AGBIO 594 Syllabus
Research Topics
AGBIO 594 Research Topics (1-15). Supervised student activities on research projects identified on an individual or small-group basis.
Instructor
Gretchen Kuldau, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
321 Buckout Park, PA 16801
Email: use coure email tool
Education
- B.A., Biology, Wellesley College
- Ph.D., Molecular and Physiological Plant Biology
- University of California Berkeley
Areas of Interest
Role of mycotoxins in fungal biology, genetics and molecular biology, prevention of mycotoxin accumulation in feeds and forages; genetics and biology of endophytic fungi.
Course Overview
In this course, you will utilize the information acquired from previous public health preparedness courses to identify and develop a research topic of interest. The research paper will utilize a quantitative or qualitative approach to data analysis in order to support or refute a pre-selected hypothesis. Your paper must be original and designed in such a way that it contributes new knowledge to the field of public health preparedness. Your course instructor and/or chosen mentor will guide you through a step-wise process that culminates in the completion of your project.
Course Objectives
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate the fundamental principles and terminology of basic research design
- Perform advanced academic literature searches and data acquisition through the use of varied library resources, public domain repositories, and internet search engines
- Critically evaluate the research methodology used in recently published articles
- Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of quantitative versus qualitative research analysis
- Develop and organize complex ideas in a logical, orderly, and well-written fashion
- Cultivate a professional appreciation for public health preparedness research
Course Materials
The following materials are required:
- Lester, J. & Lester, J. (2010). Writing Research Papers: A Complete Guide, 13th Ed. Pearson Education Inc.
Assignments and Grading
All graded assignments in the course except for the final paper are considered ongoing assignments and are worth 10 points per assignment. The final paper is worth 100 points. See the table below for final grade weighting of each item.
| Assignment |
Weight |
|---|---|
| Ongoing Activities | 10% |
| Final Paper | 90% |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Graduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
Website
ANGEL: https://cms.psu.edu
PSU Policies
Log-In Policy:
Students are expected to log-in regularly to keep up-to date with announcements, discussions, etc. The class will progress at a regular pace throughout the semester and there are specific due dates and times for assignments, etc.
Academic Integrity:
Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and responsible manner. Academic integrity is a basic guiding principle for all academic activity at The Pennsylvania State University, and all members of the University community are expected to act in accordance with this principle. Consistent with this expectation, students should act with personal integrity, respect other students' dignity, rights and property, and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their efforts. Academic integrity includes a commitment not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation or deception. Such acts of dishonesty violate the fundamental ethical principles of the University community and compromise the worth of work completed by others (see Faculty Senate Policy 49-20 and G-9 Procedures) http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/conduct/codeofconduct
Read the Academic Integrity Guidelines for the College of Agricultural Sciences
A lack of knowledge or understanding of the University’s Academic Integrity policy and the types of actions it prohibits and/or requires does not excuse one from complying with the policy. Penn State and the College of Agricultural Sciences take violations of academic integrity very seriously. Faculty, alumni, staff and fellow students expect each student to uphold the University’s standards of academic integrity both in and outside of the classroom.
Disability Access Statement:
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. If you have a disability-related need for reasonable academic adjustments in this course, contact the Office for Disability Services (ODS) at 814-863-1807 (V/TTY). For further information regarding ODS, please visit the Office for Disability Services Web site at http://equity.psu.edu/ods/.
In order to receive consideration for course accommodations, you must contact ODS and provide documentation (see the documentation guidelines at http://equity.psu.edu/ods/guidelines/documentation-guidelines). If the documentation supports the need for academic adjustments, ODS will provide a letter identifying appropriate academic adjustments. Please share this letter and discuss the adjustments with your instructor as early in the course as possible. You must contact ODS and request academic adjustment letters at the beginning of each semester.
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or spouses with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, disabilities, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
Use of Trade Names:
Where trade names are used, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the World Campus, Outreach and Cooperative Extension, the College of Agricultural Sciences, or The Pennsylvania State University is implied.
Subject to Change Statement:
Please note that this Course Syllabus is subject to change. Students are responsible for abiding by such changes.
