SMD 616: Introduction to the Research Learning Community

DEPARTMENT:     Research Affairs

COURSE DIRECTOR & FACULTY:     Mark Willis; faculty to be determined

TIME & LOCATION     January-May: monthly seminars in White Hall
                                      June-July: research experience, location to be determined

PREREQUISITES:     MS 1 in good academic standing

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

In January-May, students will attend monthly seminars that introduce them to the Research Learning Community (RLC) at Boonshoft School of Medicine. The RLC includes students and faculty engaged in a wide range of biomedical, clinical, translational, and medical education research.  

The seminars will include training in basic research skills that will prepare students to contribute to a faculty research project. Skills training will cover library and reference tools, using statistics, human subjects and lab animal research regulations, and university standards for the responsible conduct of research. Seminars will be supplemented by assignments and discussion in an online learning environment.

During the first part of the elective, students will identify and consult with potential mentors in participating BSOM departments. The student and mentor will develop a suitable plan for a research experience involving at least 40 hours of contact time. Plans will be finalized by May. Research experiences will be completed in June-July.

For the purposes of this elective, a research experience means participating in some meaningful aspect of a faculty mentor’s research project. The research experience might include: conducting a literature search, drafting a human subjects or lab animal protocol, obtaining informed consent from patients, conducting retrospective chart reviews and other kinds of data collection and analysis, or observing and learning specific research procedures. While the experience is not expected to be a fully developed and independent research project, it could provide a pathway for developing such a project later in medical school.

LEARNING METHODS:

1.    Participate in monthly seminars and skills training activities. (20%)
2.    Share and discuss assignments in an online learning community. (30%)
3.    Plan and complete a summer research experience under the supervision of a faculty mentor. (50%)

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1.    Survey the kinds of research conducted at WSU Boonshoft School of Medicine,
2.    Acquire basic skills and certifications for participation in a research project.  
3.    Participate in an online learning community
4.    Plan and complete a faculty-mentored research experience.

EVALUATION:

1.    Students will receive a grade of Pass/Fail.
2.    Students will be required to attend monthly seminars.
3.    Students will be evaluated by the course director related to completion of assignments, level of engagement with the learning community, and development of the research experience.
4.    Students will be evaluated by the faculty mentor related to completion of the proposed research experience.

THIS ELECTIVE COUNTS AS 1 OF THE 2 REQUIRED ELECTIVE EXPERIENCES.

If you have questions about the new research elective, contact course director Mark Willis (937-775-3814; mark.willis@wright.edu).