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Unit outline_

BMET1961: Biomedical Engineering 1B

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This biomedical engineering core junior unit of study provides an introduction to various aspects of biomedical engineering, and rapidly growing field of bioengineering and regenerative medicine. Biomedical engineering is an interdisciplinary field of science that is characterised by the application of engineering principles to the field of biology and medicine. Concepts and methodologies in biomedical engineering extend throughout the medical and biological sciences. This course introduces wide range of basic concepts from human anatomy (tissue and organ levels) to cell biology (cellular level), and to molecular biology (molecule level). On the base of the understanding human anatomy, the emerging approaches for improving health care and health services, including bioreactors, bioinformatics, gene therapy and stem cell technology are also introduced; thus integrating biomedical engineering principles, biology and medicine.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Biomedical Engineering
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
AMME1961
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Yogambha Ramaswamy, yogambha.ramaswamy@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Skills-based evaluation Laboratory (Pre-prac) assessment
Four theory of practicals assessment (5% each)
20% Multiple weeks 15 min
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO5
Small test Quiz 1
Short answer type questions (Canvas)
10% Week 06 30 min
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2
Presentation group assignment Presentation
Presentation on the assigned topic held during the tutorials (wk 10 & 11).
15% Week 10 15 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Small test Quiz 2
Short answer type questions (Canvas)
10% Week 12 30 min
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment group assignment Major Assignment
Report writing on the given topics in Biomedical engineering applications
30% Week 13 10 weeks
Outcomes assessed: LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2 LO1
Skills-based evaluation Laboratory report
Final report of the laboratory activity, observations, and data analysis.
15% Week 13 Prepare report based on lab sessions
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO5
group assignment = group assignment ?
Group assignment with individually assessed component = group assignment with individually assessed component ?

Assessment summary

  • Team seminar: Topics will be allocated in week 2.Presentation on the assigned topic held during the tutorials (wk 10 & 11).
  • Major Assignment: The major report should be submitted and the topics are based on biomedical applications, technologies and the analytical tools used for biomedical applications. The report can be conceptualized during the semester and submit the report in week 13. Topics and the details of teh assignment will be given during the tutorials in week 3.
  • Small test: Short answer type of questions will assess the topics covered in the lecture. The Quiz will be held during the tutorials. 
  • Skill based evaluation: Quiz (Short answer type of questions) will be conducted in the lab before the practical classes. The pre-prac assessments are designed to prepare you for the laboratory activities. 
  • The final lab report should be submitted that includes the details of  laboratory activity, observations made, and data analysis.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to course and biology for biomedical engineers Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 02 Nucleic acids: Introduction, analytical methods, and application Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 03 Proteins and carbohydrates: Introduction, analytical methods, and application Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 04 Stem Cell Technology Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 05 Gene Therapy Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 06 Personalized Medicine Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 07 Bioethics Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 08 Additive Manufacturing in Biomedical Engineering Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 10 Biomedical Nanotechnology Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 11 Bioreactors Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 12 Bioimaging and Artificial Intelligence Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 13 Revision Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

Lectures: Online

Tutorials – Online and/or face-to-face

Note: face-to-face lectures/tutorials are subject to change based on the COVID situation.

Lab activities –  Face-to-face lab activities.

Note: In case of COVID restrictions/lockdown we will have to switch to a group activity with a combination of online and face-to-face.  In the group activity,  all efforts will be made to arrange for one member of the group to attend the lab physically and others will follow it online. There are 4 labs and group members can take turns attending each of the labs.

 

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Reading resources related to each lecture will be provided during the lectures and any additional resources will be communicated and uploaded to CANVAS.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Demonstrate scientific oral, and written communication skills, ethics in scientific research, and application of engineering technology in biomedical applications
  • LO2. Demonstrate a general understanding of cell biology, the functions of their inbuilt cellular components, integrating engineering principles to life sciences, and their applications in biomedical engineering.
  • LO3. Demonstrate a practical understanding of gene therapy, personalized medicine, biomedical imaging techniques and their applications in the field of biomedical engineering
  • LO4. Demonstrate a general understanding of the bioreactors, process analysis and automation, and computation. Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of Additive manufacturing, nanotechnology concepts and their applications in biomedical engineering.
  • LO5. Demonstrate procedure for working safely, correctly and effectively in a molecular biology laboratory. Learn and demonstrate a range of practical techniques in molecular biology. Demonstrate a collaborative experimental work, effective data acquisition, analysis, data recording and experimental report writing

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No significant changes made since this unit was last offered

All the information regarding the course will be provided on canvas.

Students can ask questions during the tutorial sessions.

Work, health and safety

Health and safety requirements must be met during the practical sessions and students will be briefed during the tutorial sessions.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.