Course Syllabus

Credits: 6

Project Description:
Ion channels are expressed in virtually all cells of the body. They are large, transmembrane proteins and it is
notoriously difficult to obtain sufficient amounts of channel protein for expression or structural studies. We
have optimized a protocol for expression and purification of human ion channel proteins from yeast cells.
(Scharff-Poulsen and Pedersen, 2013; Tejada et al., 2017a)
The aim of this project is to characterize the functional properties of the purified proteins and determine
whether they behave as native proteins. The purified proteins are reconstituted into lipid bilayers and single
channel currents are recorded, and the project can easily be expanded depending on interests and results
can be compared to native currents or channels expressed in mammalian cells or Xenopus laevis oocytes
(Tejada et al., 2017b), based on your own recordings or literature studies.

Research Institution: University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of
Veterinary and Animal Sciences

Location information

What is a 6-Credit Research Assistant course?
A 6-Credit Research Assistant course is an experiential learning opportunity that allows students to develop
research skills in a professional research setting. The course requires an average of 20 hours a week of
laboratory, clinical, and/or literature-based research in external research groups at local hospitals, universities,
or other research institutions. As a research assistant, you perform research under the supervision of a mentor
(a lead scientist in the external research group). 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 and Copenhagen-based research institutions.

Student Profile
This course is designed for highly motivated students with a strong interest in developing their research skills.
Students must be willing to commit a significant portion of their semester to an engaging opportunity involving
hands-on research in universities and institutes in the Copenhagen region.

Learning Objectives
Through this course, DIS students will learn techniques and skills in their field of interest and as applicable to
the research focus. Students will be part of an active research team and experience the dynamics of a
European research institution. Throughout the semester, students will keep a research journal recording their
daily involvement in the research project. At the end of the semester, all students involved in this course will
participate in a Research Symposium to present their semester work to peers and invited professionals.

Structure of Project Work
The student’s research project will be a part of a larger, ongoing research project at the research institution.
The student must be able to enhance the research being performed and investigate phenomena of interest to
them, their mentor, and the research team. The project should be self-directed and self-motivated under the
mentor’s guidance and supervision. A gradual transition toward independence is encouraged as a student
gains confidence and is able to self-direct her or his work.
It is not expected that the student pursues a project where s/he is able to obtain definitive publishable results.
The project chosen and agreed upon between the student and 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.

DIS Contact
Tina Mangieri, PhD, DIS Associate Academic Director and Director of Research: tma@disstockholm.se
Jeanette Erbo Wern, PhD, DIS Copenhagen Faculty and Copenhagen Coordinator: jwe@dis.dk

Course Location
This DIS course will be located, primarily, at an external institution. Students will need to arrange a schedule
with their mentor which will allow them to complete an average of 20 hours work per week (total hours may
vary according to research opportunity and expectation of mentor).

Research Resources

More information can be found on this page.

Assignments
Throughout the semester, students are expected to complete various assignments to verify their involvement
and learning; these will be of benefit to both the student and mentor. The students will be expected to compose
the following:
A literature summary review will give the student the opportunity to seek out existing peer-reviewed articles
and, therefore, enhance their scientific knowledge regarding the specific research field. In addition, it is
essential that the student has knowledge of previously produced research by the research institution with which
they are working.
An outline of the research project will provide the student with a foundational structure to help guide the
project’s completion. By creating an outline, the student will be able to better comprehend the objective of
her/his efforts. The mentor will also be able to use the outline to assess areas in which the student’s current
knowledge and understanding may be lacking.
A research abstract explaining the importance and overall objective of the research the student has done.
The abstract provides the student an outlet to think about their research concisely, thereby gleaning the most
essential points from the project completion.
In conjunction with the submission of the research abstract there will be a research symposium where
students will present the research they have carried out throughout the semester. Students will create a poster
that supports their abstract and outlines the main aspects of their work; the poster is created with the guidance
and approval of the research mentor. The poster session is part of a research symposium organized by DIS
to showcase end-of-semester work across the curriculum.

The research paper is the final product of the 6-credit research assistantship. The paper will explain the
student’s work throughout the semester and will include the overall process, the project’s significance, and the
contribution to the field of research in which the student engaged. Please note: this research paper is not
produced with the intent of publishing. The final research paper will include the following:

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Background
• Method(s)
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusions

Evaluation
Literature Summary Review (5%)
Outline of Research Project (5%)
Abstract (5%)
Research Paper (10-15 pages) (60%)
Poster Presentation at Research Symposium (20%)
Participation (5%)

Research Assistants are required to participate in two (2) workshops during the semester. The content of the
workshops is subject to change and may include overviews/introductions of skills your mentor will expect you
to execute, as well as discussions on the goals of research and the ways in which research questions are
culturally and historically-contingent. Workshop examples include, but are not limited to:

• Literature Search and Citation Skills
• Research Ethics
• Interpreting and Analyzing Data and the Significance of Results
• Communicating Research Findings (including poster production)
• Structure of Abstracts and Research Paper

Copenhagen Research Coordinator
Jeanette Erbo Wern
Ph.D. Immunology 2001-2005 (Inst. Of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology,
University of Copenhagen, Denmark). Post doc 2006-2009 (Inst. of International Health,
Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark). M.Sc. 2001 (Inst. Of
International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark).
Senior Scientist 2010-2013 (Immune Targeting Group, Bioneer, Cph, Denmark). Senior
Scientist 2013-2016 (Dept. of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institute, Cph, Denmark). With
DIS since Fall 2016.

Course Schedule
In addition to these dates, weekly meetings with your mentor are required. It is up to you to find a time with
your mentor for these weekly check-ins. If you need more meetings, it is your responsibility as the student to
request such from your mentor.

Before Arrival to Copenhagen
Once accepted you will be connected to your mentor(s) via email. You will then contact your mentor(s) and
briefly introduce yourself further. Please note some mentors may give you 10 – 15 hours of research literature
to read before your semester start.

Arrivals Week

January 13th, 16.30-17.30
Research Assistant Orientation: Introduction to Research at DIS
Location: DIS, Studiestræde 3 room 21

Powerpoint

Disability and Resource Statement  

Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Academic Support (acadsupp@dis.dk) to coordinate this.  In order to receive accommodations, students should inform the instructor of approved DIS accommodations within the first two weeks of classes.

Policies

Attendance

It is crucial for your learning that you stay on task and hand in assignments on or before the due date. All work– including in-class projects – have to be completed in order to pass the class. Late papers or projects will be marked down with 1/3 of a grade for each day it is late.

Academic Honesty

Plagiarism and Violating the Rules of an Assignment

DIS expects that students abide by the highest standards of intellectual honesty in all academic work. DIS assumes that all students do their own work and credit all work or thought taken from others. Academic dishonesty will result in a final course grade of “F” and can result in dismissal. The students’ home universities will be notified. DIS reserves the right to request that written student assignments be turned in electronic form for submission to plagiarism detection software.  See the Academic Handbook for more information, or ask your instructor if you have questions.

Academic Regulations

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