Graduate Research (QSB/ES 295)

Transcription

1 Graduate Research (QSB/ES 295) Year and Semester: This syllabus adopted for Spring present Meeting date & time: T.B.A. depending on schedules of all enrolled. Workload: 1-12 unit => mean 3 hrs per week per unit; consisting of one-on-one meetings with advisor, conducting related, preparing and presenting results. In terms of possible career paths, QSB/ES 295 is an opportunity to undertake 3-36 hrs work per week in a lab if your career goal is as a lab technician or similar. Alternatively, if you are interested in a career as a scientist, QSB/ES 295 provides an opportunity to gain course credit for 3-36 hrs per week in order to engage more fully in the process of science and to develop the work ethic that is characteristic of most successful scientists. Instructor: Michael Dawson Contact Information: Rm 230 SE1, mdawson@ucmerced.edu, x4056 Course Goal: This course gives graduate students the opportunity to engage in laboratory, field, theoretical, and/or computational under the supervision of myself and potentially a postdoctoral scholar on a topic related to ongoing in the lab. It is also the course intended for enrolling for credit during completion of your thesis. The goal of the course is for you to gain experience as a practicing scientist i.e. applying knowledge learned in related courses, reading the literature, talking with colleagues, attending scientific meetings, etc., in a real setting, increasing your ability to use the scientific method, and gaining new practical experience. Course Learning Outcomes: Students will become able to develop a realistic plan complete the proposed plan, or identify how the plan was unrealistic maintain notebooks and other materials sufficient to authenticate all write a report based on the outcomes of their plan present summaries of work undertaken/progress made orally and in written form make clear, well structured, presentations and progress updates at lab meetings write a dissertation proposal undertake unbiased literature reviews produce an annotated bibliography write and submit grant proposals and compete successfully in grant competitions make clear, well structured conference posters and presentations write drafts of articles and submit good scientific papers to reputable journals complete dissertation chapters

2 Relationship to Program Learning Outcomes and, as applicable, Program Requirements QSB: 1. Knowledge and understanding, [and] demonstrated ability to conceive, plan, execute and/or interpret quantitative (statistical, computational, and model dependent) approaches to [biological] problems. 2. engage in effective communication of original and existing scientific inquiry and results orally 3. Ability to undertake and demonstrate original graduate level scholarship in specialized areas of biology, including integrative command of historical and current literature and broader scientific, and identification of open problems. 4. Ability to propose and defend a feasible plan to apply scientific techniques to open problems and execute, complete and defend original that advances scientific knowledge. 5. Knowledge and understanding of ethical standards. ES: 1. Core Knowledge - Graduates will be knowledgeable, skillful, and self-directed in the observation and analysis of environmental systems in terms of their capacity to design experiments with appropriate controls and conduct original, with an appropriate level of supervision (M.S., or Ph.D. precandidacy), and independently identify important questions, formulate experimental plans, data analysis, and conclusions (Ph.D.). 2. Communication Skills - Graduates will be conversant in at least two area(s) of environmental systems, and be adept at oral, written, and visual communication of results to peers and nontechnical decision makers. 3. Ethics, Community, and Lifelong Learning - Graduates will understand the importance of and professional ethics, engagement in the needs of their community, and life-long learning.

3 Evaluation/Grading System: QSB: Letter grades assigned on the basis of the final percentage, as follows: A: 90+ B: 80+ C: 70+ D: 60+ F: <60 ES: Satisfactory (!B) / Unsatisfactory ("B-) following the categories d above. At the start of each semester, you will be asked to establish a schedule and set of goals (in association with your graduate and faculty colleagues) relating to a particular question and hypothesis, and how this relates to your academic and career goals. This will form the basis of your assessment. You will be evaluated based on the following criteria: 1. Accomplishments in lab, relative to required time and degree goals Each credit of QSB/ES 295 requires 3 hours of work per week, this includes time in the lab doing lab work, reading in prep for and meetings, and other components of. Although credits are time-based, assessment is outcome-based; QSB/ES295 is intended to help you achieve graduate goals on semester, annual, and multi-year timescales, but is likely insufficient time alone. The possible maximum age score you can achieve in your grade will be in proportion to the age of the realistic outcomes toward your ultimate degree goal that you fulfil. 2. Quality of work in the lab Evaluation will be based on the care and accuracy with which the work is performed, use of proper scientific methodology in planning work and recording and analyzing data, as evinced in regular consultations during the course of the semester and in a short (1-2 pages) report of the work you complete prior to finals week (the report should explicitly relate attainment to your schedule and goals). 3. Demonstration of your appreciation of biological and mastery of scientific information in the of the conducted in the lab and its place in modern biology You will be assessed in two ways: [1] in terms of your participation in the learning environment represented by meetings with your advisor (i.e. asking questions, contributing knowledge), and [2] progress toward your degree goal. The level at which you are expected to attain these outcomes will vary depending upon how many times you have taken QSB 295 (see guide Table 1). I expect that after 3 semesters of QSB 295, students will be able to conduct at the highest standard in all categories. Table 1. Relationship between level of achievement in assessment criteria relative to number of times BIO 195 has been repeated for credit. The precise grade assigned will depend upon the degree to which each Assessment Criterion (AC) is achieved. Terms used are relative to expectations of a student with no prior lab experience. (See next page.)

4 Failing grade (< B) Passing grade (! B) Semester AC 1 AC 2 AC 3 AC 1 AC 2 AC 3 1 does not contribute to completed assists directly or indirectly in generating completed 2 contributes disproportionately little to productivity assists directly in generating 3 contributes disproportionately little to productivity Independently produces consistent with plan completed,, & novel ideas POLICIES: Laboratory safety Work in settings is subject to requirements of federal and state organizations for safety in the workplace. The office of Environmental Health and Safety is responsible for overseeing these regulations at UCM, see You will be instructed in basic lab safety when you first start work in the lab. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the lab manager and/or your instructor. Academic honesty All students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner becoming of academicians and scientists, see If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the course instructor. Disability services No student should be disadvantaged by the learning environment. See If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the course instructor.

5 Lauren Schiebelhut Spring 2015 ES units Semester goals 1. Apply for funding a. UCM Fletcher Jones Fellowship b. UCM Summer Fellowship 2. North coast invertebrate recruitment following die-off a. DNA extractions b. ddrad genotyping c. begin analyses 3. Submit SDC manuscript