Course Syllabus

 

Research Project Description

Approximately 50% of the world’s population will undergo menopause, a critical life event which is associated with a range of physical (e.g., hot flushes, sleeping problems, heart palpitations, and headaches/migraines) and psychological symptoms (e.g., low mood and problems with concentration). Whilst the burden of menopause symptoms on quality of life and work ability is widely acknowledged, the extent to which menopause and menopause treatments are associated with the onset and exacerbation of mental disorders is unclear.

To address these knowledge gaps, we have established the meno2mind project which aims to synthesize and appraise existing scientific evidence pertaining to the impact of menopause and menopause treatments on mental disorders and ensure that these findings are disseminated to the public and key stakeholders.

This multiphase, evidence synthesis project comprises a series of sequential review projects (scoping, systematic, and umbrella) designed to identify gaps in the current evidence base and determine the extent to which menopause transition and pharmacotherapies for menopause are associated with onset, exacerbation/improvement, and treatment of mental disorders.

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 scoping review project, from conceptualization to dissemination of the findings, and a whole lot in between. As DIS Research Assistants, you will be a part of a network of highly skilled academics from institutions throughout Europe.

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

• Horst, K., Cirino, N., & Adams, K. E. (2025). Menopause and mental health. Current Opinion in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 37(2), 102–110.
• Lewis Johnson L, Rowland LM, Ashraf MS, Clark CT, Dotson VM, Livinski AA, Simon M. Key Findings from Mental Health Research During the Menopause Transition for Racially and Ethnically Minoritized Women Living in the United States: A Scoping Review. Journal of Womens Health. 2024 Feb;33(2):113-131.

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: attendance & active participation including homework in the research orientation, research workshops, and DIS Festival	10%
Participation: Presentation at DIS Festival	10%
Literature review	15%
Research Project Outline	15%
Participation in the research project	20%
Final Paper	30%
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.