LifeofaScientist

BSC4810-001(1credit)Syllabus;FALL2014, Fridays12:00-12:50pm,Rm:SC119

Instructor:Dr.EvelynFrazier

OfficeHours: TuesdaysandThursdays 12:00-1:30pm.Othertimesby appointmentONLY(e-mailmethe coursename,yourname,and3possibletimes thatyoucanmeetandIwillfityouinmyschedule)

Office:SansonBuilding(#1),Rm212

OfficePhone:561-297-4472

E-mail:

UndergraduateTeachingAssistants: NikolleLambrinos(), Ariel

Zeiger(),JessicaHuffman,DanaElhassani

OfficeHours:Byappointmentthroughemail.ContactNikolleorAriel.

Pre-requisites: Co-requisites:

None(ajollyattitudewouldhelp!) None

CourseDescription:Anintroduction todifferent aspects of thelifeofa researcher. StudentswillbeintroducedtotheresearchdoneintheFAUBiologyDepartment,learn howtogetinvolvedinresearch,findundergraduateresearchopportunitiesandpotential careersinresearch.

LearningGoals:Aftercompletionofthiscoursestudentsshould beableto:

1. Understandwhatresearchisandwhywedoit

2. Understandresearchethicsandethicalbehavior

3. Read,comprehendandanalyzescientificwriting

4. Interpretscientificpapersincludinggraphsandfigures

5. Learn/buildcriticalthinkingskills

6. Learnaboutresearch/internshipopportunitiesatFAUandotherinstitutions

CourseObjectives/LearningOutcomes(studentsshould beableto):

1. Applythescientificmethodtoaresearchtopic

2. Conductaliteraturesearchandnavigateimportantresearch-relatedwebsites

3. ApplyforresearchexperiencesinresearchlaboratoriesatFAUand other

Institutions

4.Successfullyidentifyandapplyforresearchopportunities(scholarshipsand grants)atFAUandotheragencies

RequiredBooks/Supplements:None

Blackboard: Anonline educational programthatALLstudents enrolled inthisclass

haveFREEaccessto.Allyouneedtodoisgoto procedurestologin.

E-mail:AllstudentsarerequiredtochecktheirFAUe-mailseverydayonceaday.Your instructorandTAswillbecommunicatingwith youpersonallyviae-mail.DONOThave yourFAUaccountforwardedtoAOLorothere-mailsitesbecausesomemessageswill NOTmakeitthrough.

E-mailEtiquette:Wait24hoursforaresponsetoyoure-mail.Donotexpectanyoneto replyduringaweekendorholiday.Whene-mailingyourTAs,facultyorstaffatFAU, pleasewritee-mailsinaprofessionalformat.WEARENOT YOUR BUDDIES! We havea PROFESSIONALrelationship and youshould be trained to correspond in a professionalmanner.Subjectlineofthee-mailshouldinclude:Coursenameornumber: e.g.LifeofaScientist(BSC4930);andALWAYSwriteyourFULLNAME. INAPPROPRIATEe-mailexample:"Yo,whatismygradeb4thefinal?"NEVERUSE abbreviationssuchasthoseusedintextmessaging.Nooneshouldhavetoanswersuch ane-mail!

University AttendancePolicy:"Students areexpectedtoattendalloftheirscheduled universityclassesandtosatisfyallacademicobjectivesasoutlinedbytheinstructor.The effectofabsencesupongradeisdeterminedbytheinstructor"(UniversityCatalogue). Missingclasses----Astudentmay missupto2classeswithoutdocumentation.Any missedclassesbeyond that must be supported with documentation submitted to Dr. Frazierbythe nextclassperiodorthestudentwillreceiveanon-satisfactorygrade.

BEONTIME!Arrivingmorethan10minuteslatewillresultinanabsence!!!

ReligiousAccommodations:Studentswhowishtobeexcusedfromcoursework,class activitiesorexaminationsmustnotifytheinstructorinadvanceoftheirintentionto participateinreligious observationandrequestan excusedabsence.

Grading:Pass/Fail.Attendanceisrequiredtoobtainapassing/satisfactory grade.Apoint system will be used to evaluate in-class assignments and homework. YOU MUSTMAKE-UPANYMISSEDASSIGNMENTSIFYOUWANTCREDITFORTHEM!

POINTSYSTEM

65Points-Attendance (5pointseachclass)

30Points-Presentations

55 Points-Homework

150PointsTotal

Disabilitypolicystatement

IncompliancewiththeAmericanswithDisabilities Act(ADA),studentswhorequire reasonableaccommodations due toa disability to properly execute coursework must registerwiththeOfficeforStudentswithDisabilities(OSD)--inBocaRaton,SU133 (561-297-3880);inDavie,LA240(954-236-1222); inJupiter,SR110(561-799-8010); or attheTreasureCoast,CO117(772-873-3441)-andfollowallOSDprocedures.

CodeofAcademicIntegrityPolicyStatement

StudentsatFloridaAtlanticUniversityareexpectedtomaintainthehighest ethical standards.Academicdishonestyisconsideredaseriousbreachoftheseethicalstandards, becauseitinterfereswiththeuniversitymissiontoprovideahighqualityeducation inwhichnostudentenjoysanunfairadvantageoveranyother.Academicdishonestyis also destructiveoftheuniversitycommunity,whichisgrounded inasystemofmutualtrust andplaceshighvalueonpersonalintegrityandindividualresponsibility.Harshpenalties are associated with academic dishonesty. For more information, see University Regulation4.00l. StudentscaughtPlagiarizingwillbeassignedagradeof"F" inthe course and their transcripts will be flagged.

ScheduleofMeetings

Week / Date / Activity / Homework / Due
Date
1 / Aug.22,
2014 / 1)Introduction
2)Pre-courseassessment
S)Ted talk:the "S.O.L.E.-theholeinthewall'
1)Research,fromquestionstopublications: / Readthe syllabus
2 / Aug.
29,
201 (Dr.
Frazier) / Expectations,ethics,and intellectualpropertyofideas
)Careeroptionsinresearch:whatcanIdowhen graduate?
Featuring:AnthonyPlanas
(Biology/Ecologycareers) / I
3 / Sept.5,
2014 (Nikolle/
Ariel) / Workshop I:Dissectingapeer-reviewedarticle
(withworksheet) / 1)Dissect
assigned researchpapers (10pts)
2)Thinkofa
researchtopic thatyouare / Sept
12,2011
interested in
4 / Sept12,
2014
(Jessica) / Workshop II:Theliteraturesearch-howtodoi whattolookfor,andsometoolstohelpyoualongthe way / Write aone
paragraph summaryona paperofinterest (5pts) / Sept
19
2014
5 / Sept.
19,2014
(Nikolle) / 1)Groupdiscussion:Yourresearchtopicand
progresswithfindingpapers
2)Workshop III:UsingPowerPoint
S)Example:4-minutesummarypresentationofa scientificpaper / Preparea4-
minute
PowerPoint presentation on
yourpaperof interest. (aopts) / Oct.s, Oct.10, Oct. 17,
2014
6 / Sept26,
2014
(Dana/
Ariel) / Fieldvisit:TheFAUEcologicalPreservewithDr.
Frazierandherlabteam
MEETINPARKINGLOT5ATTHE TORTUGATRAILHEAD(behindthe stadium)
7 / OctS
2014 / Discussion ofscientificpapers:Studentspresent4- minutePowerPoint summariesontheirpapersof interest
8 / Oct.
10,2014 / Discussionofscientificpaperscont.:Students present4-minute PowerPointsummariesontheir
papersofinterest / 1)Findandlist
twofaculty membersyou wouldliketo workwith, andmention tworeasons
whyyouwould liketowork withthem(10 pts) / Oct.
24,
2014
9 / Oct.
17,
2014
(Jessica) / 1)Groupdiscussiononchosenfacultymembers andresearchtopics
2)Writingprofessionalemailstopotentialfaculty mentors / Write draftof emailstotwo faculty members (10pts) / Oct.
24,2014
11 / Oct.
24,
2014
(All) / UndergraduateandGraduate Research
Presentationswithstudent critiques
12 / Oct.S1,
2014 / UndergraduateResearchSymposium
(MANDATORYATTENDANCE!!)Student critiques.
13 / Nov.
7,
2014
(Ariel) / Workshop IV:Applyingfor summerinternshipsand scholarships
14 / Nov.
14,2014
(Ariel) / Workshop V:Writingyourpersonalstatementand curriculumvitae / 1)Writeyour statement of purpose (10pts)
2)Writeyour
cv
(10pts) / Nov
21,
2014
15 / Nov.
21,
2014
(Dana) / 1)Labtours/facultypanelTBA
2)Studentevaluationsandpost-course
assessment.
16 / Nov.
28,
2014 / THANKSGIVINGBREAK- Haveagreat finalsweek-noclass
(KEEPYOURGPAsUP!GPAMATTERS!)