BIOLOGY 501 METHODS IN SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCH
FALL 2009
CLASSES SCHEDULED IN FR-1014, TUESDAYS AT 5-7PM (unless otherwise noted)
Dr. Robert Roer - Office Hours by Appointment – James Hall (x4117, roer@uncw.edu)
All course PowerPoints are available from the
course link on www.uncw.edu/people/roer
DATE TOPIC READING
Aug.
25 Introduction,
e-mail, forms, committees, etc.; the Grad. Student Handbook
prospectus, prospectus symposium, comprehensive
exams, grants and research support (Bio./Mar. Bio. or Mar. Sci.)
Sep. 01 Computer literature searches (meet in
Randall Library
“Glass”
Classroom - 1st floor) - Mr. Peter Fritzler
Sep. 08 Safety
- fire, chemicals, biohazards, radioactive materials
- Ms. Deb Tew (Environmental
Health and Safety)
Sep. 15 The scientific method, introduction to
experimental design Chaps. 1 & 2
Sep.
22 Basic sampling theory and
experimental design Chaps. 3 & 4
Sep. 29
Basic considerations for statistical
analysis - Take-Home
Exam
Oct. 06 FALL
BREAK
Oct. 13 Core
facilities and faculty expertise
Oct.
20 The thesis and scientific
paper, PowerPoint - capturing Chaps. 5-10
images & making presentations, tables and figures
Oct. 27 Learning outcomes
Nov. 03 Prospectus
symposium, prelims and expectations –
Drs.
Pabst & Pawlik
Nov.
10 Responsible Conduct of Research Chap. 11
http://www.uncw.edu/orssp/Responsible-Conduct.html
Nov. 17 RCR review & questions – PowerPoint
Presentations
Nov. 24 THANKSGIVING BREAK
Dec. 01 PowerPoint
Presentations - Literature Reviews due via e-mail attachment
Text: Valiela,
Ivan (2001) Doing Science. Oxford
Univ. Press, New York. 294p.
Learning Outcomes & Expectations:
This
course is NOT:
At
the end of this course YOU SHOULD:
Requirements
and Grading: You will be expected to
complete a literature search (the library staff will assist you as
required). You must also turn in a
draft of the literature review section of your prospectus by the last scheduled
class. Grades are calculated on a 10
point scale and will be based upon the mid-term exam (20%), completion of the
CITI Responsible Conduct of Research module (evidenced by copy of the
certificate of completion) (20%), a short (2-3 slide) PowerPoint presentation
on your research topic (10%), and the literature review portion of your
prospectus (50%).
Academic Integrity: All
members of UNCW’s community are expected to follow the academic Honor Code.
Please read the UNCW Honor Code carefully (as covered in the UNCW Student
Handbook). Academic dishonesty in any
form will not be tolerated in this class.
Please
be especially familiar with UNC-W’s position on plagiarism as outlined on in
the UNCW Student Handbook. Plagiarism is
a form of academic dishonesty in which you take someone else’s ideas and
represent them as your own.
Students with
Disabilities: Students with diagnosed
disabilities should contact the Office of Disability Services (962-7555). Please give me a copy of the letter you
receive from Office of Disability Services detailing class accommodations you
may need.