First Experience in Biomedical Research

MEDS 2130 | 1–2 credit hours

Summer Semester 2025 | Syllabus(PDF)
Fall Semester 2025 | Coming Soon
MEDS2130 application enrollment form(DOCX)
Bryan Mackenzie, PhD |bryan.mackenzie@uc.edu | 513-558-3627

This course will guide the medical sciences student’s first exposure to primary research in a modern biomedical research laboratory. The course is designed to bridge the gap between the expectations of MEDS2030C Biomedical Sciences Lab Techniques and the initiation of a defined research project expected as part of MEDS3030 Biomedical Research Rotation. Under the direction of a faculty research mentor, the student will learn research methods, assays, instrumentation, and other research procedures in the host laboratory. The student will gain familiarity with the area of research being pursued in the host laboratory by participating in regular laboratory meetings and by exploring the literature. The student will catalog their progress, both practical and intellectual. The course culminates in the student’s developing a scientific hypothesis and creating a research proposal to test the hypothesis.

Note: Advance planning on your part is necessary if you would like to take this course. Refer to the syllabus and schedule (posted above) and take note of the deadlines for contacting the Course Director and confirming your placement in a lab.

Course Objectives

• Remember and apply best practices in laboratory safety and regulatory compliance.
• Understand the primary research questions being addressed in the student’s host biomedical research laboratory of choice.
• Gain proficiency in the use of instrumentation or computational tools, in running assays, and in performing other essential research tasks.
• Apply research skills to the collection of data in the host lab.
• Analyze the primary literature to gain an understanding of the scientific questions or clinical problems being addressed in the host laboratory.
• Develop a scientific hypothesis and create a brief research proposal to test the hypothesis.

Prerequisite

1. You must have taken MEDS2030C Biomedical Science Lab Techniques (minimum grade C−) or be simultaneously enrolled in the course.
2. Permission of Course Director is required in order to enroll in this course. Please complete the MEDS 2130 application enrollment form and submit it to Michele Glassmeyer | Email: michele.glassmeyer@uc.edu.

What to expect before enrolling? In general, students enrolling in MEDS 2130 will have already completed MEDS 2030C Biomedical Sciences Lab Techniques or will be taking both courses concurrently and will have confirmed a research lab placement. If you have not yet confirmed a research lab placement, be sure to submit your enrollment form well in advance so that the Course Director and academic support staff can help you find a lab placement.

Find a Research Lab Placement

Please visit the Medical Sciences Research Medical Sciences Research Nexus (Canvas Community, accessible only to students in the Medical Sciences Program) for information that will help you get started in biomedical research, explore research opportunities, and find a research lab placement.