Course Syllabus

 

Summer Research Assistantship 

Research Assistantship (RA) is an experiential learning opportunity promoting the development of research skills in an international, professional, research setting.  As a RA, you perform research under the supervision of a Research Mentor. The mentor is able to offer both academic and professional advice. In addition to acquiring research experience, the goal is to develop a student/mentor relationship that benefits both the DIS student, the mentor and Copenhagen-based research institutions.

Research Project Description

Scientec (formerly Dianox) develops novel oligonucleotides called chemical antibodies or aptamers that can bind to proteins, small molecules, or cells with high affinity. We have developed a proprietary database and machine learning platform to create new aptamers that can bind to different targets.

You should expect to spend a lot of time reading in the beginning of the session in order to understand the fundamentals of the research.

Project details
The research project will encompass binding of aptamers to surface proteins related to cancer.

The Research Assistant will test these aptamers using fluorescence and other techniques on proteins or cancer cells lines. Over the course of the term, the Research Assistant will do weekly one-pagers and finalize the project by writing up a research paper.

References

Lab Location

This DIS Research Project is located at an external institution. Make sure you have arranged your first meeting with your mentor before arriving in Copenhagen including where to meet and how to get there.

Learning Objectives

• Obtain hands-on research experience in a lab-based setting
• Plan, conduct, and critically evaluate experimental data
• Perform self-directed and self-motivated experimental research
• Actively participate in scientific discussions with a critical approach to the research
• Write a research paper and present experimental data in a professional way
• Learn ethical standards and academic integrity in a research process
• Experience the authenticity of research, including the unpredictabilities, the unexpected challenges, and unknowns that are a common part of conducting research

Faculty

Christian Code

Scientist with 10+ years of experience in developing new biotechnology products. Developed three marketed liposomal cancer drugs. Worked with a number of biophysical tools from fluorescence to mass spectrometry. His research has namely been with lipids (lipid protein, lipid-lipid, lipid oligonucleotide, drug) interactions. Currently, he is researching aptamers as novel therapeutics.PhD. (Biophysics, Aalto University, 2013). MSc. (Biochemistry, University of Helsinki 2010). BSc. (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, 2003). : Chief Technology Officer, Dianox APS, 2018-present. With DIS since 2023.

Approach to Mentoring

The RA is designed for highly motivated students with a strong interest in developing their research skills. You will experience a hands-on class in a laboratory setting also including theoretical hours, where you will read, write, discuss, and prepare your research. You will be part of an active research team and experience the dynamics of a European research institution. You will be provided with the basic scientific knowledge of the field and be introduced to the methods and techniques needed to conduct the experiments. Regarding teaching style, especially in the laboratory setting, our approach is "learning by doing." For the theoretical focus, you are expected to immerse yourself in the topic and take responsibility so you achieve the highest learning outcomes by actively participating in discussions and presentations. 

Responsibilities and Expectations of the Research Mentor

Your research project will be part of a larger, ongoing research project at the research institution. Your mentor will guide you on methodology and techniques, advise as to ethical considerations, provide feedback throughout the research process, and help you find resources to conduct your research on-site.  The RAship encourages a gradual transition toward independence as you gain more confidence in the lab, transforming your work into a more self-directed and self-motivated project under the mentor’s guidance and supervision. It is important, that the project reflect your work, as a RA student, not only your mentor’s contribution.  

It is not expected that you pursue a project where you are able to obtain definitive publishable results. The project chosen and agreed upon between you and your mentor should be focused and designed to produce results within the DIS semester calendar. While it is not necessary for the results to be significant (in that the results find a solution to the problem or hypothesis proposed), arguably any results to the proposed question are significant to the next phase of a research project.  

Responsibilities and Expectations of the Research Assistant

Specific expectations of you as a RA is agreed upon with your mentor at the beginning of the semester. However, in general it requires that you:

1. Spend an average of 35 hours per week carrying out the research project including on average 3 hours of Introduction to Denmark each Wednesday generally between 13:00 - 16:00 but sometime for longer or later hours. You will need to arrange a schedule with your mentor which will allow you to complete the required hours performing a combination of theoretical and hands-on research at the external research institution.
2. Arrange project check-in meetings with your research mentor at mutually agreed upon times during the summer. Clear and continuous communication with your research mentor throughout the term is a necessary part of the research project and it is expected that you initiate these meetings. 
3. Submit assignments on time including a literature review, a outline of the research project, a journal club presentation, a final research paper and a powerpoint or poster presentation (or another type of format) as agreed on with your mentor.

As part of your theoretical focus, you are expected to read and write relevant scientific literature in relation to your research project and use your newly-gained knowledge to critically evaluate the research component, ask relevant questions, and actively participate in research discussions within the field. During the practical work, you are expected to actively engage by planning and performing your own experiments or data collection and carefully monitoring the conducted experiments and analyzing the collected data. You are expected/encouraged to critically evaluate possible issues if results do not go as expected and come up with ideas to modify or reflect on potential mistakes.

Overall, it is important to be enthusiastic about the project. Carrying out a research project is neither a straightforward nor predictable process as you are creating new (and at times unexpected) knowledge. This is part of what makes research exciting but also challenging! 

Evaluation and Grading

During the summer research course, you are expected to fulfill various assignments. 

To be eligible for a passing grade in 6RA, all of the assignments must be completed. It will be your mentor that assess your work and assign your final grade.

Assignments and their weights are shown in the following table:

Participation - Research Assistantship		20%
Participation - "Introduction to Denmark" co-curriculum		10%
Literature Summary  Review		5%
Outline of Research project		5%
Presentation of a Scholarly Work		5%
Research Paper:	Written Project	45%
	Presentation or Research Project	10%
Total		100%

The literature summary review is an opportunity to seek out existing peer-reviewed articles and, in that way, enhance your scientific knowledge within the research area and kickstart your research project. In addition, it is essential that you have knowledge of previously produced research by your mentor and the research institution with which you are working.

An outline of the research project will provide you with an overall research plan and help structure your research during the term. By creating an outline, you will be able to better comprehend the objective of your efforts. Your mentor will also be able to use the outline to assess areas in which your current knowledge and understanding may be lacking.

The research paper is the final product of your research assistantship. In the paper, you will explain your work throughout the term, including the methodologies you have used, the overall process, the project’s significance, and the contribution to the field of research in which you have engaged. Please note: this research paper is not produced with the intent of publishing, but if you put in the hours and effort it may end up being a publication. 

For the oral presentation, you will present the research you have carried out throughout the summer in a  format agreed upon with your mentor and approved by DIS. The presentation should have a logical and clear structure and provide relevant information on the background, methods, conclusions, and future perspectives of the presented work. The original data reported in the paper should be presented and discussed in a clear way.

Participation. To receive full credit, you are required to be present at all the scheduled research sessions and actively participate and engage in the experimental work (both practical and theoretical). 

Besides research, it is also important you learn some cultural and historical aspect of Denmark while studying here. Therefore, you are required to attend the "Introduction to Denmark" course as part of your participation grade.

Of the final participation grade, 20% is based on:

• Attendance and the level of preparation, planning, and conduction of the experimental research work as well as your level of self-directed and self-motivated research work
• Your overall contribution to research discussions with the research group in general, at journal clubs, and at project presentations

An additional 10% of the participation grade is based on your attendance and active engagement in the Wednesday afternoon Introduction to Denmark series, led by DIS Danish Language and Culture faculty, Mette Jungersen. Please see the corresponding Canvas page for these required weekly activities, designed to introduce you to the cultural context of your temporary home, enhance your time in Copenhagen, and deepen your understanding of Denmark.

Presentation of a Scholarly Work

Scholarly presentations are research presentations of relevant scholarly work followed by discussions with your mentor, fellow students, and other participants. These sessions offer an opportunity to engage in thoughtful research discussions, improve presentation skills, and develop critical thinking through reading, analyzing, and discussing scholarly material.

The work you choose to present should be connected to your research area and may include peer-reviewed articles, reports, or other forms of scholarly literature. The article or work should be discussed with your research mentor in advance to ensure its relevance. If other DIS students are placed at the same site, they should also read the work beforehand and prepare one or two questions for the discussion.

Readings

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

Before Arrival in Copenhagen, some mentors may give you 10 – 15 hours of literature to read before you arrive.

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.

DIS Accommodations Statement

Your learning experience in this class is important to me.  If you have approved academic accommodations with DIS, please make sure I receive your DIS accommodations letter on the first days of class. If you can think of other ways I can support your learning, please don't hesitate to talk to me. If you have any further questions about your academic accommodations, contact Academic Support academicsupport@dis.dk