Research on Special Topics: A Course Introduction
This course began in 2006 for first and second year medical students. This is an 8-credit course in a time span of two academic years, with an aim of encouraging junior medical students to participate in research activities of our Medical Faculty members. The goal of this course is to nurture medical students with skills in medical research and critical thinking, for example, the ability to search, read and report basic and clinical medical research papers, and thus to lay foundation for their future capacity to conduct clinical research. After finishing this course, students are expected to achieve the six core capabilities of medical graduates, namely, professional knowledge, critical thinking, creativity, interpersonal communication skills, life-long learning and multi-potential developments.
CMU School of Medicine “Research on Special Topics”: Course selection procedures, must-knows, application forms, and instructions on report writing can be downloaded from our webpage - “Research on Special Topics”
1. Credits
Those who select this course for the first time must begin with “Research on Special Topics I” or “Research on Special Topics II”.
2. Supervisors
Supervisors are not limited to faculties of School of Medicine, and students can choose supervisors of other Colleges of CMU, according to the student's interests in the supervisor's research expertise (see Supervisors Inquiry System). After discussion with the student and approval of the student's application, supervisors would sign the course selection application form (a signed application form is necessary for each semester). Students are not supposed to change supervisors within an academic year for the sake of continuity and wholeness of learning. In special cases, students can apply for change of supervisors before the course add/drop deadline, beyond which no change will be allowed.
3. Class time
There is no specified class time for “Research on Special Topics”. The schedule of learning and practicing in the lab will be arranged by the Supervisor. Students are strongly encouraged to learn and practice in the lab during Summer and Winter vacations, so as to have more time in engagement in research.
4. Report submission
A concise report is to be submitted within a week before final examination of the first semester; a final report is to be submitted within a week before final examination of the second semester. (Instructions on report writing can be downloaded from our webpage - “Research on Special Topics”)
5. Assessment
Student's performance will be assessed by Supervisors.
“Research on Special Topics” is not a textbook-based course, in which you are required to pass exams and gain credits. Instead, by being a member in the Supervisor's lab, you are given an opportunity to engage in one or more topics with the aim of enhancing your problem-solving ability in scientific or medical research. These experiences will be valuable in future clinical works. Students are therefore encouraged to spend more time in the lab, gaining supervision from the experienced mentors, and aspire to be creative and productive researchers in the future.
Contact info:
Prof. C.Y. Hsiang, Dept of Microbiology and Immunology (ext 2163, cyhsiang@mail.cmu.edu.tw)
Prof. C.H. Tang, Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ext 777-7726, chtang@mail.cmu.edu.tw)
Ms. X,Q. Chen, School of Medicine (ext 2160，jean@mail.cmu.edu.tw)