Thesis

Catalog description

The thesis is the central research requirement for the MSBMI degree. Planning for the thesis will begin early in the first semester of study. Students are required to engage in a research project of their own design under the supervision of their primary mentor. The primary mentor will assist the student in identifying a feasible research question for their thesis. The thesis should consolidate students’ knowledge of the principles and practice of biomedical informatics research. The thesis topic will be in the area of curricular concentration and address the CAHIIM competencies. Trainees are required to complete a thesis that involves designing a research project, writing a formal research proposal, performing the study described in it, analyzing the data collected, summarizing the results in a publishable manuscript(s), and presenting and defending the thesis at a public seminar. The thesis provides hands-on experience in formulating one or more research questions; searching the medical literature; translating research question(s) into an appropriate research design; assessing study feasibility; writing a detailed study protocol; designing data collection instruments; conducting the research, performing data analysis; and preparing a manuscript for publication. The thesis is required to be in the form of a publishable manuscript for submission to an indexed, peer-reviewed journal. There will be opportunities for students to present their work at the annual Informatics Day event, conducted by the PSOM Institute for Biomedical Informatics (IBI), as well as at national meetings, contingent on funding.