Taught By

Dr. Priscilla Chan

A PhD in Cancer Biology and Genomics from USC, Dr. Priscilla Chan is a postdoctoral researcher advancing breakthrough treatments for glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive brain cancers. Her pioneering research on circadian clock compounds as novel cancer therapies has earned national recognition, including the Society for Research in Biological Rhythms Excellence Award and a prestigious NIH fellowship. With publications in top-tier journals and presentations at international conferences, she collaborates with leading universities and biopharma companies to bring cutting-edge treatments from lab to clinical trials. Dr. Chan's work bridges molecular biology and translational medicine, positioning her at the forefront of cancer research innovation while mentoring the next generation of scientists.

Week by Week Curriculum

Week 1: Introduction to Scientific Research & Literature

Syllabus overview and introductions
Parts of a research paper
Class skim of a sample article
Introduction to PubMed

Week 2: Dissecting the Abstract and Introduction

Guided breakdown of an abstract
Guided breakdown of the introduction
Identify research question
Identify hypothesis

Week 3: Understanding Methods and Analyzing Results

Discuss variables, controls, and sample size
Methodology overview
Analyze sample figures
Group activity: match conclusions to visuals

Week 4: Evaluating the Discussion and Conclusion

Summary of findings
Identify limitations
Discuss future directions
Class discussion on implications

Week 5: Research Ethics, Scientific Integrity & Presentation Workshop

Discussion of misconduct examples
Group debate on ethical scenarios
How to give an effective scientific presentation
Presentation skills workshop

Week 6: Final Project Presentations

5-minute presentation of final course project per student
Oral presentation of chosen paper
Final Q&A session
Course wrap-up and feedback

Biology Research Paper Program

In Partnership With