Biol 250/450 Introduction to Research
RMSC 212W, T-TH 8am-10:50am Spring 2005
Dr. G.R. Davis, Jr., Ph.D.
Email: Webpage: webs.wofford.edu/davisgr
Office phone: 597-4621, Home phone: 948-9025 (please call before 9:30 pm)
Materials: There is no text to purchase for this course. However, there will be numerous papers and handouts distributed throughout the semester. A three ring binder is required.
Course Description: This course is intended to introduce students to the development and execution of a graduate student level research project in order to gain insight into the expectations, frustrations, and satisfactions garnered through pursuit of knowledge (i.e. research) and a graduate degree in Biological Sciences.
Goals:
1) To establish an original research protocol.
2)To develop and execute a series of original research experiments.
3)To prepare a presentation of our findings in a manner suitable for presentation at a scientific meeting.
4)To become proficient in reading and presenting scientific literature in a journal club format.
Notes: 1) Some of the time students will be required to devote to this course will be OUTSIDE of formal class meetings. You will be responsible for the care and well being of living breathing animals, including in some instances on weekends. This commitment must be taken VERY SERIOUSLY. Anyone who anticipates major time constraints and conflicts should see me ASAP.
2) Good Communication is essential to teamwork and research! Expect numerous emails from me and other members of the class. Check your email daily.
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Tentative Class Schedule:
Week 1 (Feb 8 & 10)Introduction to Animal Handling, Experimental Methods, and
Background Reading
Week 2 (Feb 15 & 17)Animal Handling, Assemble & Test the Tail-suspension apparatus
Week 3: (Feb 22 & 24)Presentations / Day 1 of Testing
Week 4: (Mar 1 & 3)Presentations/ Conduct Experiments
Week 5: (Mar 8 & 10)Presentations/ Conduct Experiments
Week 6: (Mar 15 & 17) Presentations/ Conduct Experiments
Week 7: (Mar 22 & 24)Presentations / Conduct Experiments
Week 8: (Mar 29 & 31)Presentations/ Conduct Experiments
Week 9: (Apr 12 & 14)Presentations/ Conduct Experiments
Week 10: (Apr 19 & 21)Presentations/ Conduct Experiments
Week 11: (Apr 26 & 28)Presentations/ DATA ANALYSIS
Week 12: (May 3 & 5)Presentations/ Abstracting
Week 13: (May 10 & 12)Prep for Final Presentation
Friday, May 13Formal Presentation to campus community
Exam Week Ingest Fest
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GRADING: Points will be earned in this class through PARTICIPATION and presentations (2). You will have numerous opportunities to evaluate and to be evaluated by your peers, and these anonymous evaluations will be considered in determining final grades.
Point Breakdown: Participation 40pts, Presentation #1 25 pts, Presentation #2 35 pts, (100 Total pts).
Grades will be based on a ten point scale:
90-100%= A-, A, 80-89%= B-,B, B+, 70-79%= C-,C, C+, 60-69%= D, <60%=F.
Attendance Policy: Attendance to your portions of the experiment is critical to the successful completion of the project. Therefore, attendance at class meetings and meeting your obligations to the experiment is VITAL! If you have an emergency, you must contact your lab partner and Dr. Davis as soon as possible. Attendance will be monitored closely and will be a factor in your participation grade. Excessive absence and shirking of responsibility will result in disciplinary action and, most likely, a poor grade for the course.
Academic Integrity: Your integrity is critical to the successful completion of the project. Results will ONLY be useful to our class and the scientific community if the data are compiled in a manner adhering to the scientific method. Falsification of data has ruined careers, wastes valuable time and money, and will earn you a failing grade in this class. Therefore ANY incidence of dishonesty will be punished to the FULLEST EXTENT allowed by the guidelines set forth by the College (See Student Handbook).
Reality Check: Although we will design and conduct an experiment that we expect to yield clear and useful data, it is equally likely that the data collected will fail to achieve statistical significance. FEAR NOT! Your grade for the course will not be influenced by the nature of the data collected, but rather the manner in which you approach its collection.
**I reserve the privilege to alter the content and/or requirements of this course should I find this plan unsuitable at a future date**