Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Instructor
Desislava (Dessy) Raytcheva, Ph.D.
Email: d.raytcheva@northeastern.edu
Office: 414J Mugar Life Sciences Building
Student (Office) hours: Fridays, 12-3:00 pm in room 605 Behrakis, or by appointment.
Individual assistance is always available. Looking forward to seeing you during office
hours.
Course Information
Academic Term: Spring, 2018
Credit Hours: 4SH
Laboratory Schedule: Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:30-6:20 pm
Laboratory Location: Room 610 Behrakis Health Sciences Center
Course Description
In this guided inquiry laboratory, students will have the opportunity to design experiments and
test student-derived hypotheses. Students will generate, analyze, and present scientific data to
their peers in a multitude of authentic formats used in science. This course prepares students for
upcoming independent research positions by immersing them into a research lab setting under
supervision by lab personnel. Students are responsible for making and maintaining their own
solutions and reagents, collecting data, adjusting experimental protocols, and collaborating with
their peers to troubleshoot standard experimental issues.
Course Prerequisites
BIOL 2301 Genetic and Molecular Biology. Restricted to students in the College of Science.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. Apply the process of Science: formulate hypotheses; design experiments with attention to
controls to test hypotheses; properly follow and adjust protocols to collect data; maintain
detailed and accurate records of experimental procedures; interpret and evaluate data,
and determine the next steps in the research process.
2. Communicate the research findings in effective written and oral communication formats.
3. Critically evaluate scientific literature as well as the work of peers.
4. Develop as young professional researchers by practicing foundational research lab skills,
demonstrate exemplary lab safety as well as exemplary work ethic.
Required Readings
Primary literature articles and published reviews will be assigned by the instructor throughout
the semester, and will be posted to Blackboard. Students are expected to critically read these
papers prior to the assigned reading date indicated on the course calendar and come to lab
prepared to discuss each section of the paper (question/hypothesis, methods, results/data, and
conclusions).
Page 1 of 3
Date Laboratory Topics and Assignments Due Quizzes, Homework, and
Activities Assignments*
Feb 5, v Review of Bacteria & v Gel Electrophoresis Quiz v Prepare for Practical
Mon Nematode Biology HW v Data Analysis Homework Exam
v Chunking & Observing v Bacteria and Nematode
Nematodes Homework
v Data Analysis Discussion
v Practice for Practical
v Exit card #7
Feb 7, v Practical Exam v Group Work Articles (for
Wed Journal Entry #1)
v Literature Research
Homework
v Annotated Bibliography,
First Entry
Feb 12, v Scientific Method v Literature Research v Group Proposal Chalk
Mon v Project Proposal/Concept Homework Talk (Concept Map &
Mapping Activity v Annotated Bibliography, Expected Results Figure,
v Expected Results Figure and First Entry and Methods Figure)
Methods Schematics Draft v Journal Entry #1
v Exit card #8
Feb 14, v Group Projects: continue v Journal Entry #1 v Finalize Group Proposal
Wed working on Group Proposal Chalk Talk
Chalk Talk
Feb 19, President’s Day – No Classes
Mon
Feb 21, v Group Proposal Chalk Talk v Proposal Chalk Talk v Peer-Review of Group
Wed (Concept Map & Expected Members via Teammates,
Results Figure, and Methods part 1
Figure) v Journal Entry #2
v Chalk Talk Peer Reviews
v Maintaining a Laboratory
Notebook and Group Roles
Feb 26, v Making Media and Solutions v Journal Entry #2
Mon v Group Projects
Feb 28, v Group Projects v Peer-Review of Group v Journal Entry #3
Wed v Mock Data Presentation Members via
Activity Teammates, part 1
Mar 5-7 Spring Break – No Classes
Page 2 of 3
Date Laboratory Topics and Assignments Due v Quizzes, Homework, and
Activities Assignments*
Mar 26, v Group Projects v Journal Entry #5 v Results and Discussion
Mon v Group Mid-Project Chalk Talk Draft
(Group # TBD) and Peer
Reviews
Mar 28, v Group Projects v Peer-Review of Group
Wed v Group Mid-Project Chalk Talk Members via
(Group # TBD) and Peer Teammates, part 2
Reviews
Apr 2, v Group Projects v Results and Discussion v Peer-Review of Results
Mon v Group Mid-Project Chalk Talk Draft and Discussion Draft
(Group # TBD) and Peer v Journal Entry #6
Reviews
Apr 4, v Group Projects
Wed
Apr 9, v Group Projects v Peer-Review of Results v Group Final Presentation
Mon and Discussion Draft Draft
v Journal Entry #6
Apr 11, v Group Projects v Group Final v Optional (Strongly
Wed v Post-Test Presentation Draft Encouraged): TRACE
Survey
v Group Final Presentation
Apr 16, Patriot’s Day – No Classes
Mon
Apr 18, Last day of class! v Results & Discussion Final
Wed v Group Final Presentations Paper
(Note: visiting professors may be
present)
v Annotated Bibliography – All
Entries
Apr 26, No Class v Results & Discussion Final Paper
Wed v Optional (Strongly Encouraged): Copy of TRACE Survey
Completion Email or Screen Shot
*Important Notes for Quizzes, Homework, and Assignments:
1. All quizzes, homework, and assignments must be completed as individual work, unless otherwise noted (i.e.
“Group”).
2. All quizzes, homework, and assignments are due at the start of lab, unless otherwise noted.
3. All quizzes will be available via Blackboard.
4. Each homework/assignment will be accompanied by explicit instructions for completion and submission.
Please follow these instructions carefully to obtain full credit on each assignment.
**This schedule is subject to change based on the needs of the class. All changes will be announced in
class and posted on Blackboard. Please pay attention to any changes in order to adhere to the updated
schedule.
***Important dates:
January 22, 2018 – last day to drop the class without a “W” grade
April 19, 2018 – last day to drop the class with a “W” grade
Page 3 of 3