This course provides students the opportunity to develop an original research proposal. Students will enhance their skills in interpreting, synthesising and critically analysing published literature and subsequently apply their knowledge to new questions in biology. Workshops will consist of discussing research ideas, learning strategies for robust experimental design and analyses, and peer-review activities designed to enhance writing and communication skills. 

Your research proposal should demonstrate a thorough understanding of the background and proposed techniques of your project and emphasise the biological applications of your research.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Design an original research project on a specific topic in biology;
2. Interact with members of a biological research laboratory;
3. Explain the broader aspects of research mechanisms and how research in biology is conducted;
4. Integrate diverse methodologies and theories in research planning, including experimental design;
5. Communicate research ideas, both orally and written, to a broader scientific audience;
6. Effectively critique and analyse your own and others written work in the peer-review process.

Research-Led Teaching

BIOL8700 is based on preparing students for conducting primary research in an ANU laboratory. Students are required to design an original proposal of intended research based on selected topic in biology. Students will be encouraged to interact with members of a biological research laboratory related to their chosen topic. In this process, students will read numerous scientific journal articles, summarise research in their field, identify research gaps, and design and present their own novel experiments. This work will be combined into one written final research proposal document that could be submitted to a funding agency. The final research proposal should demonstrate a thorough understanding of the background and proposed techniques of the project and emphasize the biological applications of the research.

Required Resources

All documents and resources will be provided to the students via the course Canvas site.

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying online, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Other Information

In order to enroll in BIOL8700, students must find an ANU supervisor (lab research leader) to supervise writing and developing their research proposal. Once a supervisor has agreed to mentor the student and signed the Supervisor Agreement Form, then the student can obtain permission to enroll in the course from the convenor (Dr. Florence Danila: florence.danila@anu.edu.au)

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction to course (Florence)
2	Building your research idea (Colin)
3	Researching the literature & drafting a white paper - Workshop 1 (Adam)
4	Researching the literature & drafting a white paper - Workshop 2 (Adam)
5	Journal club presentation workshop (Florence)
6	Journal club presentation symposium (All)	Journal club oral presentation (10%)
7	Experimental plan - Workshop 1 (Florence)	White paper (10%)
8	Experimental plan - Workshop 2 (Florence)
9	Independent student writing
10	Research proposal workshop (Colin)	Experimental plan (10%)
11	Research proposal seminar workshop (Florence)
12	Research proposal seminar symposium (All)	Research proposal seminar (10%)
13	Exam period	Final research proposal due (60%)

Tutorial Registration

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Journal club presentation	10 %	01/04/2026	15/04/2026	3,5,6
White paper	10 %	22/04/2026	06/05/2026	1,2,5,6
Experimental plan	10 %	13/05/2026	27/05/2026	1,2,4,5,6
Research seminar	10 %	27/05/2026	11/06/2026	1,3,4,5,6
Research proposal	60 %	03/06/2026	17/06/2026	1,2,3,4,5,6

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Canvas’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

This course is highly interactive during class meetings and self-lead in terms of option to collaborate with a research scientist and/or lab relevant to the students' topic of choice. Students are expected to participate in each workshop through discussions with their classmates and peer-review.

Examination(s)

This course has no formal “exams”, but instead students are assessed through several writing and scientific presentation assignments.

Assessment Task 1

Journal club presentation

Students will choose a scientific journal article (must be experimentally based, primary research from the past 4 years) and prepare a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation followed by 5 minutes of questions from the audience. The presentation will summarise the paper's main research aims, experimental methods, and results, as well as give a strong background and insight into the significance and implications for broader research. This presentation will be assessed by field academics and will be worth 10% of your course grade.

Assessment Task 2

White paper

A document summarising the relevant literature that forms the background of your research proposal. The word limit is 1500 words (+/- 10%). Figures, figure legends, tables and references do not count within the word limit. This assessment item will be marked by the lecturer and will be worth 10% of your overall course grade.

Assessment Task 3

Experimental plan

A document describing the novel experiments that will be conducted to investigate the research question/s in the proposal. Experimental plan should reflect a course of experiments that could be undertaken in one academic year (i.e., 9 months). It should clearly discuss the research question/s, aims and methods, as well as the significance of the project and/or its applications, and the anticipated time frame for each part of the project. The word limit is 1500 words (+/- 10%). Figures, figure legends, tables and references do not count within the word limit. This assessment item will be marked by the lecturer and will be worth 10% of your overall course grade.

Assessment Task 4

Research seminar

The research proposal will be presented to the class and invited field academics in a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation, followed by 5 minutes of questions from the audience. This presentation will outline the research question, aims, methods, significance and time frame of the novel research project. This presentation will be assessed by field academics and will be worth 10% of your course grade.

Assessment Task 5

Research proposal

The total length of the proposal should be 3000 words (+/- 10%) excluding abstract, figures, figure legends, tables and references. This will be the amalgamation of the literature review providing background information and identifying the knowledge gap on the proposed research (Assessment Taks 2), and an original research plan describing the methodology as well as the significance of the project and the anticipated time frame for each part of the project over a 9-month period (Assessment Task 3). The proposal will be marked by field academics and will be worth 60% of your overall course grade.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Returning Assignments

Students in this course have the benefit of being assessed by field academics who provide extensive constructive feedback. Students will receive feedback in time to incorporate suggestions to improve their next assignment and revisions.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

There are no resubmissions of assignments in this course.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Accessibility for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students