Seminar III

Objectives and competences

Skills in science communication, critical data analysis and reporting, together with dissemination abilities will be developed thanks to opportunities of scientific discussion and reporting.

Following competences are acquired during the course:
• Skills in science data reporting
• Skills in science communication
• Skills in science discussion
• Skills in reading and critical evaluation of the literature
• Active participation to scientific environment.

Prerequisites

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Content

In the third year, students should present their overall research work as an oral presentation. Substantial amount of original data and advanced technical knowledge and innovation is expected to be shown. Presentation also serves as a preparation for doctoral thesis presentation and should for this reason contain following topics: introduction of the research problem and major findings in the field, methodology, presentation of results, critical discussion, major conclusions and possibilities for the research continuation.

The course assessment consists in an annual Written project report signed by the mentor and an Oral project presentation performed in front of the members of a Program evaluation committee elected by the Scientific council and in the presence of student’s mentors.
The learning outcome will be quantified in a 1:3 ratio. In particular as the following:
• Written project report (max 3 points in total) – quality of the report (quality, novelty and originality, max 1 point), impact of the project (for the society, for economy, max 1 point), student’s achievements (publications, conference abstracts, outreach activities, max 1 point).
• Oral project presentation (max 7 points in total) – quality of the oral project presentation (introduction, methodology, results, future plans; max 4 points), ability in scientific discussion (max 2 points), communication skills (max 1 point).

All students will receive a written evaluation Committee report. Students not fulfilling minimum requirements will be asked to have a second evaluation in a three months time.

A grade 8/10 in Seminar III exam represent a minimum requirement for the submission of the thesis.

Intended learning outcomes

In the third year, students present findings of their overall research, including critical evaluation of the results with discussion, proposed solutions to overcome possible problems and potential future plans for the continuation of the research. Oral presentation assist student in the communication skills improvement and help them to prepare a successful doctoral defence presentation at the end of their study.

Readings

  • Writing Academic English, 2006, Fourth Edition, The Longman Academic Writing Series, Level 4. Catalogue E-version
  • Schimel J. Writing Science: How to Write Papers That Get Cited and Proposals That Get Funded, 2012, Oxford University Press. Catalogue
  • Patience G., Boffito D., Patience P. Communicate Science Papers, Presentations, and Posters Effectively. 2015, Elsevier Academic Press. Catalogue E-version
  • Alley M. The Craft of Scientific Presentations. 2013. Springer, New York. Catalogue E-version
  • Relevant literature in the field.

Assessment

Oral presentation (70%) and Written report (30%).

Lecturer's references

Martina Bergant Marušič is assistant professor in the field of molecular and cell biology at the University of Nova Gorica.

Selected Bibliography:

  1. CARSE, Sinead, BERGANT MARUŠIČ, Martina, SCHÄFER, Georgia. Advances in targeting HPV infection as potential alternative prophylactic means. International journal of molecular sciences. 2021, 22(4):1-26.
  2. BRONIARCZYK, Justyna, MASSIMI, Paola, PIM, David, BERGANT MARUŠIČ, Martina, MYERS, Michael P., GARCEA, Robert L., BANKS, Lawrence. Phosphorylation of human papillomavirus type 16 L2 contributes to efficient virus infectious entry. Journal of virology. 2019, 93(13):1-16.
  3. BERGANT MARUŠIČ, Martina, PETERNEL, Špela, PIM, David, BRONIARCZYK, Justyna, BANKS, Lawrence. Characterizing the spatio-temporal role of sorting nexin 17 in human papillomavirus trafficking. Journal of General Virology. 2017, 98(4):715-725.
  4. ZAVAŠNIK-BERGANT, Tina, BERGANT MARUŠIČ, Martina. Exogenous Thyropin from p41 Invariant chain diminishes cysteine protease activity and affects IL-12 secretion during maturation of human dendritic cells. PloS one. 2016, 11(3):0150815-1-0150815-26.
  5. BERGANT MARUŠIČ, Martina, BANKS, Lawrence. SNX17 facilitates infection with diverse papillomavirus types. Journal of virology. 2013, 87(2):1270-1273.