HONOURS IN ORAL BIOLOGY
ATTENTION SCIENCE AND BIOMEDICINE STUDENTS
Welcome to the Melbourne Dental School Honours Home Page
The Melbourne Dental School takes a small number of honours students each year. This provides students with the opportunity to work closely with their supervisors, get to know PhD students and to develop independent study techniques. Each student is provided with their own study desk and computer for the duration of the course.
The following information will assist you in completing your application. The closing date for applications is Friday 27 November 2009.
We invite you to start your research career in the exciting and challenging field of molecular science and oral biology.
OVERVIEW
Honours places will be available with the Melbourne Dental School commencing in semester 1 2009. With high-tech laboratories located at Bio21 and the Melbourne Dental School, honours students will be exposed to advanced techniques in many areas including immunology and vaccine development, molecular biology, bacterial pathogenesis, microarray technology, flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, bioinformatics, peptide chemistry, mass spectrometry, proteomics, protein chemistry, NMR and molecular modeling. In addition, fascinating opportunities are available exploring the biophysics and engineering science involved in developing dental materials and in the area of facial imaging.
Further information about the School's facilities is at: http://www.dent.unimelb.edu.au/dsweb/future_students/postgrad/facilities.html.
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COURSE STRUCTURE
Course Name: BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS)
Course Code: 754AA
CRICOS Code: 014791A
Year: 2010
Students enrol in two subjects:
- 511-496 Dental Science: Oral Biology Research Project = 75 points
- 511-497 Dental Science: Oral Biology Advanced Coursework = 25 points
These two subjects provide the 100 points required for the Honours year.
511-496 Dental Science: Oral Biology Research Project
Students conduct an original research project under the supervision of one or two of our research staff.
Current areas of major research activity within the School include the molecular biology of oral diseases and microbial pathogens, the cell biology and development of oral tissues, dental epidemiology, and the evaluation and development of novel dental restorative materials.
Students prepare a report (thesis) of approximately 10,000 words by the end of the year.
511-497 Dental Science: Oral Biology Advanced Coursework
Students undertake:
- Seminars on selected topics of advanced oral biology;
- Lectures or workshops on the critical analysis of a scientific paper, library resources, research design and writing and communication skills;
- Participation in the School’s (monthly) and Research Unit’s (weekly) research seminars;
- An oral presentation of the aims and methods of the research project during the period, and a seminar to the School on the research project at the end of the period;
- A literature review of approximately 3000 words on a selected topic related to their research project;
- A scientific critique of a journal article presented as a written assignment of approximately 2000 words.
COURSE ASSESSMENT
Students enrolled in Honours need to obtain a minimum of 65% for both the Research Project subject and the Advanced Coursework subject to pass the year.
RESEARCH PROJECTS
Honours research projects are currently offered within the following research groups:
- Oral Biology Section
- Oral Anatomy, Medicine and Surgery Section
- Restorative Dentistry
SCHOLARSHIPS
All honours applicants will be considered for scholarship support. The Melbourne Dental School offers a number of Honours Scholarships of $5000 to be awarded on the basis of academic merit. No separate application form is required.
HOW TO APPLY
Students undertaking Honours with the Melbourne Dental School formally enroll through the Faculty of Science. However, all other issues are handled by the School. Two forms need to be completed and submitted to the Honours Administrative Coordinator at the Melbourne Dental School:
DURATION AND COMMENCEMENT DATE
This is a full-time course over one year commencing on Monday 1 March 2010. There is no mid-year intake. The University semester dates for 2010 are at http://www.unimelb.edu.au/unisec/PDates/acadcale.html
CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Ms. Kim Hanson
Honours Administrative Coordinatior
Tel: +61 3 9341 1507
khanson@unimelb.edu.au
Dr. Laila Huq
Honours Academic Coordinator
Tel: +61 3 8344 2574
Fax: +61 3 9341 1599
laila@unimelb.edu.au