Medical Microbiology and Immunology

Unit Code

01095

Department/Institution Offering Unit

Microbiology and Immunology
(and affiliated Hospital departments and institutions)
Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences
University of Melbourne
Parkville
Victoria 3010 Australia

web: www.microbiol.unimelb.edu.au

Unit Points

Research Points: 62.5 - 87.5

Coursework Points: 37.5 - 12.5

The semester breakdown of points will vary according to the coursework elements chosen by the students.

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Contacts

Unit Coordinator/s:

Prof Roy Robins-Browne
Microbiology and Immunology
Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences
University of Melbourne
Parkville
Victoria 3010 Australia

tel: +61 3 9345 5741
fax: +61 3 9345 5764
email: r.browne@unimelb.edu.au

Prof James McCluskey
Microbiology and Immunology
Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences
University of Melbourne
Parkville
Victoria 3010 Australia

tel: +61 3 8344 5679
fax: +61 3 9347 1540
email: j.mccluskey@microbiology.unimelb.edu.au

A/Prof Geoff Hogg
Microbiology and Immunology
Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences
University of Melbourne
Parkville
Victoria 3010 Australia

tel: +61 3 8344 5713
fax: +61 3 8344 7833
email: ghogg@unimelb.edu.au

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Overall Objectives

This unit is designed to:

• provide an introduction to the process and practice of research work in the fields of medical microbiology and immunology in one or more of their many facets.
• enable a critical development and reflection on current methodological approaches to the above fields, including a practical application of the scientific method, data analysis and presentation.
• enhance students' knowledge of microbiology and/or immunology through a course of advanced lectures.
• enhance the students' ability to assess medical and scientific literature.
• improve oral and written communication skills.

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Content

Coursework: Students will undertake one of: Intermediate Epidemiology and Biostatistics OR Qualitative Health Research, as appropriate to the research project selected.

Depending on their interests and previous experience, students may enrol for one or more 3rd-year science subjects, such as Advanced Immunology or Medical Microbiology and Virology or a suitable lecture unit in the BSc Hons course. They may also be permitted to undertake coursework in another University department if appropriate.

• an approved, original, supervised research project dealing with an aspect of medical microbiology, public health microbiology or immunology
• attendance at departmental seminars and laboratory meetings
• attendance at a series of lectures and tutorial sessions dealing with one or more selected topics in microbiology or immunology
• the preparation of a research report, including a literature review.

In some cases, students may be permitted to undertake their project at an affiliated institution, hospital or institute, such as the Royal Children's Hospital, the Macfarlane Burnet Centre for Medical Research, CSL Limited, the National Serum Reference Laboratory, the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, or the Victorian Transplantation and Immunogenetics Service.

Sample Research Topics:

1. Pathogenesis of infectious diseases
2. Public health microbiology
3. Epidemiology of resistance to antimicrobial agents
4. Viral diseases
5. Bacterial genomics
6. Vaccine development
7. Autoimmunity
8. Transplantation immunity

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Assessment Breakdown

Research Component: 62.5 - 87.5 points
Research Report (up to 10,000 words): 80% - 85%
Oral presentation: 20% - 15%

Coursework Component: 12.5 points
Intermediate Epidemiology and Biostatistics or Qualitative Health Research will be assessed as per subject descriptions

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Student Numbers

Number of places available:
5