新英格兰大学

The University of New England is committed to maintaining its strong research culture, underpinned by high research training standards. The Master of Science Rules provide the framework for one of the University's AQF Level 9 awards. They provide the rigorous processes that are essential for the maintenance of academic quality and integrity in the University's operations, and that reflect the University's values of providing a formative, respectful, inclusive, flexible and innovative environment for the delivery of high quality research training for its students.

Genetics is a field of research where a number of different investigative approaches are applied to determine the basis of heredity; that is, how traits or genes are passed on from parents to offspring; and the variation in the way these traits are differently expressed between individuals or populations of individuals.

In more recent times our substantive understanding of the molecular basis of heredity and gene expression and the increased application of high throughput and microchip technologies requiring new computer based approaches to research, data storage and analysis, has broadened the scope of the field of genetics research into a dynamic, multidisciplinary approach to scientific discovery. Where once we would have investigated the inheritance and expression patterns of a single or few genes, we now have access to whole genome sequence databases and can investigate the expression of 1000's of genes simultaneously. The opportunity for characterization and analysis of the genetic data that has been generated by these high throughput technologies has given rise to the whole new field of bioinformatics. The tools of bioinformatics are allowing us to find exciting new ways to investigate and manage all of life's genetic resources.

Career Opportunities

Graduates are also qualified for employment in research organisations such as CSIRO and ANSTO, universities, environmental protection agencies, and scientific research laboratories.

Course Aims

The Master of Science course aims are to provide a program of independent, supervised research for high calibre graduates that make an advanced contribution to scholarship and mastery of a scientific field of knowledge.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

• exhibit a mastery of a scientific field of knowledge by: (a) having systematically acquired intellectual skill and experience that is grounded in contemporary developments in a scientific field; (b) creating and communicating scholarship of a quality to satisfy peer review, extending the frontier of the field of knowledge and potentially meriting publication; (c) demonstrating knowledge of research principles and methods applicable in advanced academic inquiry;
• conduct research independently and systematically by: (a) conceptualising, designing and implementing a project which will increase knowledge that is applicable or contributes new insights to a scientific field; (b) evaluating ideas and making informed judgements on complex issues or challenges in the scientific field of specialisation; (c) communicating ideas, methodologies and conclusions clearly and effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences.