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MEIN50040

Academic Year 2025/2026

Bioinformatics Journal Club (Year 2) (MEIN50040)

Subject:
Medical Informatics
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Medicine
Level:
5 (Doctoral)
Credits:
2.5
Module Coordinator:
Professor Kenneth Wolfe
Credit Split by Trimester:
Autumn 1.25
Spring 1.25
Trimester:
2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)
Mode of Delivery:
Blended
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Pass/Fail (GPA Neutral)

Curricular information is subject to change.

Students interested in taking this module should contact the module coordinator (Prof. Ken Wolfe, kenneth.wolfe@ucd.ie) to check their suitability BEFORE registering for it.

This is a module comprising participation/attendance at a bioinformatics journal club. It is primarily aimed at students in the Bioinformatics and Systems Biology PhD programme.

Students taking the module must be doing a research project (e.g. a PhD project) that includes a bioinformatics aspect (i.e. computer-based analysis of biological data such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, etc.).

It is intended for students who have already taken the CNWY40070 module in their Year 1, and who wish to participate in Journal Club series again in their Year 2. Students taking MEIN50040 are expected to give Journal Club presentations at a higher level than in Year 1 (CNWY40070). They should present a detailed critique of the paper they are presenting, including submission of the slides of their talk a week prior to speaking for comments from the module coordinator. They will also contribute more in-depth insights into presentations, intended as constructive feedback to other presenters.

MEIN50040 will normally be held in Autumn Trimester, at 1.00 pm on Mondays, to integrate with the journal club component of CNWY40070.



About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

How to read and make sense of research papers.
How to think critically about whether research claims in publications are clearly supported by the presented evidence.
How to choose papers for in depth reading and for journal club presentation.
How to identify limitations as well as strengths of current research approaches.

Indicative Module Content:

Papers for journal club talks are chosen by the students presenting them. They should be recent primary research papers that include a bioinformatics aspect and will be of broad interest (not too specialised).

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Small Group

15
Autonomous Student Learning

40
Total

55

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Small group interaction where students raise questions and answer them in a group with and without the guidance of the teaching staff.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

This module is typically a follow-on from CNWY40070 and if taken independently you should first discuss with the module co-ordinator before registering.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Individual Project: Students give a Journal Club presentation (20-30 mins) about a research paper they have read. Week 1 Autumn, Week 2 Autumn, Week 3 Autumn, Week 4 Autumn, Week 5 Autumn, Week 6 Autumn, Week 7 Autumn, Week 8 Autumn, Week 9 Autumn, Week 10 Autumn, Week 11 Autumn, Week 12 Autumn, Week 14 Autumn, Week 15 Autumn Pass/Fail Grade Scale Yes
50
 Yes
Participation in Learning Activities: Students are expected to attend all journal club talks, and to participate by asking questions and discussion. An attendance sheet will be used Week 1 Autumn, Week 2 Autumn, Week 3 Autumn, Week 4 Autumn, Week 5 Autumn, Week 6 Autumn, Week 7 Autumn, Week 8 Autumn, Week 9 Autumn, Week 10 Autumn, Week 11 Autumn, Week 12 Autumn, Week 14 Autumn, Week 15 Autumn Pass/Fail Grade Scale Yes
50
 Yes

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
Repeat Within Two Trimesters
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

feedback is provided to the group, and in response to self-assessment sheets

Name Role
Dr Raul Miranda Caso Luengo Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
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