Coursework
Master of Biotechnology
- CRICOS Code: 072809G
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What will I study?
Overview
Course structure
The Master of Biotechnology is a 200-point program, made up of:
- Core subjects (125 points), including either the Industry Project in Biotechnolog or the Business Project in Biotechnology (25 points)
- Elective subjects (75 points), selecting from science, business, finance, accounting, bioethics, communication and law subjects.
In your first year, you’ll study core subjects in science, commercialisation and professional skills, as well as biotechnology elective subjects.
In your second year, you’ll complete your core and elective subjects, and undertake either the Industry Project in Biotechnology or the Business Project in Biotechnology. (If you enter the course mid-year, you’ll start the project in your first year.) The Industry Project in Biotechnology is for students with a weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 75 per cent across all subjects in the course. Students with a WAM of more than 80 per cent may be able to undertake a research project as their elective study.
A 100-point program is available for students who have completed an honours degree in biological science or chemistry.
If you commenced this course before 2021, the previous course structure will apply.
Chathuri Jayasundera
“I chose to study Biotechnology because I’m interested in learning how these techniques can be applied to fields like medicine and agriculture. The subjects have fascinated me because I’ve realised what wonders can be done with the latest technologies – I've learned about CRISPR, gene drives and gene therapy."
Sample course plan
View some sample course plans to help you select subjects that will meet the requirements for this degree.
200-Point program
Year 1
100 pts
- Semester 1 50 pts
- Semester 2 50 pts
Year 2
100 pts
- Semester 1 37.5 pts
- Semester 2 37.5 pts
elective
12.5 pts
elective
12.5 pts
- Year Long 25 pts
Explore this course
Explore the subjects you could choose as part of this degree.
- 12.5 pts
What does it take to develop something innovative and then move it from the laboratory out into the real world? Scientists must negotiate a labyrinth of hurdles, ranging from conducting bullet-proof data analysis, designing clinical trials, developing and managing intellectual property, assessing contracts, and setting up Total Quality Management systems in a biotech setting. Students will learn how to navigate these hurdles as applied to a range of possible inventions, such as therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, GMOs and other bio-science-related creations.
- 12.5 pts
Projects drive most modern science organisations. Learn how to plan and manage projects, and to relate to a client, team members, and to other stakeholders. The subject covers the processes and tools/techniques in project management as well as the ‘soft side’ of managing people in projects. The subject uses the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK) covering the competencies in project management including scope, time, cost, quality, resource, risk, communication and integration management.
- 12.5 pts
The basis for decision making in biotechnology is often the analysis of data. In order for these decisions to be reliable data must be correctly collected and analysed. To control costs data should be efficiently collected and it needs to be properly stored and managed. The interpretation of an analysis requires some knowledge of basic statistical ideas and techniques and the results will often be communicated to a non-specialist audience who will make decisions based on the presentation. Alternatively decisions may be made from the analyses and interpretations of others. This subject examines the whole process of data collection, analysis and decision making.
This subject is a core subject for Master of Biotechnology (MC-SCIBIT) and examples and curriculum are designed for MC-SCIBIT students.
- 12.5 pts
Successful commercialisation of scientific discoveries and new technologies occurs in a unique business environment where scientific and business interests and personalities must productively interact.
The subject will develop a critical understanding of the context in which the commercialisation of science occurs, and the opportunities and challenges encountered. Topics covered within the subject will include the nature and types of intellectual property, how it can be protected, valued, managed and strengthened, its use as a commercial tool, exploration of the barriers to commercialisation, what strategies can be used to exploit IP, how to develop a commercial plan and leverage finance for the commercialisation of IP.
- 12.5 pts
The successful commercialisation and marketing of biotechnological products requires extensive documentation and rigorous evaluation by the relevant regulatory bodies.
This subject is comprised of four discreet units focusing on: the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and their international counterparts such as the USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The regulatory requirements of devices, drugs and foods will be examined by a series of case study focused seminars and workshops, providing an understanding of the time frame, rigor, effort, and uncertainty encountered throughout the process of product registration.
- 12.5 pts
Excellent scientific leadership is not only required in academic research groups, but also in technological industries and many areas of government. This subject will examine the nature and styles and consequences of leadership and decision making in academia, industry and government.
Students will examine, through a series of lectures, seminars and workshops, the roles of leadership in: motivation, ethics, risk and the development of a productive organisational culture drawing upon case studies, personal accounts from scientific leaders and their own personal experiences.
In addition, students will learn strategies to deal with staff and clients, build teams, make decisions, think strategically, develop self awareness, identify and manage conflict of interest, identify opportunity and value diversity.
- 12.5 pts
This subject examines the workplace environment and the range of competencies needed to operate effectively. Communication is central to success in the workplace, from proposing projects, consulting and influencing colleagues, through to reporting. Students will gain a range of communication skills in writing, oral and presentation skills, and using graphics and statistics, to communicate science to others with whom they work.
- 12.5 pts
This subject involves case studies of biotechnology innovations that are hindered by a barrier of significant public distrust, the prime example being genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Newer biotechnologies such as precision gene editing may face analogous barriers. This subject explores (i) the scientific context of such controversial innovations, (ii) social implications that may restrict them from making a beneficial contribution to society, and (iii) strategies needed for successful deployment.
- 25 pts
This subject will provide practical insights into the role of science and scientific thinking within business, and the successful application of this perspective, along with communication and business tools, to work environments. Students will be assigned to syndicate groups to address a practical industry challenge/issue which has been identified by industry. In addressing this task students will draw upon their discipline knowledge and the skills provided in the professional tools subjects. On commencement of the project, students will be required to spend a specific time in the business setting and to then maintain regular contact with the business, as well as the project supervisor, across the duration of the subject.
Science subjects
Complete 25‒37.56 points of the following subjects:
- Microscopy for Biological Sciences 12.5 pts
Microscopy is the key technique for imaging fine structure in biological specimens. This subject will introduce the range of methods and capabilities of light microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and laser scanning confocal microscopy, as well as the methods of specimen preparation for standard histochemical and immunocytochemical techniques. The principles and scientific basis underpinning the various methods and techniques will be explained, and applications to current cutting-edge science and technology will be discussed. Practical and project work will include demonstration of equipment and analysis of images and data.
- Metabolomics and Proteomics 12.5 pts
Proteomics and metabolomics analyse the final cellular state resulting from the interaction of the environment and cellular gene expression. Proteomic techniques describe the protein composition of a cell or tissue resulting from gene expression, post-transcriptional and post-translational modifications. Metabolomics is the study of the unique chemical profile that specific environmental and cellular processes create. These techniques are increasingly applied to areas as diverse as reproductive biology, environmental toxicology and plant and animal diseases. The aim of this subject is to develop knowledge and skills in the application of these technologies. This subject will be taught by scientists who will discuss their own research involving the application of state-of-the art technologies designed to understand the proteome and metabolome of different organisms, protein modification, the structure and function of proteins, and the complexities of protein-protein interactions and metabolic outcomes. There will be a strong emphasis on how these technologies are applied to a range of areas in biology, medicine and industry.
- Advanced Molecular Biology Techniques 12.5 pts
This subject is focussed on the use of molecular techniques to study gene and protein functions in a range of organisms. It aims to provide students with an advanced understanding of the strategies and techniques used in molecular biology of relevance both to the biotechnology industry and to advanced molecular biology research. Topics will be drawn from the current literature and ongoing research in molecular biology.
- Genomics and Bioinformatics 12.5 pts
This subject describes how technologies enabling the sequencing of complete genomes have transformed biological research in the past decades. Bioinformatics provides the tools to analyse these massive data connecting nucleic acids to the structures and functions of life. The advanced topics will review current knowledge on genomics and transcriptomics and describe the databases used to gather this information.
The course will provide to non-specialised life-scientists the core concepts in genomics and bioinformatics. It will describe how to utilise public databases to retrieve biological information and develop a critical understanding of the methods used to generate them. This subject will explore how genomes are sequenced and annotated, and how connections are drawn between the different levels of molecular organisation to build a systems understanding of complex biological processes.
- Science and Technology Internship 12.5 pts
This subject involves completion of an 80-100 hour science or technology work placement integrating academic learning in science areas of study, employability skills and attributes and an improved knowledge of science and technology organisations, workplace culture and career pathways. The placement is supplemented by pre- and post-placement classes designed to develop an understanding of science and technology professions, introduce skills for developing, identifying and articulating employability skills and attributes and linking them to employer requirements in the science and technology domains. Work conducted during the placement will be suitable for a graduate level of expertise and experience. While immersed in a work environment, students will be expected to challenge themselves by accepting roles and responsibilities that stretch their existing capabilities. They will interrogate the requirements of specific careers and continually monitor their own progress towards developing the necessary knowledge, skills and attributes to thrive in these roles.
Students will be responsible for identifying a suitable work placement prior to the semester, with support of the Subject Coordinator. In the semester prior to your placement you should attend Careers & Employment (C&E) employment preparation seminars and workshops as well as accessing other C&E resources to assist you in identifying potential host organisations http://careers.unimelb.edu.au . You should commence your approaches to organisations at least 4 weeks before the placement. More information is available on the subject webpage here: https://science.unimelb.edu.au/students/internship-subjects/Science-Technology-Internship-Masters. If you have problems finding a placement you should contact the Careers and Industry team in the Faculty of Science (contact details can be found under the specific study period on the Dates and Times page).
On completion of the subject, students will have completed and reported on a course-related project in a science or technology workplace. They will also have enhanced employability skills including communication, interpersonal, analytical and problem-solving, organisational and time-management, and an understanding of career planning and professional development.
- Biotechnology Research Project 25 pts
This subject provides students with the opportunity to design and conduct independent research under supervision. Specific research projects will depend upon the availability of appropriate expertise, but may address a broad range of biotechnology issues.
Students will also develop skills in writing scientific reports and giving oral presentations.
- Biotechnology Research Project Part 1 12.5 pts
This subject provides students with the opportunity to design and conduct independent research under supervision. Specific research projects will depend upon the availability of appropriate expertise, but may address a broad range of biotechnology issues.
Students will also develop skills in writing scientific reports and giving oral presentations.
This subject must be taken as a pair with SCIE90029. SCIE90028 Biotechnology Research Project Part 1 (12.5 points) plus SCIE90029 Biotechnology Research Project Part 2 (12.5 points) are equivalent to SCIE90016 Biotechnology Research Project (25 points).
- Biotechnology Research Project Part 2 12.5 pts
This subject provides students with the opportunity to design and conduct independent research under supervision. Specific research projects will depend upon the availability of appropriate expertise, but may address a broad range of biotechnology issues.
Students will also develop skills in writing scientific reports and giving oral presentations.
This subject must be taken as a pair with SCIE90028. SCIE90028 Biotechnology Research Project Part 1 (12.5 points) plus SCIE90029 Biotechnology Research Project Part 2 (12.5 points) are equivalent to SCIE90016 Biotechnology Research Project (25 points).
Business, science and professional development subjects
Complete 37.5‒50 points of the following subjects. With the Course Coordinator's permission, you can also take other masters-level subjects.
- Tissue Engineering & Stem Cells 12.5 pts
AIMS
Students studying Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells will become familiar with the history, scope and potential of tissue engineering, and the potential role of stem cells in this field. This subject will address the use of biomaterials in tissue engineering; major scaffold materials and fabrication methods, scaffold strength and degradation; cell sources, selection, challenges and potential manipulation; cell-surface interactions, biocompatibility and the foreign body reaction; the role and delivery of growth factors for tissue engineering applications; in vitro and in vivo tissue engineering strategies, challenges, cell culture, scale-up issues and transport modelling; ethical and regulatory issues; clinical applications of tissue engineering, such as bone regeneration, breast reconstruction, cardiac and corneal tissue engineering, and organogenesis (e.g. pancreas).
This subject provides students with exposure to and understanding of a range of new and emerging applications of biomedical engineering. It includes research-led learning with opportunities to interact with experts and active researchers in the fields of stem cells and tissue engineering. The subject covers aspects of biology, materials engineering and process engineering which underpin tissue engineering and provides examples of the applications of this evolving area of technology.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
Topics covered include tissue organization & tissue dynamics, stem cells, cellular fate processes & signalling, the ECM as scaffold material, natural and synthetic polymers for tissue engineering, bioceramics, scaffold design and fabrication, tailoring biomaterials, cell culture and cell nutrition, bioreactors for tissue engineering, risk management in tissue engineering, ethics in tissue engineering.
- Food Safety and Quality 12.5 pts
The food we eat provides our bodies with the nutrients to live, grow and function properly. High quality food contains attributes that are acceptable to consumers. The demand for safe and high-quality foods is rapidly increasing as low quality and unsafe food containing harmful microorganisms, physical constituents and chemical substances, affects the health and well-being of humans. In order to provide safe and quality food, it is necessary to maintain manufacturing and processing standards.
This subject will provide students with an advanced understanding of scientific principles and concepts related to safety and quality standards of food products. Since the importance of quality assurance in producing safe and quality foods in terms of both Australian and international food standards codes are emphasized, the subject will include topics such as: Quality management and international and national quality management standards; What are customers’ expectations of food?; Probability and sampling; Statistical process control; Microbial factors in food quality; Risk analysis and management; Quantitative risk assessment; Regulatory requirements The Food Safety Code, Codex Alimentarius; Global food safety initiative and industry schemes; Performance measures and benchmarking; Role of internal and external auditing; Food safety management systems; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) and food safety risks; Quality auditing and improvement; Costs of quality failures; Food allergen management; Maintaining food quality & safety in the production chain; Safety and quality of plant foods, dairy, meat, seafood and GM foods; Australia’s native foods: quality & safety.
- Bioprocess Engineering 12.5 pts
AIMS
Develop an basic microbiology, cell structure and nutritional requirements. Products from microbes and bioprocesses, enzyme kinetics, cell growth kinetics and product formation. Product separation methods.
This subject introduces students to the area of bioprocessing, an area growing in importance in the process industries.INDICATIVE CONTENT
Enzymic process. Michaelis-Menten approach. Kinetics of enzyme inhibition. Immobilised enzymes. Batch microbial growth and product formation. Continuous culture. Microbial growth kinetics. Application of Monod model to batch and chemostat culture. Kinetics of product formation. Maintenance energy and endogenous respiration. Design of fermentation processes. Bioreactor design and kinetics. Industrial sterilisation processes. Calculation of sterility level. HTST sterilisation. Design of continuous sterilisers. Air sterilisation. Vessel design for aseptic operation. Fermenter design configurations. Mixing in fermenters. Biochemical separation processes.
Practical work (Microbiology laboratory).
- Business Tools: Money People & Processes 12.5 pts
This subject will give an overview of the tools required to operate successfully in an organisational environment. The focus of the subject is the internal workings of an organisation and specifically addresses three main areas: working with people, managing budgets and understanding basic accounting, and managing processes and projects.
- Business Tools: The Market Environment 12.5 pts
This subject will give an overview of the tools that businesses use to manage their external environment. The subject addresses three main areas: negotiation skills, marketing and competitivestrategy. Students will use case studies and simulations to practice negotiation skills. Topics in marketing will include an overview of brands, creating a marketing plan and understanding customers. Finally the competitive strategy component of the subject will focus on the topics of gains from trade, how to price and how to understand and change the competitive environment.
- Financial Management 12.5 pts
This subject is designed to equip students with the tools necessary to enable them to make the core decisions faced by managers and investors. The first part of the subject deals with establishing the environment in which organizations operate, namely the objectives of the suppliers of financial and human capital. The subject then considers the basic tools commonly employed by financial managers and investors including discounted cash flow techniques and financial mathematics. Measures and definitions of alternative forms of risk are considered and the relation between risk and expected reward in capital markets is established. Finally, the subject considers the important decisions faced by firms (such as investment, financing and dividend policy) and by investors (the composition of their optimal portfolio of stocks).
- Accounting for Decision Making 12.5 pts
This subject focuses on the nature of accounting for organisations from the perspective of a preparer and user of financial reports. The subject examines the methods of recording and reporting transactions and events and how to both prepare and analyse financial reports.
This includes obtaining an understanding of the judgements and decisions involved in the preparation of financial reports. The subject examines how these different judgements and accounting policy choices can impact the analysis of profitability, liquidity, financial stability and efficiency outcomes.
- Economic Evaluation 1 12.5 pts
This subject provides an introduction to the principles, concepts and methods of economic evaluation and their application to health care and public health. Students are introduced to the foundations of economic evaluation in economic theory and the principal methods used by health economists: cost benefit analysis, cost effectiveness analysis, cost consequences analysis and cost utility analysis. In each case, the steps involved in identifying, measuring and valuing incremental costs and outcomes will be explained. Students will learn the key elements of an economic evaluation study design and be able to critically review economic evaluation studies. Contemporary issues and approaches in economic evaluation will be introduced, including the use of distributional cost effectiveness to capture reductions in inequality; and subjective wellbeing and other approaches for extending the measurement of benefit beyond the Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY)
- Fundamentals in Accounting 12.5 pts
This subject focuses on the nature of accounting from the perspective of the users of financial reports. In this subject, students will learn how to analyse and interpret financial information prepared by diverse businesses, both profit and not-for-profit. A key theme in the subject is to understand the relevance of accounting information for the decisions typically made by diverse stakeholders including financial analysts, bankers and shareholders as well as the strategic and operational decisions made by managers within the different businesses. This subject is designed to meet the needs of students from all disciplines, who seek to become more informed users of accounting information but who do not intend to pursue further studies in accounting.
- Presenting Academic Discourse 12.5 pts
This subject focuses on the advanced language required for successful graduate study in English. In this subject students will develop critical approaches to researching, reading and writing. They will also develop the ability to plan and present confidently on a research topic and to write a literature review fluently and accurately. Particular attention is paid to grammatical and stylistic aspects of written and spoken academic discourse. Students write and present on a research topic that is relevant to their field of study.
- Issues in Bioethics 12.5 pts
This subject explores ethical issues raised by current practices in medicine and by future developments in biotechnology and genetics. Among the issues that will be investigated are: controversial choices in medicine; abortion; euthanasia, assisted suicide and infanticide; in vitro fertilisation; preimplantation and prenatal genetic selection; life extension and cryonics; human enhancement; conscientious objection in the medical context; and human cloning.
- Law, Science and Technology 12.5 pts
Science and technology are at the heart of many of the most pressing legal and social problems of our day: disease prevention, bioethics, big data, state and corporate surveillance, the regulation of military technologies, and so on. This subject invites students to consider the common challenges of law, policy and public discourse posed by problems of this sort, at both the domestic and international level. In doing so, it asks: how do scientific discoveries and their technological applications shape our legal and social worlds? And how do law and society affect scientific and technological developments in turn?
The overall aim is to equip students coming from diverse backgrounds, training and experience with the analytical and critical tools necessary to understand and respond to complex questions of science and technology in all their legal, social, (geo)political, ethical, and cultural dimensions.
The lecturer undertakes research and advocacy in this area and was recently a visiting fellow at the Harvard Program on Science, Technology and Society.
Principal topics include:
- Science and technology studies as a field
- The relationship between ‘law’, ‘science’, ‘technology’ and ‘society’ as concepts and fields of practice
- Biotechnology and bioethics
- Drug patents and disease prevention
- Big data and global surveillance
- Military technologies
- Public discourse around science and technology
- The future: advocacy, law reform and other critical encounters between law, science, technology and society.
- Advanced Plant Breeding and Improvement 12.5 pts
Formerly BIOL90027
Lectures/case studies and projects are used to illustrate the steps involved in taking knowledge from research laboratory or breeding trials and producing and releasing novel crop varieties. This subject will include a small research project in an area chosen by each student.
- Regulating Global Markets 12.5 pts
As markets are increasingly globalised, there is an accompanying diffusion of sites of regulation and governance. Diverse actors and organisations – public and private, national and international, spanning jurisdictional boundaries – compete for the authority to define and operationalise the rules for the conduct of global commerce. These developments raise a number of fundamental questions for lawyers: how is regulatory authority distributed in global markets, and how should it be? How are completing claims to such authority mediated and resolved in practice? And what role does law play in shaping the dynamics of global markets?
This subject helps students think about these questions from a number of different perspectives. Students are introduced to the range of techniques and institutions that currently exist to address regulatory controversies and to set the conditions for regulatory coordination. In addition, students are asked to engage with some of the deeper questions of normative political and social theory raised by the operation of these techniques and institutions, through readings drawn from a variety of disciplines, including sociology, science and technology studies, politics and law. This technical and theoretical material is set side by side with, and explored through, a series of four grounded case studies, typically drawn from contemporary global markets in financial services, tobacco control, biotechnology, carbon trading, fisheries and energy. The subject develops understanding of ‘fragmentation’, which in this context refers to the proliferation of sites of global governance, as well as the theme of ‘expertise’, which signals an interest in contemporary re-articulations of the power-knowledge nexus. Regulating Global Markets will be of interest to lawyers whose practices support international businesses, students who are engaged with contemporary political questions around economic globalisation and the backlash to it, and anyone with an interest in questions of political and social theory as they relate to international law.
There will be four case studies addressed in the subject, the content of which may change from year to year. Illustrative topics include the global dimensions of:
- The regulation of biotech foods
- Currency manipulation
- Tobacco control
- Financial stability
- The industrial policy of climate change
- Global fisheries management
- Public support systems for energy (both renewable and fossil-fuel based)
- Foreign investment in agriculture and infrastructure services.
The theoretical writing will be organised around four themes, which may include some of:
- Global constitutionalism
- Empire
- Sociotechnical imaginaries
- Reflexivity
- Regime interaction
- Expertise studies
- International governmentality studies
- Global administrative law
- New governance
- Global experimentalist governance.
The law and institutions covered in the subject will depend on the case studies chosen. However, students can expect a significant part of the subject to focus on such institutions as the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Food and Agricultural Organization, the International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes, the World Health Organization, the Codex Alimentarius Commission, and their related bodies of law.
- Microscopy for Biological Sciences 12.5 pts
Microscopy is the key technique for imaging fine structure in biological specimens. This subject will introduce the range of methods and capabilities of light microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and laser scanning confocal microscopy, as well as the methods of specimen preparation for standard histochemical and immunocytochemical techniques. The principles and scientific basis underpinning the various methods and techniques will be explained, and applications to current cutting-edge science and technology will be discussed. Practical and project work will include demonstration of equipment and analysis of images and data.
- Metabolomics and Proteomics 12.5 pts
Proteomics and metabolomics analyse the final cellular state resulting from the interaction of the environment and cellular gene expression. Proteomic techniques describe the protein composition of a cell or tissue resulting from gene expression, post-transcriptional and post-translational modifications. Metabolomics is the study of the unique chemical profile that specific environmental and cellular processes create. These techniques are increasingly applied to areas as diverse as reproductive biology, environmental toxicology and plant and animal diseases. The aim of this subject is to develop knowledge and skills in the application of these technologies. This subject will be taught by scientists who will discuss their own research involving the application of state-of-the art technologies designed to understand the proteome and metabolome of different organisms, protein modification, the structure and function of proteins, and the complexities of protein-protein interactions and metabolic outcomes. There will be a strong emphasis on how these technologies are applied to a range of areas in biology, medicine and industry.
- Advanced Molecular Biology Techniques 12.5 pts
This subject is focussed on the use of molecular techniques to study gene and protein functions in a range of organisms. It aims to provide students with an advanced understanding of the strategies and techniques used in molecular biology of relevance both to the biotechnology industry and to advanced molecular biology research. Topics will be drawn from the current literature and ongoing research in molecular biology.
- Genomics and Bioinformatics 12.5 pts
This subject describes how technologies enabling the sequencing of complete genomes have transformed biological research in the past decades. Bioinformatics provides the tools to analyse these massive data connecting nucleic acids to the structures and functions of life. The advanced topics will review current knowledge on genomics and transcriptomics and describe the databases used to gather this information.
The course will provide to non-specialised life-scientists the core concepts in genomics and bioinformatics. It will describe how to utilise public databases to retrieve biological information and develop a critical understanding of the methods used to generate them. This subject will explore how genomes are sequenced and annotated, and how connections are drawn between the different levels of molecular organisation to build a systems understanding of complex biological processes.
- Biotechnology Research Project 25 pts
This subject provides students with the opportunity to design and conduct independent research under supervision. Specific research projects will depend upon the availability of appropriate expertise, but may address a broad range of biotechnology issues.
Students will also develop skills in writing scientific reports and giving oral presentations.
- 12.5 pts
What does it take to develop something innovative and then move it from the laboratory out into the real world? Scientists must negotiate a labyrinth of hurdles, ranging from conducting bullet-proof data analysis, designing clinical trials, developing and managing intellectual property, assessing contracts, and setting up Total Quality Management systems in a biotech setting. Students will learn how to navigate these hurdles as applied to a range of possible inventions, such as therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, GMOs and other bio-science-related creations.
- 12.5 pts
Projects drive most modern science organisations. Learn how to plan and manage projects, and to relate to a client, team members, and to other stakeholders. The subject covers the processes and tools/techniques in project management as well as the ‘soft side’ of managing people in projects. The subject uses the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK) covering the competencies in project management including scope, time, cost, quality, resource, risk, communication and integration management.
- 12.5 pts
Successful commercialisation of scientific discoveries and new technologies occurs in a unique business environment where scientific and business interests and personalities must productively interact.
The subject will develop a critical understanding of the context in which the commercialisation of science occurs, and the opportunities and challenges encountered. Topics covered within the subject will include the nature and types of intellectual property, how it can be protected, valued, managed and strengthened, its use as a commercial tool, exploration of the barriers to commercialisation, what strategies can be used to exploit IP, how to develop a commercial plan and leverage finance for the commercialisation of IP.
- 12.5 pts
The successful commercialisation and marketing of biotechnological products requires extensive documentation and rigorous evaluation by the relevant regulatory bodies.
This subject is comprised of four discreet units focusing on: the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and their international counterparts such as the USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The regulatory requirements of devices, drugs and foods will be examined by a series of case study focused seminars and workshops, providing an understanding of the time frame, rigor, effort, and uncertainty encountered throughout the process of product registration.
- 12.5 pts
Excellent scientific leadership is not only required in academic research groups, but also in technological industries and many areas of government. This subject will examine the nature and styles and consequences of leadership and decision making in academia, industry and government.
Students will examine, through a series of lectures, seminars and workshops, the roles of leadership in: motivation, ethics, risk and the development of a productive organisational culture drawing upon case studies, personal accounts from scientific leaders and their own personal experiences.
In addition, students will learn strategies to deal with staff and clients, build teams, make decisions, think strategically, develop self awareness, identify and manage conflict of interest, identify opportunity and value diversity.
- 12.5 pts
This subject examines the workplace environment and the range of competencies needed to operate effectively. Communication is central to success in the workplace, from proposing projects, consulting and influencing colleagues, through to reporting. Students will gain a range of communication skills in writing, oral and presentation skills, and using graphics and statistics, to communicate science to others with whom they work.
- 12.5 pts
This subject examines the workplace environment and the range of competencies needed to operate effectively. Communication is central to success in the workplace, from proposing projects, consulting and influencing colleagues, through to reporting. Students will gain a range of communication skills in writing, oral and presentation skills, and using graphics and statistics, to communicate science to others with whom they work.
- 25 pts
This subject will provide practical insights into the role of science and scientific thinking within business, and the successful application of this perspective, along with communication and business tools, to work environments. Students will be assigned to syndicate groups to address a practical industry challenge/issue which has been identified by industry. In addressing this task students will draw upon their discipline knowledge and the skills provided in the professional tools subjects. On commencement of the project, students will be required to spend a specific time in the business setting and to then maintain regular contact with the business, as well as the project supervisor, across the duration of the subject.