Course coordinator
Professor David Ascher
Course overview
- Study period
- Summer Semester, 2024 (25/11/2024 - 08/02/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 4
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Chemistry & Molec Biosciences
Prior to 2022, this course was titled: Research Project B.
An 4 unit Individual workplace- laboratory- or computer-based project & analysis of a specific topic in bioinformatics, biotechnology, or molecular biology. Projects can be undertaken within university laboratories or in an industry setting with co-supervision by an academic staff member. The project results will be presented via oral presentation and an appropriate report format. Students should enrol in BIOX7004. Students who have completed BIOX7004 may enrol in BIOX7005.
Practitioners in the disciplines of Biotechnology, Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics formulate their work around hypotheses, methods, experimentation and data gathering; while in some cases technologies and approaches require development, outcomes require evaluation and data are interpreted. It is difficult to interpret biological data unless one has had first hand experience of gaining reliable data. Of necessity therefore, a professional scientist must acquire experience in the development and application of techniques and experimental procedures, which may include computational techniques and literature research work. This course gives you hands-on experience in planning and executing experiments, tests, and interpreting research results.
The course may be taken in an academic setting or as an industry internship/placement under the direct supervision of an industry-based supervisor in an company, government department or other suitable organisation.
Course requirements
Assumed background
In general students will be assumed to have completed at least one semester of a postgraduate coursework program in Biotechnology, Molecular Biology or Bioinformatics.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
With permission of the program director, BIOX7005 has a pre-req of BIOX7004. BIOX7004 has no additional pre-req.
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
BIOC7011, BIOT6011, BIOT7001, BIOT7011, BIOT7035.
Course contact
Timetable
Additional timetable information
The Program Director's permission is required to enrol in this course. Please complete and submit the SCMB Postgraduate Coursework Supervisor Approval Formﾠ via the submission link provided in the SCMB Postgraduate Coursework Community Blackboard site.
This course is delivered by directed study under academic supervision and there is no generic timetable. Student and supervisor will arrange to meet at regular intervals to monitor progress.
Students must meet with their supervisor and agree upon a topic BEFORE the end of week 2 of semester.
In week 1, students must meet with their supervisor to agree on a timetable for attendance in the laboratory. For a 4 unit project laboratory attendance should be a minimum of 20 hours per week. Students must also provide their supervisor with a hard copy of the Course Profile (CP) at this meeting.
Students should contact their individual supervisors directly for matters relating to their research project lab work and research report.
It is the student's responsibility to make contact and arrange meetings with their supervisor to discuss the progress of their work.
It is the supervisor's responsibility to supervise the research project and provide a mark for each of the following assessment items - project plan and laboratory performance. The research report will be marked by two independent examiners.
The supervisor will be asked to mark the research report of a student they do not supervise.
The supervisor should nominate two examiners for the research report and inform the Course Coordinator of theﾠ examiners'ﾠ contact details.
Any questions on the assessment requirements should be directed to enquiries@scmb.uq.edu.au
Absences
It is the student’s responsibility to notify their supervisor if they will be absent from the lab for any period of time. Absences longer than three days must be supported by documentation e.g. a medical certificate.
It is the supervisor’s responsibility to notify the School if a student is absent for more than five days.
Project Progression
Refer to Assessment > Additional Information for important information on how to manage disruptions during your project.
Aims and outcomes
Practictioners in the disciplines of Biotechnology,ﾠMolecular Biology andﾠBioinformatics formulate their work aroundﾠhypotheses, methods,ﾠexperimentation and data gathering; while in some cases technologies and approaches require development,ﾠoutcomes require evaluation and data are interpreted.ﾠIt is difficult to interpret biological data unless one has had first hand experience of gaining reliable data. Of necessity therefore, a professional scientist must acquire experience in the development and application of techniques and experimental procedures, which may include computational techniquesﾠand literature research work.ﾠ This course gives you hands-on experience in planning and executing experiments, tests, and interpreting research results.
The course may be taken in an academic laboratory or as an industry internship/placement under the direct supervision of an industry-based supervisor in an company, government department or other suitable organisation.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Plan, execute and interpret experiments accurately
LO2.
Communicate research results in a written report
LO3.
Communicate research outcomes orally to a small group
LO4.
Comply with expectations and responsibilities of a professional working environment and engage effectively in the workplace.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Project |
Project Plan
|
Pass/Fail |
11/12/2024 2:00 pm |
| Participation/ Student contribution |
Week 3 Checkpoint meeting
|
Pass/Fail |
16/12/2024 2:00 pm |
| Participation/ Student contribution |
Week 6 Checkpoint meeting
|
Pass/Fail |
13/01/2025 2:00 pm |
| Presentation |
Research seminar presentation
|
10% |
Completion of presentation 28/01/2025 - 31/01/2025 Submission of slides 2:00pm 3/02/2025 |
| Notebook/ Logbook, Practical/ Demonstration |
Notebook and assessment of research performance
|
20% |
3/02/2025 2:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Project |
Report assessment
|
70% |
3/02/2025 2:00 pm |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Project Plan
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Project
- Weight
- Pass/Fail
- Due date
11/12/2024 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01
Task description
The aim of this exercise is to get you thinking about the context of your research project early in your laboratory placement. It will also act as a “milestone” for supervisors to enable them to judge your writing skills, and enable early intervention if necessary. You should develop the project plan through consultation with your supervisor.
Format of Plan
The plan should be prepared using a word processor. The page margins should be set to 2cm all round, the pages should be numbered and 12pt Calibri (or equivalent) or Times New Roman (or equivalent) fonts should be used. The first page of the plan (not counted in the total number of pages) should carry your project title, your name and student number, and your supervisor’s details. The maximum length of the plan should be a 4 page introduction plus a 1 page plan.
The first part of the project plan should be a thorough introduction to your area of research, which should be produced through careful consideration of the current scientific literature (and any company documentation where relevant) pertinent to the project.
The second part of the project plan should include a brief description of the main aim(s) of your research project, followed by a brief outline of the proposed research strategies that you will use to meet the aims of your project. No more than one page should be used for this section.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT)
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
See ADDITIONAL COURSE GRADING INFORMATION for the hurdle/s relating to this assessment item.Submission guidelines
Submit your plan through the course submission point in Blackboard.
Before submitting your assessment item please name your file in the following way. FAMILY NAME_GivenName_StudentID_CourseCode_AssignmentName For example: Bob Smith (ID: 54329876) would name his ABCD1234 essay 1 in the following way. SMITH_Bob_54329876_ABCD1234_Essay1
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Applications for Extensions
Information on applying for an extension can be found here - my.UQ Applying for an extension
Extension applications must be received by the assessment due date and time.
If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a Word document outlining why you cannot provide the documentation and upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
Please note: When an extension request has been submitted and is pending, students are expected to continue to work on the assessment item, with the aim of submitting the assessment item by the requested due date and time.
If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 14 days, we advise you to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester. You might be eligible to withdraw without academic penalty. We strongly recommend you seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
Extensions with Student Access Plans (SAP)
For extensions up to 7 days, your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, extension requests longer than 7 days (for any one assessment item) will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. A maximum of two applications may be submitted for any one assessment item, unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then 10% of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item (assessment ‘marked from’ value) will be deducted as a late penalty for every day (or part day) late after the due date. For example, if you submit your assignment 1 hour late, you will be penalised 10%; if your assignment is 24.5 hours late, you will be penalised 20% (because it is late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period). 10% will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point your submission will receive a mark of zero (0) unless an extension has been approved.
In most instances one or more hurdles will apply to your assessment item so you will need to submit it to fulfil the requirements of the course regardless of how late it is and the mark you are likely to be awarded.
Week 3 Checkpoint meeting
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Oral
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution
- Weight
- Pass/Fail
- Due date
16/12/2024 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
Arrange a meeting with your supervisor in Week 3 and complete the Week 3 Checkpoint reflection then submit by the due date and time.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT)
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
See ADDITIONAL COURSE GRADING INFORMATION for the hurdle/s relating to this assessment item.Submission guidelines
Submit through the online portal in Blackboard.
Before submitting your assessment item please name your file in the following way. FAMILY NAME_GivenName_StudentID_CourseCode_AssignmentName For example: Bob Smith (ID: 54329876) would name his ABCD1234 essay 1 in the following way. SMITH_Bob_54329876_ABCD1234_Essay1
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Applications for Extensions
Information on applying for an extension can be found here - my.UQ Applying for an extension
Extension applications must be received by the assessment due date and time.
If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a Word document outlining why you cannot provide the documentation and upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
Please note: When an extension request has been submitted and is pending, students are expected to continue to work on the assessment item, with the aim of submitting the assessment item by the requested due date and time.
If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 14 days, we advise you to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester. You might be eligible to withdraw without academic penalty. We strongly recommend you seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
Extensions with Student Access Plans (SAP)
For extensions up to 7 days, your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, extension requests longer than 7 days (for any one assessment item) will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. A maximum of two applications may be submitted for any one assessment item, unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then 10% of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item (assessment ‘marked from’ value) will be deducted as a late penalty for every day (or part day) late after the due date. For example, if you submit your assignment 1 hour late, you will be penalised 10%; if your assignment is 24.5 hours late, you will be penalised 20% (because it is late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period). 10% will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point your submission will receive a mark of zero (0) unless an extension has been approved.
In most instances one or more hurdles will apply to your assessment item so you will need to submit it to fulfil the requirements of the course regardless of how late it is and the mark you are likely to be awarded.
Week 6 Checkpoint meeting
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Oral
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution
- Weight
- Pass/Fail
- Due date
13/01/2025 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
Arrange a meeting with your supervisor in Week 6 and complete the Week 6 Checkpoint reflection then submit by the due date and time.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT)
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
See ADDITIONAL COURSE GRADING INFORMATION for the hurdle/s relating to this assessment item.Submission guidelines
Submit through the online portal in Blackboard.
Before submitting your assessment item please name your file in the following way. FAMILY NAME_GivenName_StudentID_CourseCode_AssignmentName For example: Bob Smith (ID: 54329876) would name his ABCD1234 essay 1 in the following way. SMITH_Bob_54329876_ABCD1234_Essay1
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Applications for Extensions
Information on applying for an extension can be found here - my.UQ Applying for an extension
Extension applications must be received by the assessment due date and time.
If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a Word document outlining why you cannot provide the documentation and upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
Please note: When an extension request has been submitted and is pending, students are expected to continue to work on the assessment item, with the aim of submitting the assessment item by the requested due date and time.
If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 14 days, we advise you to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester. You might be eligible to withdraw without academic penalty. We strongly recommend you seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
Extensions with Student Access Plans (SAP)
For extensions up to 7 days, your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, extension requests longer than 7 days (for any one assessment item) will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. A maximum of two applications may be submitted for any one assessment item, unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then 10% of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item (assessment ‘marked from’ value) will be deducted as a late penalty for every day (or part day) late after the due date. For example, if you submit your assignment 1 hour late, you will be penalised 10%; if your assignment is 24.5 hours late, you will be penalised 20% (because it is late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period). 10% will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point your submission will receive a mark of zero (0) unless an extension has been approved.
In most instances one or more hurdles will apply to your assessment item so you will need to submit it to fulfil the requirements of the course regardless of how late it is and the mark you are likely to be awarded.
Research seminar presentation
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
Completion of presentation 28/01/2025 - 31/01/2025
Submission of slides 2:00pm 3/02/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L03
Task description
Give a 15 minute presentation to your supervisor and research group members at the end of semester between the dates above.
Oral presentations are a richer medium than written documents. They allow you to establish stronger contact with the audience and better convince them of your viewpoint through verbal and nonverbal delivery, as well as the ensuing interaction. Oral presentations have a price, however, in terms of the audience's time. If you give a poor 15-minute presentation to an audience of 200 people, you have wasted the equivalent of 50 hours of work — more than a week of someone's work time. Preparing effective oral presentations, like writing effective scientific papers, takes time, but it is time well invested. This assessment item will give you a chance to start building your oral presentation skills.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT)
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
See ADDITIONAL COURSE GRADING INFORMATION for the hurdle/s relating to this assessment item.Submission guidelines
Submit your powerpoint slides as PPTX through the online portal in Blackboard.
Before submitting your assessment item please name your file in the following way. FAMILY NAME_GivenName_StudentID_CourseCode_AssignmentName For example: Bob Smith (ID: 54329876) would name his ABCD1234 essay 1 in the following way. SMITH_Bob_54329876_ABCD1234_Essay1
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Applications for Extensions
Information on applying for an extension can be found here - my.UQ Applying for an extension
Extension applications must be received by the assessment due date and time.
If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a Word document outlining why you cannot provide the documentation and upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
Please note: When an extension request has been submitted and is pending, students are expected to continue to work on the assessment item, with the aim of submitting the assessment item by the requested due date and time.
If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 14 days, we advise you to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester. You might be eligible to withdraw without academic penalty. We strongly recommend you seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
Extensions with Student Access Plans (SAP)
For extensions up to 7 days, your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, extension requests longer than 7 days (for any one assessment item) will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. A maximum of two applications may be submitted for any one assessment item, unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then 10% of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item (assessment ‘marked from’ value) will be deducted as a late penalty for every day (or part day) late after the due date. For example, if you submit your assignment 1 hour late, you will be penalised 10%; if your assignment is 24.5 hours late, you will be penalised 20% (because it is late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period). 10% will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point your submission will receive a mark of zero (0) unless an extension has been approved.
In most instances one or more hurdles will apply to your assessment item so you will need to submit it to fulfil the requirements of the course regardless of how late it is and the mark you are likely to be awarded.
Notebook and assessment of research performance
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Notebook/ Logbook, Practical/ Demonstration
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
3/02/2025 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L04
Task description
General guidance on how to perform laboratory/project work, and your responsibilities as part of a research team, will be given by your supervisor or the person appointed to act as your mentor for this course. Please do not hesitate to ask for their advice if you are uncertain of any aspects of your project – rules and manners, how to obtain specialised chemicals or commercially purified enzymes, how to use a piece of equipment/software, how to maintain a notebook, etc.
You need to maintain a record of the work you are doing (commonly using a laboratory notebook) as evidence that the work has been conducted. Recording your work allows others to see the details of what you have done, avoids needless repetition of experiments/data collection, facilitates progression of the work when you have moved on and is needed in support of future publication.
You are expected to keep a comprehensive record of your day-to-day work, fully dated and indexed. This notebook will contain protocols, details of exactly how work was performed day-to-day (including appropriate weightings, volumes, photographs, search strategies etc.), all raw data (or a note of where voluminous data collections, such as chart recorder traces, are held).
If your project is literature or computationally based you are still required to maintain a notebook as a record of the work you are doing.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT)
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
See ADDITIONAL COURSE GRADING INFORMATION for the hurdle/s relating to this assessment item.Submission guidelines
Submit your laboratory notebook (or a record of your work) directly to your project supervisor by the due date and time.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Applications for Extensions
Information on applying for an extension can be found here - my.UQ Applying for an extension
Extension applications must be received by the assessment due date and time.
If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a Word document outlining why you cannot provide the documentation and upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
Please note: When an extension request has been submitted and is pending, students are expected to continue to work on the assessment item, with the aim of submitting the assessment item by the requested due date and time.
If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 14 days, we advise you to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester. You might be eligible to withdraw without academic penalty. We strongly recommend you seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
Extensions with Student Access Plans (SAP)
For extensions up to 7 days, your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, extension requests longer than 7 days (for any one assessment item) will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. A maximum of two applications may be submitted for any one assessment item, unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then 10% of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item (assessment ‘marked from’ value) will be deducted as a late penalty for every day (or part day) late after the due date. For example, if you submit your assignment 1 hour late, you will be penalised 10%; if your assignment is 24.5 hours late, you will be penalised 20% (because it is late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period). 10% will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point your submission will receive a mark of zero (0) unless an extension has been approved.
In most instances one or more hurdles will apply to your assessment item so you will need to submit it to fulfil the requirements of the course regardless of how late it is and the mark you are likely to be awarded.
Report assessment
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Project
- Weight
- 70%
- Due date
3/02/2025 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L04
Task description
The objective of your report is to provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate your research initiative, analytical and interpretative skills, grasp of techniques, and clarity of expression and presentation.
Your report will be prepared using a word processor: page margins will be set to 2cm all round, pages will be numbered, font of 12pt Calibri or Times New Roman (or equivalent) is acceptable, line spacing of 1.5 will be used. One of the arts of scientific writing is to organise ideas and results concisely and with least repetition. The total length, exclusive of references figures and tables, i.e. consisting of the text for the Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion and Conclusions, should not exceed 25 pages (excluding the bibliography). There may be instances, such as industrial placement, where an alternative format is justified, this should be agreed with the course coordinator.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT)
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
See ADDITIONAL COURSE GRADING INFORMATION for the hurdle/s relating to this assessment item.Submission guidelines
Submit your report through the course Turnitin submission point in Blackboard.
Before submitting your assessment item to Turnitin please name your file in the following way. FAMILY NAME_GivenName_StudentID_CourseCode_AssignmentName For example: Bob Smith (ID: 54329876) would name his ABCD1234 essay 1 in the following way. SMITH_Bob_54329876_ABCD1234_Essay1
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Applications for Extensions
Information on applying for an extension can be found here - my.UQ Applying for an extension
Extension applications must be received by the assessment due date and time.
If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a Word document outlining why you cannot provide the documentation and upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
Please note: When an extension request has been submitted and is pending, students are expected to continue to work on the assessment item, with the aim of submitting the assessment item by the requested due date and time.
If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 14 days, we advise you to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester. You might be eligible to withdraw without academic penalty. We strongly recommend you seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
Extensions with Student Access Plans (SAP)
For extensions up to 7 days, your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, extension requests longer than 7 days (for any one assessment item) will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. A maximum of two applications may be submitted for any one assessment item, unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then 10% of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item (assessment ‘marked from’ value) will be deducted as a late penalty for every day (or part day) late after the due date. For example, if you submit your assignment 1 hour late, you will be penalised 10%; if your assignment is 24.5 hours late, you will be penalised 20% (because it is late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period). 10% will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point your submission will receive a mark of zero (0) unless an extension has been approved.
In most instances one or more hurdles will apply to your assessment item so you will need to submit it to fulfil the requirements of the course regardless of how late it is and the mark you are likely to be awarded.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Student has made little attempt to address the requirements for this topic. Written submissions and performance are incomplete or unsatisfactory. The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 0% |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Student fails to demonstrate relevant knowledge or understanding of the underlying concepts associated with this topic. The student shows little evidence of the skills and understanding expected of a graduate. The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 30% |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: The student demonstrates a limited knowledge of the topics being assessed. The student shows little aptitude to continue in this area, but has benefited from the exercise and may be able to apply this knowledge for other purposes. The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 45% |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student's answer to the topic is unambiguous and addresses the specific question(s) or issue(s) being examined. Performance in the assessment instrument(s) demonstrates basic knowledge and comprehension of the underlying concepts of the topic being examined. The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 50% |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: In addition to the criteria for a grade of 4, the student demonstrates in his or her assessment a superior understanding of some of the underlying concepts of the topic(s) being examined. The student has shown some competence in addressing the assessment criteria. The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 65% |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: In addition to the criteria for a grade of 5, the student demonstrates a higher level of understanding of the factual and conceptual information available from the literature or other appropriate sources (e.g. the student's own experimental data). A good attempt has been made to dissect and integrate different aspects of that knowledge, resulting in well-balanced and appropriate conclusions and a commendable attempt to synthesize ideas. The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 75% |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Reserved for an outstanding performance which demonstrates a level of achievement superior to a grade of 6, and includes a substantial and original synthesis of ideas based on a critical analysis of the subject matter available to the student. The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 85% |
Additional course grading information
Assessment Hurdles
In order to pass this course, you must meet ALL of the following requirements (if you do not meet these requirements, the maximum grade you will receive will be a 3):
1. Students must obtain an overall course mark of 50% or more; and
2. Students must complete and submit ALL course assessment items and learning tasks.
Additional course requirement:
1. To receive a grade above 4 you must submit all Pass/Fail assessment by the due date and time.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply.
Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.
If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.
Supplementary assessment can take any form (such as a written report, oral presentation, examination or other appropriate assessment) and may test specific learning outcomes tailored to the individual student, or all learning outcomes.
To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment.
Additional assessment information
Assessment Submission
It is the responsibility of the student to ensure the on time, correct and complete submission of all assessment items.
Please ensure you receive and save the submission confirmation for all submitted items, you may be asked to produce this as evidence of your submission.
Turnitin
By submitting work through Turnitin you are deemed to have accepted the following declaration “I certify that this assignment is my own work and has not been submitted, either previously or concurrently, in whole or in part, to this University or any other educational institution, for marking or assessment”.
All students must ensure they receive their Turnitin receipt on submission of any assessments. A valid Turnitin receipt will be the only evidence accepted if one or more of your submissions are missing. Without evidence, the assessment will receive the standard late penalty, or after seven days, will receive zero. In the case of a Blackboard outage, please contact the Course Coordinator as soon as possible to confirm the outage with ITS.
Assessment/Attendance
Please notify your Course Coordinator as soon as you become aware of any issue that may affect your ability to meet the assessment/attendance requirements of the course. The my.UQ website and the Course Profile (CP) for your course also provide information about your course requirements, the rules associated with your courses and services offered by the University.
Important Note - Project Progression
Please note that extensions are only rarely granted. Extensions will typically only be granted if you suffer from a significant illness, if a close family member develops a serious illness, or for family bereavement. Extensions will not routinely be granted at many weeks or months after an illness or other event, on the basis that such interruptions are part of life.
Research projects are not about completing a set body of work within an indefinite timeframe. Rather, you are given a period of time to learn about a topic, gain experience in practical research skills, analyse data, develop your own independent thoughts and conclusions based on this analysis, and write a report that communicates all of this to your examiners.
We expect that you will develop skills that allow you to adjust your plans “on the run” – everyone will experience things that do not go according to plan at some point, and it is a necessary skill in scientific research to be able to respond to change, whether it is an experiment that did not work because someone switched the incubator off over the weekend, or an event that prevented your attendance at the University or impacted your priorities.
What is important is that you adjust your plans appropriately, and in close consultation with your supervisor, so that you have sufficient time to analyse and write up what data you have obtained into a report that best demonstrates your knowledge and development as a scientist.
Note: If your application for extension is due to significant unforeseen circumstances in your laboratory a detailed written statement outlining the circumstances is required from your supervisor. This can be included in your application. Applications due to unforeseen circumstances will not be accepted without a supervisor's statement.
A note for repeating students in this course
Any student who enrols in a course must not be given exemption or partial credit from their previous attempt(s) for any individual piece of assessment. Instead, the student must successfully complete all of the learning activities and assessment items within the study period of enrolment (PPL Assessment - Procedures Section: Assessment integrity).
If the same assessment item is set from one year to the next, repeating students are allowed to submit the same work they submitted in previous attempts at the course. Where possible SCMB recommends that you use the feedback you received in your last attempt to improve parts of the item where you lost marks. Resubmission of an altered or unaltered assessment item by a repeating student (where the same assessment has been set) will not be considered as self-plagiarism.
Important Note
Turnitin is to be used for assignments/laboratory reports to check for plagiarism. Penalties can be severe for plagiarism.
The University has adopted the following definition of plagiarism: Plagiarism is the act of misrepresenting as one's own original work the ideas, interpretations, words or creative works of another either intentionally or unintentionally. These include published and unpublished documents, designs, music, sounds, images, photographs, computer codes and ideas gained through working in a group. These ideas, interpretations, words or works may be found in print and/or electronic media.
Students are encouraged to read the UQ Academic Integrity and Plagiarism policy.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Blackboard
Further information regarding this course can be found on the BIOX7004 Blackboard site at learn.uq.edu.au. Additional supplementary material may also be posted on the site.
Please check the Announcements section of the Blackboard site regularly for information updates.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 8 |
Practical |
Laboratory work Performance of original experiments (or relevant industrial project work) and a written report. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04 |
Week 1 (25 Nov - 01 Dec) |
Workshop |
Week 1 meeting Students will meet with their supervisor and discuss the requirements of their project. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Revision week (27 Jan - 02 Feb) |
Workshop |
Seminar At the end of the semester a short seminar is to be given to the research group in which you worked. Learning outcomes: L03, L04 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.