Doctors must be able to evaluate new information and integrate this into their understanding of complex systems and clinical practice. Graduates of the ANU medical school are also expected to be able to contribute to the knowledge underpinning their profession. Learning about research and how to conduct it, is a curriculum framework within the ANU Doctor of Medicine and Surgery. In this curriculum students are introduced to research methods used in medical and health research, research ethics and study design, critical analysis of data and information, and apply these learnings in both an individual major research project and minor group research projects.

The Research Project (Advanced) course is designed for students seeking to undertake a more substantive Phase 1 research project, usually with a view to commencing a PhD or MPhil after completing year 2 of the ANU Doctor of Medicine and Surgery. As such the Research Project (Advanced)- MEDI8023 is an alternative program option for students to the standard Research project - MEDI8013. Students seeking approval to enrol in the Research Project (Advanced) will be required to have the support of a nominated supervisor (who must be an established researcher at the ANU with a track record of supervision of successful timely HDR completions) and must submit a detailed research plan in the form of a grant proposal outlining the proposed project spanning both the Research Project (Advanced) course and, where relevant, the subsequent HDR program. Prospective students must also have completed all required ethics applications by November 30 of the year preceding enrolment in MEDI8023.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Identify research questions, and design and implement a research plan;
2. Perform sophisticated, critical analysis of the literature;
3. Analyse and summarise research data sets;
4. Synthesise meaning from data and observations and present coherent arguments;
5. Produce written research outputs (grant applications, reports, publications) to publication standards;
6. Develop project management skills commensurate with the planning and undertaking of an extended research plan including setting goals, meeting deadlines and communicating progress against agreed milestones;
7. Develop persuasive written communication skills based on the judicious use of evidence to support a comprehensive research plan as outlined in a grant proposal sufficient to cover the minimum requirements to successfully undertake the research;
8. Develop capacity to provide constructive feedback through peer review of the work of others, and to respond to constructive feedback form peers, their supervisor and their research mentor.