Interdisciplinary Project
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
Hands-on experience in bioinformatics and processing of genomics data using real world data and addressing real world scientific questions is essential for any future computational biologist. Likewise, a computational biologist needs to be able to effectively communicate the intentions and scope of the scientific work undertaken, as well as the results obtained, interfacing between two rather different disciplines: computer science and (molecular) biology. Apart from being able to present the own work in a clear manner, it is also important to correctly describe it (e.g., in form of research articles, technical reports, dissertations, oral presentations at conferences, etc.).
Hence, the objective of the course is to practice and improve the scientific communication skills necessary for scientific work in an interdisciplinary environment, including both the verbal and the written communication of methodological details as well as the findings of research projects in a clear and concise manner to audiences of diverse backgrounds.
This course is intended to accompany the students' scientific projects (in most cases their thesis projects) such that they have the opportunity to improve their communication skills using their own scientific work rather then presenting or discussing the works of others (like, for example, it would be done in a journal club).
The participants will have the opportunity to not only develop but also give both oral and written presentations (a scientific talk and a short report/paper) about the preliminary results, open questions and future plans/tasks of their project work. Feedback regarding their presentations will be provided such that it, ideally, may help to improve the final quality of the Master's thesis and its oral defense (which in turn may potentially improve the final grade).
Hence, the objective of the course is to practice and improve the scientific communication skills necessary for scientific work in an interdisciplinary environment, including both the verbal and the written communication of methodological details as well as the findings of research projects in a clear and concise manner to audiences of diverse backgrounds.
This course is intended to accompany the students' scientific projects (in most cases their thesis projects) such that they have the opportunity to improve their communication skills using their own scientific work rather then presenting or discussing the works of others (like, for example, it would be done in a journal club).
The participants will have the opportunity to not only develop but also give both oral and written presentations (a scientific talk and a short report/paper) about the preliminary results, open questions and future plans/tasks of their project work. Feedback regarding their presentations will be provided such that it, ideally, may help to improve the final quality of the Master's thesis and its oral defense (which in turn may potentially improve the final grade).
Expected learning outcomes
Ideally, this course is thought to accompany the scientific project that the participants are executing (or will be executing) for their Master's theses, so that (apart from the preparation of a few oral presentations and short written summaries, thought and organized to be reusable for the Master's thesis and its defense) no additional practical work is required.
For participants who instead wish to work on a project other than their thesis work, alternative research projects can either originate from some external internship or be developed during the course.
For participants who instead wish to work on a project other than their thesis work, alternative research projects can either originate from some external internship or be developed during the course.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course is composed of the following parts:
1. Theoretical and practical aspects of verbal communication in form of scientific talks
· Types of scientific presentations and types of audiences
· Three phases: planning, practicing, presenting/delivering (including question & answer session)
· Scientific "story telling"
· Slide development (structure/organization, design/layout) and depth of content
· Examples of scientific and non-scientific talks of different purposes
2. Theoretical and practical aspects of written scientific communication
· Organization/structure of a scientific paper; purpose and content of individual sections
· Scientific writing style (important aspects; with some brief examples)
· References and correct citing, quoting and paraphrasing; caution to plagiarism
· Hints for designing appropriate scientific figures
· Scientific reading and good reading habits
· Thesis / dissertation writing
3. Theoretical and practical aspects of poster presentations
· Purpose and structure
· Hints for effective poster design and their presentation to a scientific audience
Discussion of positive and negative examples
4. Seminars with project presentations
· Scientific presentations by students
· Each presentation is followed by a scientific discussion (scientific questions & answers regarding the presented research project) and feedback session (quality of the presentation, slides, etc.)
1. Theoretical and practical aspects of verbal communication in form of scientific talks
· Types of scientific presentations and types of audiences
· Three phases: planning, practicing, presenting/delivering (including question & answer session)
· Scientific "story telling"
· Slide development (structure/organization, design/layout) and depth of content
· Examples of scientific and non-scientific talks of different purposes
2. Theoretical and practical aspects of written scientific communication
· Organization/structure of a scientific paper; purpose and content of individual sections
· Scientific writing style (important aspects; with some brief examples)
· References and correct citing, quoting and paraphrasing; caution to plagiarism
· Hints for designing appropriate scientific figures
· Scientific reading and good reading habits
· Thesis / dissertation writing
3. Theoretical and practical aspects of poster presentations
· Purpose and structure
· Hints for effective poster design and their presentation to a scientific audience
Discussion of positive and negative examples
4. Seminars with project presentations
· Scientific presentations by students
· Each presentation is followed by a scientific discussion (scientific questions & answers regarding the presented research project) and feedback session (quality of the presentation, slides, etc.)
Prerequisites for admission
Knowledge of any presentation tool, such as MS PowerPoint, LibreOffice Impress or LaTeX Beamer. Knowledge of any document preparation system, such as MS Word, LibreOffice Writer or LaTeX.
Teaching methods
The assessment will consist of two parts: a scientific talk (50% of the final grade) and a short paper (50% of the final grade). While poster presentations are be discussed in the course, they are not part of the exam or final grade.
Final oral presentation (scientific talk)(Dublin descriptor DD1, DD2, DD3, DD4):
A final oral presentation (scientific talk) about an own scientific project (thesis project or other), including a short question and answer session after the talk.
Evaluation criteria:
1) Logical structure of the presentation
2) Clarity/explanations of the scientific content (e.g., used methods) and logical reasoning (e.g., interpretation of the results)
3) Clarity and quality of the slides (design, text, figures)
4) Completeness (all necessary elements mentioned/explained?) and timing
Final written report (short paper) (Dublin descriptor DD1, DD2, DD3, DD4)
A final written report (short paper, about 5-7 pages) about the own scientific project.
Evaluation criteria:
1) Logical structure of the paper (abstract, introduction, methods, results & discussion, conclusions, references)
2) Clarity/explanations of the scientific content (e.g., used methods) and logical reasoning (e.g., interpretation of the results)
3) Correctness of the scientific content and logical reasoning (e.g., conclusions drawn from the results)
4) Brevity/conciseness but also completeness of the descriptions/explanations
5) Bibliography and correct citation
IMPORTANT NOTE: plagiarism detection software will be applied!
Final oral presentation (scientific talk)(Dublin descriptor DD1, DD2, DD3, DD4):
A final oral presentation (scientific talk) about an own scientific project (thesis project or other), including a short question and answer session after the talk.
Evaluation criteria:
1) Logical structure of the presentation
2) Clarity/explanations of the scientific content (e.g., used methods) and logical reasoning (e.g., interpretation of the results)
3) Clarity and quality of the slides (design, text, figures)
4) Completeness (all necessary elements mentioned/explained?) and timing
Final written report (short paper) (Dublin descriptor DD1, DD2, DD3, DD4)
A final written report (short paper, about 5-7 pages) about the own scientific project.
Evaluation criteria:
1) Logical structure of the paper (abstract, introduction, methods, results & discussion, conclusions, references)
2) Clarity/explanations of the scientific content (e.g., used methods) and logical reasoning (e.g., interpretation of the results)
3) Correctness of the scientific content and logical reasoning (e.g., conclusions drawn from the results)
4) Brevity/conciseness but also completeness of the descriptions/explanations
5) Bibliography and correct citation
IMPORTANT NOTE: plagiarism detection software will be applied!
Teaching Resources
Recommended articles (not required to pass the exam):
· Bourne. "Ten Simple Rules for Making Good Oral Presentations". PLoS Comput Biol 3(4):e77, 2007.
· Carey et al. "Ten simple rules for reading a scientific paper". PLoS Comput Biol 16(7):e1008032, 2020.
· Erren, Bourne. "Ten Simple Rules for a Good Poster Presentation". PLoS Comput Biol 3(5): e102, 2007.
· Foster et al. "Good Practice for Conference Abstracts and Presentations: GPCAP". Res Integrity and Peer Rev 4:11, 2019.
· Lortie. "Ten simple rules for short and swift presentations". PLoS Comput Biol 13(3):e1005373, 2017.
· Marai et al. "Ten simple rules to create biological network figures for communication". PLoS Comput Biol 15(9):e1007244, 2019.
· Medvedev. "Ten Simple Rules for writing algorithmic bioinformatics conference papers". PLoS Comput Biol 16(4):e1007742, 2020.
· Mensh, Kording. "Ten simple rules for structuring papers". PLoS Comput Biol 13(9):e1005619, 2017.
· Penders. "Ten simple rules for responsible referencing". PLoS Comput Biol 14(4):e1006036, 2018.
· Rougier et al. "Ten Simple Rules for Better Figures". PLoS Comput Biol 10(9):e1003833, 2014.
· Weinberger et al. "Ten Simple (Empirical) Rules for Writing Science". PLoS Comput Biol 11(4):e1004205, 2015.
· Zhang. "Ten Simple Rules for Writing Research Papers". PLoS Comput Biol 10(1):e1003453, 2014.
· Bourne. "Ten Simple Rules for Making Good Oral Presentations". PLoS Comput Biol 3(4):e77, 2007.
· Carey et al. "Ten simple rules for reading a scientific paper". PLoS Comput Biol 16(7):e1008032, 2020.
· Erren, Bourne. "Ten Simple Rules for a Good Poster Presentation". PLoS Comput Biol 3(5): e102, 2007.
· Foster et al. "Good Practice for Conference Abstracts and Presentations: GPCAP". Res Integrity and Peer Rev 4:11, 2019.
· Lortie. "Ten simple rules for short and swift presentations". PLoS Comput Biol 13(3):e1005373, 2017.
· Marai et al. "Ten simple rules to create biological network figures for communication". PLoS Comput Biol 15(9):e1007244, 2019.
· Medvedev. "Ten Simple Rules for writing algorithmic bioinformatics conference papers". PLoS Comput Biol 16(4):e1007742, 2020.
· Mensh, Kording. "Ten simple rules for structuring papers". PLoS Comput Biol 13(9):e1005619, 2017.
· Penders. "Ten simple rules for responsible referencing". PLoS Comput Biol 14(4):e1006036, 2018.
· Rougier et al. "Ten Simple Rules for Better Figures". PLoS Comput Biol 10(9):e1003833, 2014.
· Weinberger et al. "Ten Simple (Empirical) Rules for Writing Science". PLoS Comput Biol 11(4):e1004205, 2015.
· Zhang. "Ten Simple Rules for Writing Research Papers". PLoS Comput Biol 10(1):e1003453, 2014.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The assessment is based on the final presentation (correctness, clarity, etc.) and the project report (correctness, clarity, etc.).
BIO/11 - MOLECULAR BIOLOGY - University credits: 1
ING-INF/05 - INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEMS - University credits: 5
ING-INF/05 - INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEMS - University credits: 5
Lectures: 48 hours
Professor:
Piro Rosario Michael