Course Syllabus

  

Semester & Location:	Spring 2025 - DIS Stockholm
Type & Credits:	Elective Course - 3 Credits
Major Disciplines:	Global Health, Public Health
Research Mentor:	Ridwanul Amin
Research Director:	Susana Dietrich - research@dis.dk
Senior Research Manager:	Polina Smiragina-Ingelström
Academic Support:	research@dis.dk
Time & Place:	See "Course Summary" below

 

Research Project Description

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 117.3 million people were forcibly displaced globally “as a result of persecution, conflict, generalized violence, or human rights violations” by the end of 2023. Among them, 44.6 million people were refugees and asylum seekers who commonly experience traumatic events such as torture and the loss of their loved ones while migrating. Many, if not all, face difficult life circumstances even after reaching a safer place due to unknown language, financial troubles, and discrimination. These vulnerabilities may negatively affect their mental health.

Several studies showed a marked rise in the prevalence of mental disorders among refugees. However, there has yet to be an adequate review comparing prevalence rates between refugees and natives/non-refugee immigrants, which, if found, could lead to effective screening and treatment of refugees through prioritization and the development of specialist services. Therefore, this project aims to evaluate the prevalence and relative risk of mental disorders among refugees using a systematic review – a method that lies at the top of the evidence hierarchy.

In your role as a Research Assistant, you will conduct eligibility checks, review of original articles, and data extraction tasks. Moreover, you will learn the different phases of a systematic review project, from conceptualization to dissemination of the findings, and a whole lot in between. As a pair of DIS Research Assistants, you will be a part of a highly skilled international team of researchers from Sweden, the UK, and Austria.

There will be three modules in this Research Assistantship. You will learn about the theoretical and practical aspects of the project in the first Module. Conducting the review will be the focus of Module Two. In the final Module, you will write a report based on your work.

Selected relevant publications

• Patanè M et al. Prevalence of mental disorders in refugees and asylum seekers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Glob Ment Health. 2022;9:250-263 doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2022.29
• Amin R et al. Country of birth, time period of resettlement and subsequent treated common mental disorders in young refugees in Sweden. Eur J Public Health. 2020 Dec 11;30(6):1169-1175 doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckaa140
• Amin R et al. Suicide attempt and suicide in refugees in Sweden – a nationwide population-based cohort study. Psychol Med. 2021;51(2):254-263 doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291719003167

 

Learning Objectives

The primary objective is for you to experience the world of research and gain skills that will prepare you for any future career you choose to pursue. By the end of the term, you will grasp the complexities of the research project and have made your own contribution to the project. You will have learned to communicate ideas and findings, both orally and in writing, to colleagues within your particular discipline, as well as peers from other disciplines.

Faculty

Ridwanul Amin 

Investigates the associations between migration status, social marginalisation and suicidal behaviour. He obtained his PhD and MSc in Public Health (Epidemiology) from Karolinska Institutet, Sweden in 2021 and 2016, respectively. Ridwan graduated as an MD from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2010. As a physician, he worked on projects aimed at improving child and adolescent health in Bangladesh during 2011-2014. With DIS since December 2021.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Research Assistant

You are expected to spend a minimum of 10 hours per week on the project. The workload
may vary over the semester. If you are travelling to do field research in a different
location, additional time may be required.
As research assistant, you will engage in some or all of the following:
1. Participate in weekly meetings with your research mentor at a time set collectively at the beginning of the term.
2. Participate in a research orientation at the beginning of the semester 
3. Participate in two research workshops during the semester.
4. Write an assessment of your own strengths and weaknesses in the research
process at the beginning of the semester. Revisit at the end of the semester as part of an evaluation of your own participation in, and learning from, the research project.
5. Keep a research journal and submit it on canvas every week (or another specified interval) for your research mentor an DIS Research, describing the activities of the week, and outlining goals for the following week.
6. Conduct literature reviews.
7. Participate in carrying out the research project. This may include: familiarizing yourself with core concepts, prototyping, design testing, preliminary user studies. The specific responsibilities may vary depending on how the project progresses. Be prepared to contribute to tasks that may come up
during the semester. Research processes are not always predictable.
8. Present the relevance of the research and/or findings to peer(s) from other
disciplines at the DIS Festival.
9. Make a final oral and/or written presentation of the research you are involved in, depending on what is agreed with your research mentor.

Readings

The readings will be agreed upon with the Research Mentor at the beginning of the semester -
the exact content will differ depending on your background. You will receive guidance
concerning the basics of relevant concepts, study designs, methods of analysis, etc.

Evaluation and Grading

All research assistants are assessed on their participation, weekly status reports to the research mentor, self-evaluation and presentation to peers from other disciplines. Additional evaluation and grading depends on the individual research project and project phase and is outlined by the research mentor. It may include literature reviews, a poster presentation for an expert panel, a working paper, etc.

Participation* 10% of grade comprises attendance & active participation including homework in the research orientation, research workshops, and DIS Festival	20%
Literature review	5%
Research Project Outline	10%
Presentation at DIS Festival	10%
Final Paper	55%
TOTAL	100%

Research Orientation & Workshops

Days and times are available in the Course Summary, below.

Field Research (if applicable)

Some research projects include field research. Expenses related to fieldwork will be
covered by a DIS travel grant. The fieldwork will be planned with the research
mentor at the beginning of the semester.

Approach to Mentoring

All DIS research mentors have been trained in mentoring students but their approach to
mentoring may differ. Mentoring is about engaging at a different - and often deeper -
level than what is typical in the class room. However, mentoring also comes with some
degree of ambiguity, which is important for you to expect. The research
mentor will work closely with you throughout the semester but part of the training is also
for you to use your own judgement, to make assessments and decisions. As part of
planning your tasks and responsibilities for the semester together, the research
mentor will talk to you about her/his approach to mentoring.

Expectations of the Research Assistant

The specific expectations of the individual research assistant are agreed upon at the
beginning of the semester. In general, a research assistant is expected to take initiative,
take ownership of the project and work independently. You must also be prepared for
meetings and be willing to part take in relevant discussions. In cases where more
research assistants are involved in the same project, you will be expected to engage in
some teamwork. Carrying out a research project is not a straightforward and
predictable process. This is part of what makes it exciting. It also means that
communication is crucial. You are expected to take responsibility for communicating
about problems or issues that arise.

Data

Note that many US colleges/universities require their students who are participating in research at home or abroad to acquire Institutional Review Board approval. Examples include:

• Research involving human subjects
• If the results of any research conducted during your semester with DIS involving human subjects are to be made public or published in the US

You are responsible for confirming whether home IRB-approval is required and, if so, for seeking the approval of your home schools IRB. In addition, all research conducted in Europe must adhere to GDPR regulations, as noted above.

Disability and Resource Statement

Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact Academic Support in Copenhagen (acadsupp@dis.dk) or in Stockholm (academics@disstockholm.se), depending on the project location. In order to receive accommodations, students should inform the instructor of approved DIS accommodations within the first two weeks of classes.

Academic Regulations

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations. on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on: 

• Course Enrollment and Grading.  
• Academic Expectations and Honor Code. 

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