MD Discovery 4: Research Scholar (MEDS90044)

This subject is the final in a series of four MD Discovery subjects embedded within the Doctor of Medicine course, for students following the Research Scholar pathway. Students will engage in a total of 87.5 credit points of discovery-based learning in areas of interest across their course. Discovery learning allows medical students to engage in flexible, personalised and increasingly complex situational learning as they progress, providing opportunities to reflect on the professional practice of medicine in a variety of contexts and settings.

In the final two years of Discovery, students will choose to extend their knowledge and skills in one of two pathways based on their learning needs and interests: the Research Scholar or Clinical Scholar pathway. Discovery 4: Research Scholar is the second subject dedicated to the Research Scholar pathway. The Research Scholar pathway leads to advanced knowledge and skills in the design and conduct of research. The subject builds upon the foundation level research methods knowledge and skills from their prior studies in the MD, and Discovery 3: Research Scholar.

Discovery 4: Research Scholar is a semester-long supervised research placement located within the University, teaching hospitals, associated research institutes and other clinical settings. Students will continue and complete the project they commenced in Discovery 3: Research Scholar with the same supervisor. Students will collect, analyse and interpret their data in this subject and present their findings in the form of a journal article-style report, conference poster and oral presentation.

Students will also have the opportunity to work collaboratively with their supervisor and research group to establish a professional working relationship as a clinician researcher.