Methods and Techniques of Research

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

The vast majority of the course will provided in the form of Seminars presented by researchers and teachers of FMUC, where students are encoraged to actively intervene and participate in the discussion. With the intent of providing students with the tools required to design a research project proposal, part of the classes will be dedicated to this topic, where the importance of the different aspects that constitute a research project proposal will be identified and discussed.

Learning Outcomes

In this curricular unit students are expected to identify a relevant scientific question, within the scope of biomedical research, in one of the thematic areas of MIB, and select a group of methodologies and techniques which are appropriate to test a specific scientific question, integrated within a research project proposal. Thus, students will be exposed to the advanced concepts and modern techniques and methodologies used in research within the MIB specilization areas, allowing not only for a better comprehension of the technical and scientific contents described in the literature, but also familiarizing students with the more adequate and useful tools to answer the scientific questions that are raised in the course of research work leading to a master thesis. Students are also expected to acquire the necessary skills to write a scientific research project.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Presentation of advanced and differentiated concepts, as well as new experiemental techniques and methodologies in Neurobiology, Vision Sciences, Infection and Immunity and Oncobiology research. The themes discussed in each area range from basic research in biology, including cellular and molecular mechanisms of disease, to translational research. Discussions will also be held concerning formal aspects and scientific content of research project proposals, elaborated by students, separated in heterogenous groups, assembled from students with a variety of scientific and technical training backgrounds. The proposal will be based on a scientific theme proposed by each MIB field, and its elaboration will be closely followed by tutores responsible for the coordenation of each field.

These proposals will then be evaluated and discussed by an external panel of specialists assembled for the occasion.

Head Lecturer(s)

Henrique Manuel Paixão dos Santos Girão

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Project: 100.0%

Bibliography

Arrtigos científicos publicados em revistas internacionais da especialidade com revisão por pares. Scientific papers published in international scientific journals with peer-review.