W3600, Biological Research Skills, Spring 2010.
Wednesdays, 6:10 -7:00.
Room 1000, Fairchild
Instructor:
Tulle Hazelrigg
753 Fairchild Extension (Mudd)
212-854-3025
Required Book:
Angelika H. Hofmann. Scientific
Writing and Communication.
Recommended book:
William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White. The Elements of Style. 4th ed.
Course Description:
The purpose of W3600 is to bring together undergraduate students in the biological sciences who are engaged in research in diverse labs across campus, to meet and talk to research scientists, to address ethical issues in research, and to improve skills in scientific communication. The first half of the semester faculty members from the Department of Biological Sciences will speak about their professional paths and the scientific problems they have worked on. On one evening a panel of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows will answer questions that students have about graduate school and postdoctoral research. Two class sessions, led by bioethicist Joel Roselin, will explore ethical issues in scientific conduct and writing. The second half of the semester is devoted to improving scientific writing skills. Lectures and discussions will address principles of scientific writing, and students will work together in peer review workshops on the W3500 research papers that are due at the end of the semester.
Reading
Readings will be assigned in Scientific Writing and Communication.
Grades
Attendance at presentations, 1/27-3/31: 10
Required writing assignments and participation in workshops, 4/14-4/28:
Introduction: 10
Methods: 10
Results: 10
Discussion, Final Intro, Abstract, Title: 10
Total: 50
Classes
1/20 Introduction
1/27 Faculty Talk: Martin Chalfie
2/3 Faculty Talk: Elizabeth Miller
2/10 Faculty Talk: John Hunt
2/17 Ethical Issues I: Joel Roselin, Columbia Office of Research Compliance and Training. Scientific Misconduct
2/24 Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Panel: Irini Topalidou, Cindy Vied, Steve Marks, Ray Louie
3/3 Faculty Talk: Daniel
Kalderon
3/10 Faculty Talk: Jian Yang
3/15-3/19 Spring Break
3/24 Lecture: Writing Scientific Research Papers
Reading: Hofmann, ch. 7. (All previous chapters are recommended reading while you are working on your paper.)
3/31 Ethical Issues II: Joel Roselin, Columbia Office of Research Compliance and Training. Writing and Authorship
Workshops: The
W3500 Research Paper
Each section of your paper must be distributed, by e-mail, to the other student members of your workshop, and to Dr. Hazelrigg, by the Monday preceding the relevant workshop.
4/7 Free writing week
4/14 Workshop: Introduction – background and research questions.
Reading: Hofmann, ch. 10
4/21 Workshop: Materials and Methods; Results
Reading: Hofmann, chs. 11-12
4/28 Workshop: Discussion, Final Introduction, Abstract and Title
Reading: Hofmann, chs. 13-15. Read ch .16 as you revise your final paper.
(5/3 – last day of classes; hand in final papers to W3500 and research advisor as per W3500 requirements)