This post-graduate level course is aimed at improving the research skills of students in field of nutrition. It covers both traditional research methods and new technologies, and focuses on a range of complex topics, including energy compensation, nutrient-gene interactions and metabolic adaptation. It considers statistical issues as well as application of data to policy development. It also provides students with the required scientific basics of nutrition research in the context of a systems and health approach. This course focuses on understanding research problems, exploration of scientific data, preparation of research proposals and plans. This course also tells about techniques used in research which is specific to nutrition and conduct of research. This course also studies the designing of research experiments and collection, statistical analysis and interpretation of research data. After taking this course students will have improved scientific writing skills and will be able to scientifically defend their research projects.

Contents

Theory

1. Concepts of review of scientific literature; Sources for data search and digital library access; Definition of research problem;Types of research problem
2. Development of synopsis; Selection of statistical design
3. Concepts of experimental controls, treatment specifications
4. Type of research animals/birds and their selections and housing management
5. Logistics and costs of research plan
6. Collection, tabulation and interpretation of research data/results
7. Use of computer software for data handling and presentation
8. Scientific report writing and citation                 

Practical

1. Feeding experiments with small and large ruminants
2. Sampling and analysis of rumen contents for rumen metabolites, bacterial and protozoal biomass
3. Measurements of in vivo and in vitro digestibility, rumen volume and digesta flow rate;Balance trials for nitrogen, mineral and energy
4. In sacco technique for dry matter, fibre and protein degradability;Bio-assays in poultry feeding
5. Statistical analysis of experimental data;Use of computer for data analysis

COURSE SCHEDULE

Weeks

Topic

Book With Page No.

Date

Concepts of review of scientific literature                 

Scientific Presentations (Chapter 2)

26-10-2020

2

Sources for data search and digital library access

Scientific Presentations (Chapter 2)

02-11-2020

3

Definition of research problem

Scientific Presentations (Chapter 3-7)

09-11-2020

4

Types of research problem

Scientific Presentations (Chapter 3-7)

16-11-2020

5

Development of synopsis

Scientific Presentations (Chapter 4)

23-11-2020

6

Selection of statistical design I

Steel et al. (Chapter 5)

30-11-2020

7

Selection of statistical design II

Steel et al. (Chapter 5)

07-12-2020

8

Concepts of experimental controls, treatment specifications

Steel et al. (Chapter 6)

14-12-2020

9

Mid-term Examination

28-12-2020

10

Type of research animals/birds and their selections and housing management

Internet

04-01-2021

11

Logistics and costs of research plan

Internet

11-01-2021

12

Collection, tabulation and interpretation of research data/results I

Scientific Presentations (Chapter 1, 2, 14)

28-01-2021

13

Collection, tabulation and interpretation of research data/results II

Scientific Presentations (Chapter 1, 2, 14)

25-01-2021

14

Use of computer software for data handling and presentation I

Scientific Presentations (Chapter 6)

01-02-2021

15

Use of computer software for data handling and presentation II

Scientific Presentations (Chapter 6)

08-02-2021

16

Scientific report writing and citation

Scientific Presentations (Chapter 6)

15-02-2021

17

Revision

22-02-2021

18

Final-term Examination