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CHMC21 Fall 2025 Journal Club Presentation Instructions

Purpose. In this exercise, you’ll explain a specialized biophysics paper so your classmates can follow the science. Focus on the big idea, how the methods work at a class-appropriate level, what the key data show, and how the findings plug into broader themes or applications. Don’t worry about every detail—clarity and the core message come first.

What to do in your journal club presentation

•     Distill the big question and why it matters.

•     Explain how the technique works at a usable, class-level depth.

• Walk us through one or two key figures and what they demonstrate.

•     Connect the results to broader themes and real-world applications.

Choosing your paper

• Pick one primary research article from the provided list.

•     It must feature at least one technique we covered: AFM, optical traps (tweezers),

fluorescence microscopy, super-resolution imaging, microfluidics, electron microscopy, QCM-D, or SPR.

• If you want to use a different recent paper with these techniques, consult with me first.

What to prepare

• Plan for a 12-minute presentation + 3-minute Q&A

•     Prepare slides (PDF or PPTX) following/answering the questions from the journal club guidelines (see separate file)

•     Include a one discussion question (post with your slides)

• One-paragraph takeaway (3–5 sentences) due the day after class

How to prepare

1. Skim, then deep read: Abstract → Figures → Methods as needed.

2. Background: What’s the biological/physical system? What problem does this solve?

3. Technique primer: What does the instrument measure? What’s the readout? Typical controls/artefacts?

4. Figures: Select 1–2 central figures.

5. Limitations: Identify assumptions, controls, error sources, and alternative explanations.

6. Big picture: Why do the findings matter? What’s a logical next step?

Guiding questions to answer (from the Journal Club Guidelines)

• What is the main claim/message of the paper?

•    What is new?

•    Why is it important?

•    Which experiments support the main claim?

•     How do the authors discuss their work?

•     Is the main claim supported by the results?

• What do you like / not like about this paper?

•     Is it a good paper? Do you trust it?

• What is your overall rating, 1–5 stars (5 is best)?

Grading rubric (100 pts)

• Clarity and organization: logical flow, on-time. (20)

•    Technique explanation: correct, accessible, includes readout & common artefacts. (20)

• Figure presentation: accurate, annotated properly, links data to claim. (25)

• Scientific rigor: controls, assumptions, limitations, statistics. (15)

•     Broader significance: connects to course themes/applications. (10)

• Q&A: handles questions and invites discussion. (10)

Tips for success

• Aim for ~6–8 slides total. Fewer, clearer slides beat dense ones.

• Use large fonts and labels; annotate with arrows/boxes rather than text blocks.

•     Prefer simple schematics over complex originals. You can redraw, even by hand.

•     Practice out loud and work on your timing. Don’t go over your allotted time.

Academic integrity

• Cite every figure (paper, panel number). Do not copy text verbatim.

• You can include other relevant references but cite them accordingly.