Outline

Overview

In this unit, you will adopt a multi-disciplinary approach to solve a real-world problem based around treating a disease relevant to our society, such as cancer, heart disease, infection or neurological conditions. You will apply your discipline expertise in medicinal chemistry to understand the challenge, then design potential solutions to the problem, and then work collaboratively with students in other disciplines (science, government, business, law, marketing, engineering) to consider solutions to the problem from a broader perspective and how these could positively impact on the community. This unit will allow you to understand the disease through stories of scientific endeavour that led to the discovery of first-generation drugs, then extend that knowledge through collecting and analysing data on new treatment solutions that can help you move towards designing innovative approaches. You will learn to work in interdisciplinary teams and communicate your findings to a broad audience. You will build key skills in problem solving, team work and written/oral communication that will equip you for many future research or professional pathways in one or more of: science, technology, health, business and public policy.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Chemistry Academic Operations
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	(CHEM2401 or CHEM2521 or CHEM2911 or CHEM2915 or CHEM2921 or CHEM2991) and [(PCOL2011 or PCOL2021 or MEDS2002) or (BMED2401 and {BMED2402 or BMED2405})]
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Christopher McErlean, christopher.mcerlean@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Final exam (Record+)	Discipline Specific Final exam written exam	30%	Formal exam period	1 hour
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Discipline Specific Project proposal Essay	15%	Week 06 Due date: 11 Sep 2022 at 23:59	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Interdisciplinary Assessment Self and Peer Evaluation of Teamwork assignment	10%	Week 09 Due date: 09 Oct 2022 at 23:59	survey
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Interdisciplinary Assessment Final Project Presentation group work	10%	Week 12 Due date: 27 Oct 2022 at 23:59	10 minute presentation
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Interdisciplinary Assessment Final Group Report Scientific report	30%	Week 13 Due date: 06 Nov 2022 at 23:59	3000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Interdisciplinary Assessment Reflective Statement essay	5%	Week 13 Due date: 06 Nov 2022 at 23:59	700 words
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ? = Type B final exam ?

Assessment summary

Discipline Specific Project Proposal

You need to provide a brief proposal of up to 1000 words (not including references) that outlines and justifies your group’s hypothesis/ question; a justified argument for your group’s proposed multi-disciplinary approach to solving the hypothesis/ question; and what your discipline can specifically offer to that solution.

Discipline Specific Final Exam

You will provide mechanisms, products, and reagents to answer MHCM specific questions about beta-lactam syunthesis.

Interdisciplinary Final Project Presentation

The interdisciplinary group presentation is a communication exercise where you must outline your project in a way that is accessible to a generalist audience. Presentations should clearly articulate and contextualise the problem(s), describe the approach and justify validity, present outcomes, and discuss significance, opportunities, and limitations.

Interdisciplinary Final Project Scientific Report

This group report will draw together all the work done by your team on your interdisciplinary project. Your report will take the format of a scientific report, including the below sections. All group members should contribute equally to the production of this task.

Interdisciplinary Teamwork Evaluation

You are required to assess both yourself (self-evaluation) and your peers (peer evaluation) on group work skills as demonstrated throughout the project based on the following skillsets: Working as a team player; Organisation and time management skills; Collaborative skills; Interpersonal competence

Interdisciplinary Refelective Statement

this task will comprise a summary reflective statement where you evidence, through a process of reflection, how you have developed and exhibited two of four graduate qualities (graduate qualities 6-9, listed below, you may choose which two you address; please note that you cannot use the same graduate quality you used in your final reflective practice quiz). The evidence you provide as to your development of these skill sets should come from your own personal experiences of working in this project-based interdisciplinary unit. These four graduate qualities have been chosen specifically as they are critical to your employability and well placed for development in an interdisciplinary project-based capstone such as the 3888 units.

Assessment criteria

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

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.

Learning support

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction to MCHM3888, as part of larger project including INFD, pragmatic overview of semester.	Online class (1 hr)
	Intro to disciplines and interdisciplinary work. Introduce problem and groups.	Workshop (2 hr)
	Independent Lit searching/ reading- broad issue. Zoom drop-in sessions	Practical (3 hr)
Week 02	Antibiotics mode of action, beta-lactam antibiotics and targets.	Online class (1 hr)
	Critical reading and introduction writing workshop- separate disciplines.	Workshop (2 hr)
	Independent Lit searching- broad issue/ problem. Zoom drop-in sessions	Practical (3 hr)
Week 03	Available beta-lactams, syntheses, receptor pockets, PDB data.	Online class (1 hr)
	Present journal club based on week 2 session.	Workshop (2 hr)
	Independent Lit searching- discipline’s role and approaches. Zoom drop-in sessions	Practical (3 hr)
Week 04	Rational design of beta-lactam antibiotics.	Online class (1 hr)
	Groups present critique of literature and proposed project approaches- all together.	Workshop (2 hr)
	Synthesis in lab	Practical (3 hr)
Week 05	Synthetic approaches to beta-lactams.	Online class (1 hr)
	Planning for lab prac project work 1 (in groups)	Workshop (2 hr)
	purification in lab	Practical (3 hr)
Week 06	Industrial synthesis.	Online class (1 hr)
	Planning for lab prac project work 2 (in groups)	Workshop (2 hr)
	compound characterisation in lab	Practical (3 hr)
Week 07	Purification.	Online class (1 hr)
	Groups present plan for Zoom lab prac 1 - all together	Workshop (2 hr)
	Molecular modelling (online)	Practical (3 hr)
Week 08	Testing of antibiotics (small scale, HTS, genetic and metabolic profiling of pathogen).	Online class (1 hr)
	Groups present outcomes of Lab 1 and plans for Zoom lab prac 2 - all together	Workshop (2 hr)
	Molecular modelling (online)	Practical (3 hr)
Week 09	AI design of novel antibiotics.	Online class (1 hr)
	Groups present outcomes of lab 2 and plans for Zoom lab prac 3- all together	Workshop (2 hr)
	Molecular modelling (online)	Practical (3 hr)
Week 10	Precursor directed biosynthesis and mutasynthesis.	Online class (1 hr)
	Integration of results- online tute groups - in groups	Workshop (2 hr)
	Independent/ group work on report. Zoom drop-in sessions	Practical (3 hr)
Week 11	Revision of antibiotic design and synthesis.	Online class (1 hr)
	Groups present integrated results for peer feedback- all together	Workshop (2 hr)
	Independent/ group work on report. Zoom drop-in sessions	Practical (3 hr)
Week 12	Summation of UoS- Therapeutic drug resistance and disease investigation- revisited/ reflection. Recap of key learning outcomes, expectations of MCHM3888 final exam.	Online class (1 hr)
	Formal final presentation of interdisc project as seminars - all together	Workshop (2 hr)
	Final Independent/ group work on report. Zoom drop-in sessions	Practical (3 hr)
Week 13	No lecture- optional live drop in session	Online class (1 hr)
	Formal final presentation of interdisc project as seminars - all together	Workshop (2 hr)
	Summary of skills learned	Practical (3 hr)

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.

Learning outcomes

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.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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

LO1. Apply disciplinary knowledge to solve problems in an interdisciplinary context
LO2. Find, define and delimit authentic problems in order to address them
LO3. Create an investigative strategy, explore solutions, discuss approaches and predict outcomes
LO4. Analyse data using modern information technology and digital skills
LO5. Demonstrate integrity, confidence, personal resilience and the capacity to manage challenges, both individually and in teams
LO6. Collaborate with diverse groups and across cultural and disciplinary boundaries to develop solutions to the project problem
LO7. Communicate project outcomes effectively to a broad audience

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
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

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

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

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.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

MCHM3888: Medicinal Chemistry Interdisciplinary Project

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect