260.607.01
Methods in life sciences, literature and practice

Location
East Baltimore
Term
3rd Term
Department
Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Credit(s)
2
Academic Year
2024 - 2025
Instruction Method
In-person
Class Time(s)
Tuesday, 1:30 - 2:50pm
Auditors Allowed
No
Available to Undergraduate
No
Grading Restriction
Pass/Fail
Course Instructor(s)
J. Marie Hardwick
Isabelle Coppens
Monica Mugnier
Contact Name
J.-Marie Hardwick
Frequency Schedule
Every Year
Description
Understand how research technologies work and how to apply this knowledge to evaluate scientific literature and propose new research through in-depth small group discussions with a range of faculty, weekly assigned reading, short projects, and other activities over 3 terms (each can be taken separately). See course schedule for details.
Focuses on understanding laboratory research technologies and applying this knowledge to evaluate current scientific literature. Achieves these goals through in-depth small group discussions with a range of faculty expertise, weekly assigned reading, short projects, short writing assignments or other activities. Includes both faculty and student leaders for each session; some sessions held in Core facilities. Includes topic areas: molecular biology, genomics, protein structure and strategies to evaluate the literature (primarily term 1), microscopy technologies, image analysis, flow cytometry and lab notebook archiving (primarily in term 2), cell biology, organelle dynamics, cell signaling, data management and experimental design (primarily term 3).
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  1. Interpret a wide range of research technologies used in the basic science laboratory and core facilities
  2. Assess whether the evidence supports published conclusions
  3. Identify the limitations of experimental methods
  4. Use some computational tools, online databases and resources
Methods of Assessment
This course is evaluated as follows:
  • 50% Participation
  • 25% Presentation(s)
  • 25% Written Assignment(s)
Instructor Consent
No consent required
Special Comments

Designed for MMI PhD students; also open to masters students.