Current Research Topics in Cellular Biochemistry

Fall Semester

Fridays, 8:45 - 10:30, HPM D7.2

Student maximum: 15

Course scripts available here, with ETH user-ID and password.

Course Coordinators

Vikram Panse

Alicia Smith

Course description

The goal of the course is to train students in critical analysis of current research. Analysis by individual students will be assessed in oral and written form. Working in sub-groups with a tutor, students will become familiar with a selected research topic. Each student sub-group will present their topic during two successive Friday sessions. In the first session, the sub-group will present the research topic to their peers, with a focus on material that will provide general knowledge needed to critically review an assigned primary research paper. In addition, the student sub-group will propose a set of questions that all individuals must prepare for the second session in an effort to stimulate critical analysis of the selected work. In a second session, the student sub-group will moderate a peer discussion and critical review of the assigned research publication.

Course format

The first session is devoted to the presentation of the topic by the student sub-group. This presentation is prepared independently, with the support of the tutor. Expected components of any topic presentation include an overview of the subject, a short statement about the key questions in the field, identification of the specific questions that are addressed in the paper, and 2-3 specific questions of interest for further discussion in the second session. All students have one week to prepare the assigned papers including overall question, methods used to ask questions, key results, underlying logic, remaining gaps, what is unclear, outlook, and the specific questions developed by their colleagues. The second session is used to discuss the assigned research paper and key questions. All the students are expected to prepare all the papers, to think about answers to all questions, and to actively participate during all discussions.

Evaluation

50% - An individual grade given by topic tutor based on:

• participation during preparation of the sub-group presentation.
• 2000-word written document on the primary paper to be submitted to your tutor before the second presentation
  
• overall quality of the presentation in the first session including clarity, structure, and content.
• ability to chair the discussion during the second session including active participation, quality of the questions asked and answered, and critical analysis expressed in oral form.
  

50% - An individual grade based on a written exam (4hr) given by V. Panse and A. Smith. Each tutor will select a primary publication as a candidate for critical analysis by students in a written exam. Of the five possible topics, two topics will be selected by V. Panse and A. Smith. Students will be grouped randomly into two blocks. Each block will receive a research paper from one of the two selected topics. There will be no overlap between research topic in the exam with the research topic presented during the semester in the sub-group.