Course Co-coordinator:
Prof Darren Trott
darren.trott@adelaide.edu.au
Room G3 Leske Building,
Roseworthy
Phone: 8313 7989

Course administrator:
Janelle Trott janelle.trott@adelaide.edu.au
Room G3 Leske Building,
Roseworthy
Phone: 8313 7989
Please note: Janelle is only available Wednesdays and Fridays for CRP questions

Epidemiological consulting:
Dr Charles Caraguel
Veterinary Epidemiology & Aquatic Population Health
School of Animal & Veterinary Sciences
Leske Building G6
Phone: 8313 1245
charles.caraguel@adelaide.edu.au

Statistical consulting:
Students will be able to consult with a statistician during the course. Details will be provided in the My Uni website.

Students will identify their research project and supervisor in Semester 1 and submit their project synopsis for approval at the end of Week 3 in Semester 2 of the 1st year of the DVM program. 

Week 1: 9-12 noon:
Course Introduction; Animal/Human Ethics, Plagiarism, Record Keeping, Scientific Dishonesty, IP (L1 Darren Trott). Preparation of a manuscript/poster/oral for publication/presentation, what makes a good laboratory notebook (L2 Darren Trott). Introduction to statistics (L3 Michelle Hebart)
Veterinary Science, Tutorial rooms 5/6/7

1-2pm: PC-2 laboratory induction (for those working in the Hickenbotham PC-2 laboratory only). Other local area inductions may also be required to be completed prior to you working in those designated areas.
             
Week 2: 9-12 noon:
Review of Study Design/Samping (L4 Charles Caraguel)
Veterinary Science, Tutorial rooms 5/6/7
 
Week 3: Hand in Project Synopsis through Turnitin.

Week 6: 9-12 noon: 
Overview of statistical approaches to data analysis (L5 Charles Caraguel).
Veterinary Science, Tutorial rooms 5/6/7

Week 10: Submission of project abstract for publishing in the Research Day conference proceedings (email to janelle.trott@adelaide.edu.au).

Week 12: Submission of Research Logbook (place on desk outside Leske G3 and sign-off). Electronic submission of completed manuscript (Turnitin and email a PDF version to janelle.trott@adelaide.edu.au). Submit poster/oral presentation draft to the My Uni Discussion Board.

Note:
Students and supervisors may apply (in writing) for an extension on the manuscript of up to 14 days only if exceptional circumstances beyond the control of the student have contributed to unavoidable delays. If a project is not going well, or issues have arisen between supervisor/s and student, the course co-ordinator/administrator must be notified as soon as possible to assist with contingency planning.

Week 13:
Poster and oral presentation on Research Day (first Monday of Week 13); will be combined with Animal Science Honours student oral and poster presentation day and includes morning and afternoon tea. Veterinary Science, Tutorial rooms 5/6/7. Students are required to attend half a day (morning sessions or afternnoon sessions).

Weekly or every 2 weeks: 1 hr meeting with research supervisor & up to 10 hours research-related activity per week during semester – this may be averaged over the semester or can be completed outside the semester timetable.

1	Define the scope of research through an appropriate literature search and define an appropriate research hypothesis
2	Assess and apply appropriate materials, methods and techniques for the analysis of research results
3	Discuss research findings in the appropriate context with peers and supervisors
4	Collate and present research findings in an oral and/or visual format
5	Collate and present research findings in a written format

Students are required to discuss and confirm the availability and/or access to the resources required for the specific research project proposal with their project supervisor. These may include access to laboratories, necessary research and related equipment, specific software, access to any of the Veterinary Health Centres, statistical support, and other resources.

Students are required to review and utilise the teaching and other materials on evidence based medicine, epidemiology, clinical
and population-based research provided to them in VET SC 2500RW - Professional Skills Vet Bioscience II, VET SC 3516RW - Vet Epi, Biosecurity & EBM III, and VET SC 3514RW - Professional Skills Vet III. Students in the DVM program that have not completed these courses and have been admitted into the program based on an equivalent degree (candidates without a University of Adelaide BSc (VetBioSci) degree) are required to consult with the course coordinator.

A set of up to 6 introductory lectures on research planning, oral/poster/written presentation skills, research ethics, statistical and writing support and analysis of results.

Weekly meeting with research advisor during semester (timing to be determined by advisor and student). Research activities as directed by the individual research plan and timetable of each student equivalent to approximately 6 hours per week for up to 10 weeks.    

Students will receive a course outline and will be required to keep a log of weekly activities, findings and progress which will be reviewed by the research advisor throughout and at the end of semester. 

A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).

Up to 5 introductory lectures will be presented on aspects of research planning, including preparing an in-depth research budget and research plan, collating and analysing research data and techniques for presentation of research results (in an oral, poster and written format). These lectures will occur in weeks 1 and 2 and week 6, as required by the progress of the students.

Students will identify their research project and research advisor in Sem 1 and submit their proposal to the course co-ordinators for approval prior to the commencement of Sem 2 of the 1st year of the DVM program.

During the semester, students will meet with their research advisor on a weekly basis to discuss progress of research and review the student’s log book. Students will then be expected to undertake research-related activities for up to 6 hrs per week, dependent on their timetable and research-project requirements.

A one -day program will be scheduled late in the semester during which students will present their research in oral or poster format. Concurrent with their presentation, a written summary of the project will be submitted to the course co-ordinators in electronic formats, with the organization of the manuscripts to be equivalent to that required for publication in a scientific journal. 

 

Students will be working in pairs

Assessment Task	Task Type	Due	HURDLE	Weighting	Learning Outcome
Introduction and Materials and Methods (min 500 words)	Formative	Week 8	No	0%	1 - 3, 5
Research Day Abstract	Formative	Week 10	No	0%	1 - 3
Poster presentation or oral presentation	Summative	Week 13	Yes	30%	1 – 4
Log book	Formative Summative	Week 12	No	0% 10%	2
Synopsis and   Written report	Summative	Week 3 and Week 12	No Yes	10% 30%	1 – 3, 5
Supervisor mark	Summative	Week 12	No	20%	1 – 5

From 2022, all CRP students will be working in pairs (i.e. one CRP per pair).

Introduction and Materials and Methods (500 words per student). (0% of total course grade)
This formative assessment due in Week 8 is designed to make sure students are keeping up to date with manuscript writing rather than leaving it all to the final weeks.

Research Day Abstract. (0% of total course grade)
This formative assessment is due in Week 10 for publication in the conference proceedings.

Poster presentation or oral presentation (30% of total grade-Group Mark).
One presentation will be given in the form agreed to by the advisor and students.

In the case of a poster presentation, the poster will be in scientific format, of dimensions no larger than 90 cm wide and 120 cm high (A0 Portrait only). Students will be required to stand by their poster during the poster presentation event, give a short (5 min) overview, and respond to enquiries and questions from attendees. The poster will demonstrate an understanding of scientific poster visual design, organization of introduction or background, hypothesis and/or objectives, materials and methods, results, figures and discussion. Attendance with the poster will demonstrate an ability to present the poster and respond to enquiries.  Posters will be assessed using a standard rubric by two examiners (one expert, one non-expert) , scores averaged, and a grade produced.

In the case of an oral presentation, the presentation will consist of a 10 to 12 minute presentation in a lecture theatre with appropriate visual aids, and a 3-5 minutes question period. The oral presentation will demonstrate an understanding of study design, organization of introduction or background, hypothesis and/or objectives, materials and methods, results, figures and discussion. Both students will demonstrate an ability to present the research verbally and respond to audience enquiries.  Presentation will be assessed using a standard rubric by two examiners (one expert, one non-expert), scores averaged, and a grade produced.

Log Book (10% of total course grade). The Log book will form the basis of the weekly/two-weekly review meetings with the research advisor and will allow continuous feedback to the student throughout the semester. The log book will be submitted at the end of semester and assessed on its organisation, clarity and accuracy to the results presented in the final written report. Each student will need to provide evidence of their contribution as students will be assessed individually (Name and signature on each page).

Synopsis and Written Report (40% of total course grade). A synopsis of the project (using the appropriate template) will be submitted at the end of week 3 and is worth 10%. The written report will be electronically submitted at the end of week 12. The written report will be in the format of a manuscript as submitted for publication. Reports will be assessed by the examiners (one expert, one non-expert) according to a standard rubric. Students will receive written feedback on the manuscript. Each student will be responsible for different sections of the synopsis/manuscript and will be assessed individually.

Supervisor mark (20% of total course grade). An individual student mark will be given by the supervisor to reflect their overall contribution to the project. The rubric will include assessment of Clinical Reasoning/Problem Solving; Technical Skills; Communication Skills; Project Management and Professional Behaviour.

Late Submission

If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A mark of zero will be allocated to late submitted assessment.