Research Frontiers in Biophysics (BIPH3001)

Course overview

BIPH3001 provides students with an opportunity to explore the many ways in which concepts and techniques from biophysics are shaping and influencing modern scientific research. Through a special topics lecture series, researchers from UQ highlight how cutting-edge biophysics plays a key role in addressing big research questions across a diverse spectrum of biology. In the second half of the course, students have an opportunity to enhance their knowledge in a specific area of biophysics research by completing a research proposal in partnership with an academic mentor.

BIPH3001 is a course that focuses on Research Frontiers in Biophysics. Since 2021, this course has been offered in its current format, which provides students an unprecedented opportunity to learn about and experience the many ways in which biophysics is driving world class research at UQ.

The course will be presented in two parts, with the first part featuring a series of "special topics" lectures from research leaders at UQ, all of whom have one thing in common - their research benefits from the use of biophysics! Each lecture will present a snapshot of a research project, highlighting the ways in which biophysics has influenced the research. Highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of biophysics, selected lectures will be "team taught", featuring two members of a collaborating research team with diverse backgrounds.

In the second half of the course you will prepare a research proposal on a topic chosen from a list of options. The topics will be provided by biophysics researchers from around UQ (including those presenting the guest lectures) and once you chose a topic you will work with a researcher who will meet with you in a mentoring capacity as you develop your research proposal. There will be no lectures in the second half of semester, allowing you to fully focus on the written piece of assessment.

BIPH3001 is the capstone course in biophysics and the second of two compulsory courses at level 2/3ﾠin the BSc (Biophysics) minor. There is no required pre-requisite for BIPH3001, but students who have not studied BIPH2000/BIOC2001 (previously or concurrently) should refer to the notes on ASSUMED BACKGROUND.

Course requirements

Assumed background

Most students who are in their third year of study in a molecular biosciences major or program, or a related field of study, should be capable of completing the course. BIOC2001 is a recommended (but not required) pre-requisite which you can completely concurrently with BIPH3001, if desired. If you have any concerns about the relevance of your particular study history then please contact the course coordinator for advice.

Recommended prerequisites

We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:

BIOC2001 or BIPH2000

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

Check your online timetable regularly.

Please note that lectures will only run in the first half of semester.ﾠAn updated course timetable reflecting this will be published on the course blackboard site at the start of semester.ﾠ

The second half of the course will have no formal contact hours and your learning will be largely self-directed.ﾠFor this part of the course you will be expected to coordinate regular meetings with your chosen supervisor/mentor. In developing your written assessment item, you should expect to have to dedicate as much working time as you would for a normal 2 unit course at 3rd level, despite the fact that these hours are not timetabled.ﾠ

Aims and outcomes

This course gives students of the physical and life sciences the opportunity to further their understanding in a specific area of biophysics and to interact with relevant researchers.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

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

In-semester exam

• Hurdle
• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

40% or 50%

Due date

16/09/2025 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Seminar Diary

Mode

Written

Category

Notebook/ Logbook

Weight

10% or 0%

Due date

19/09/2025 2:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submit your completed Seminar Diary 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 extension

Extension applications must be received no later than 24 hours after the published assessment due date and time.

Read the information contained in the following links carefully before submitting an application for extension to assessment due date.

For guidance on applying for an extension, information is available here.

For the policy relating to extensions, information is available here (Part D).

Information on medical certificates

Please note the University's requirements for medical certificates here.

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.

Meetings with supervisor/mentor

• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Activity/ Performance

Category

Performance

Weight

10%

Due date

31/10/2025 2:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L02, L04, L05, L06

Task description

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Applications for extension

Extension applications must be received no later than 24 hours after the published assessment due date and time.

Read the information contained in the following links carefully before submitting an application for extension to assessment due date.

For guidance on applying for an extension, information is available here.

For the policy relating to extensions, information is available here (Part D).

Information on medical certificates

Please note the University's requirements for medical certificates here.

Research Proposal

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

40%

Due date

31/10/2025 2:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L02, L04, L05, L06

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submit your Research Proposal 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 extension

Extension applications must be received no later than 24 hours after the published assessment due date and time.

Read the information contained in the following links carefully before submitting an application for extension to assessment due date.

For guidance on applying for an extension, information is available here.

For the policy relating to extensions, information is available here (Part D).

Information on medical certificates

Please note the University's requirements for medical certificates here.

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.

Additional course grading information

Assessment Hurdles

1.       If you achieve less than 40% for the in-semester exam, the maximum grade you will receive is a 4. 

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.

Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (for example, screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).

In the case of a Blackboard outage, contact the Course Coordinator as soon as possible to confirm the outage with ITS.

Assessment/Attendance

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 provide information about your course requirements, the rules associated with your courses and services offered by the University.

A note for repeating students in this course

Only learning activities and/or assessment items completed during the study period of enrolment, including any approved extensions, may contribute to your grade in this course. The whole or partial use of assessment items previously submitted for the same course, for a course at any institution, or for published material, is not permitted without written permission of the Course Coordinator.

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 should read the UQ Student Integrity and Misconduct 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

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Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

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 for Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.