Assignment details

Following each lecture, students are required to submit a concise reflection summary of the material covered, focusing on core concepts and key takeaways. Students should capture, connect, and question: What were the core concepts and examples? How does this lecture relate to other domains or methods? What remains unclear, contested, or worth exploring? Each summary is due by the start of the next class session and must be submitted via CourseWorks.

• Maximum length: 500 words
• Format: 12-point Times New Roman, single-spaced
• Scoring: Each summary is worth 1 point
• Flexibility: Students may miss up to 3 submissions without penalty
• Course weight: The overall score is normalized to 20% of the final grade

The term paper is a written research paper exploring a topic in biomedical informatics. It should demonstrate deep engagement with course concepts and independent research. The paper should generally be either a review of a particular issue or technology in biomedical informatics or a well-researched position paper expressing a personal view on a controversial topic in the field.

Required structure

The paper must contain labeled sections for Background, Current Approaches, Discussion, and Conclusions.

Expectations

• Develop a compelling argument about the chosen topic.
• Include at least three concrete examples.
• Identify gaps in research and support claims with citations.
• Use primarily peer-reviewed scientific literature; authoritative technical standards, government publications, and professional guidelines may also be cited when appropriate.
• Use the Discussion section to address limitations of current approaches and feasible directions for future work.
• Include your name and a title.
• Maximum length: 2,500 words, excluding figures and references.
• Format: double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman.
• Any citation style is acceptable if used consistently.

Proposal

Submit a one-paragraph proposal through CourseWorks describing the proposed term paper topic, the central question or argument you plan to address, and its relevance to biomedical informatics. The proposal is intended to ensure that the topic is appropriately scoped and aligned with the assignment.

The instructional team will assign students to groups of 3–4. Each group will design and present a computational solution addressing a biomedical problem of its choice. The project must explicitly incorporate at least two of the following domains: bioinformatics, clinical informatics, consumer health informatics, and public health informatics.

All groups must submit presentation slides in PPT, PPTX, or PDF format to CourseWorks by Monday, December 7, 2026, at 4:00 PM. Attendance is required during all final presentations except for absences covered by University policy.

Required presentation content

Each section below should have at least one dedicated slide. Additional slides are encouraged for clarity and depth.

1. Modules. Explicitly state the course domains integrated.
2. Problem. Clearly define the biomedical problem or question and specify whether the focus is a disease, behavior, or another biomedical issue.
3. Current Approaches. Describe existing methods and clearly explain the project’s novel contribution or improvement.
4. Population. Specify who benefits from the solution, such as researchers, clinicians, or patients.
5. Data. Describe available data sources, their relevance, and how they can be integrated effectively.
6. Methods. Outline the computational solution, methodological approach, and execution plan.
7. Evaluation. Define clear criteria for assessing success, including potential outcomes and validation strategies.
8. Delivery Method. Clarify the deliverable, intended audience, and how it will be provided or implemented.