EPM5011

Biostatistics work placement ( 12 points, SCA Band 2, 0.250 EFTSL)

Leader: A/Prof A. Forbes

Offered:
Clayton First semester 2005 (OCL)
Clayton Full year 2005 (OCL)
Clayton Second semester 2005 (OCL)
MMS-ALFRED Second semester 2005 (OCL)

Synopsis: This unit will involve students being exposed to real-life biostatistical problems in an academic health research environment, industry or government. They will be supervised by an experienced biostatistician with a staff or honorary appointment at Monash University. Students will be allocated, or may select, one or more research projects to be involved in. Under the general guidance of the supervisor, the student will assume responsibility for statistical aspects of the relevant research project(s), and will perform an analysis of appropriate complexity for the project. The results will be presented in a written and oral form to the health researcher.

Objectives: On completion of this unit students should be able to: 1. appreciate the challenges facing a biostatistician in professional practice; 2. demonstrate strategies for elicitation of pertinent research questions and associated biostatistical issues from a health or medical research project; 3. collaborate with a medical researcher in devising a strategy for statistical analysis of the research data; 4. perform data integrity checks and an appropriate statistical analysis; 5. present the results and their interpretation in a written report suitable for presentation to a clinical research journal; and 6. prepare an oral report suitable for presentation to a clinical audience.

Assessment: Portfolio + Presentation + Research report

Contact Hours: 20 hours per week

Prerequisites: MPH1040, EPM5002, EPM5003, EPM5004, EPM5005 and EPM5009