Reflection

For each rotation you will submit a report which includes a research summary and a reflection on your research experience and supervisor evaluation.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Assessment: Research Poster

A scientific poster based on research outcomes for one rotation to be presented at the Advanced Science symposium. You will present your poster and peer review other posters at the symposium.   

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

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.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Risk Assessment Statement

This unit will involve fieldwork and/or laboratory work. The procedures involved are deemed to be appropriate for students at this level of the course. In the case of laboratory work you will be provided with appropriate Health and Safety information, guidelines and inductions specific to the location and task. It is your responsibility to read and comply with these instructions for the safety of yourself, your fellow students and staff.  You will also be made aware of evacuation procedures and assembly areas in the first few lectures. In the event of a fire alarm sounding, or on a lecturer's instruction, you should leave the room and assemble in the designated area which will be indicated to you. You should be conscious of your health and safety at all times whilst on campus or in the field.