by Dr. Julia Halterman
One of the unique aspects of earning a MA in Biomedicine degree is that our students complete original, hypothesis-driven thesis research. This truly sets our students apart from other applicants to professional schools, since the majority of applicants have not conducted thesis research.
What does thesis research look like at EMU? How do students select their research topics? Why kind of guidance do students receive throughout this process?
Past student projects have measured turnover efficiency in the operating room, assessed the effects of alcohol-induced anatomical alterations in mouse embryos, analyzed mental health attitudes in the Dallas Pakistani community, evaluated the effects of the Affordable Care Act on insurance status of residents in Harrisonburg, VA, and measured the amounts of carcinogenic compounds released by E-cigarettes, to name a few.
In the spring of their first year, students take a Research Design and Statistics course with Dr. Greg Koop where they learn about research design, hypothesis testing, data analysis, and statistical measures commonly used in the biomedical field. Also built into this course is directed guidance centered on each student’s upcoming thesis projects. Students select three potential research topics and perform background literature searches to find where the “gaps” in the literature lie. It is then in these gaps that students begin to discuss how they will conduct research and gather data to help fill the gap. Students select research topics that they find inherently interesting and are relevant to their future field of practice. Students additionally consult with Dr. Julia Halterman (professor of the summer and fall Research in Biomedicine courses) during this process to determine if their research idea is feasible and can be appropriately measured.
Once students select their research topic, they create appropriate methods and measurements to test their hypothesis. During this process, students recruit a team of three faculty committee members to help provide guidance and direction as they begin to embark on their study. Before gathering any data, students submit a research proposal to EMU’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) and can begin their research after gaining IRB approval.
The summer months are spent gathering data, reading relevant background literature, and writing the first draft of their introduction. In the fall, students are closely guided through data organization and analysis, and they complete multiple drafts and revisions of their manuscripts. At the end of the fall semester, students submit their final thesis manuscripts to their committee and orally present and defend their research during our Biomedicine Research Day event.
Students learn an incredible amount during this process, such as how to take a research project from start to finish, how to adapt and problem solve, and how to convey their research findings in both written and oral presentations. Some of our students even seek to publish their findings in peer-reviewed journals. Faculty say that it is a pleasure to assist students through this process and to witness their personal and professional growth along the way.