Course Syllabus

 

Research Assistant: Mastering Biomedical Concepts Through Technology-Enhanced Learning Tools

DIS Logo

 

Semester & Location:

Spring 2020 - DIS Stockholm

Research Mentor:

Natalia Landázuri Sáenz

Type & Credits:

Elective Course - 3 Credits

Major Disciplines:

Biomedicine/Biotechnology

Coordinator:

Kenzie Zimmer  mz@dis.dk

Research Director:

Tina Mangieri  tma@disstockholm.se

About the Research:

Developments in the biomedical field are advancing at an accelerated pace and
innovations are increasingly complex, enlarging the gap between those who do and do
not solidly understand biomedical concepts, such as the acquisition, analysis, and utility
of genomics towards the development of precision medicine. In this project, you take an
active role in understanding complex biomedical concepts, with the purpose of
designing innovative strategies to help communicate and internalize these concepts.


Students enrolled in this project:
• Investigate and acquire thorough understanding of specific complex biomedical
concepts and the most relevant tasks that learners execute to master these concepts
• Interact with computer science students and faculty from the Royal Institute of
Technology (KTH, Stockholm, Sweden) to learn about visualization and other computer
science tools that could facilitate user-friendly internalization of biomedical concepts
• Participate in the design of technology-enhanced learning systems to convey
biomedical concepts in a user-friendly manner
• Participate in building simple prototypes of technology-enhanced systems
• Conduct preliminary testing of designs with pilot users to select and refine systems
suitable for conveying complex biomedical concepts

Researcher Bio:
Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
(2005). Post-doctoral fellow, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA. Associate Professor
Biomedicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Fulbright scholar (1999-2001).
Research in genetic engineering, regenerative medicine, cardiovascular disease, and
cancer. Has created, designed, implemented and evaluated courses at university level.
Acted as Pedagogical Advisor, Development and Regeneration Doctoral Program,
Karolinska Institutet. Has participated in national and international committees to
evaluate and promote scientific and academic advancements. With DIS since 2017.

Description of role and responsibilities of the
Research Assistant


You are expected to spend a minimum of 10 hrs 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:
1. Participate in weekly meetings with your research mentor at a time set collectively at
the beginning of the semester.
2. Participate in a research orientation at the beginning of the semester with your fellow
Research Assistant students from other projects
3. Participate in two workshops during the semester:
1. A workshop at beginning of the semester: orientation and strategies for
successful international research work
2. A workshop discussing strategies and best practices for effective communication
of research, especially to those not in the field
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 in person or via email every week (or another
specified interval) to your research mentor, 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 biomedical 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 End of Semester Showcase.
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.

Orientations and Workshops - these are a mandatory part of the course

Orientation and all workshops take place in 1D-409.

Orientation: January 15th, 14.00-15.00

Workshop 1: February 12th, 16.30-18.00

Workshop 2: April 15th, 16.30-18.00

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

Additional objectives include:
• Investigate and acquire thorough understanding of specific complex biomedical
concepts and the most relevant tasks that learners execute to master these concepts
• Participate in building prototypes of technology-enhanced systems

Readings
The readings will be agreed on with the mentor at the beginning of the semester, and
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.

Field research (optional)
Some research projects include field research. Expenses related to field work will be
covered by a DIS travel grant. The field work 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 be prepared for. 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 straight forward 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
The study will involve human volunteers that share their opinions and interact with the
systems we intend to design. In the first phase, we plan to conduct anonymous surveys
and semi-structured interviews. The identity of participants in interviews will remain
confidential, surveys will be anonymous, and sensitive data will not be collected. The
project will apply for ethical approval in Sweden if necessary.

Evaluation and grading

Participation 20%: Meetings with mentor, meetings with collaborators and participation in research seminars

Reflection journal 30%: Weekly summary of information gathered, opportunities and challenges identified, proposals for a prototype, personal reflections

Written reports 20%: Progress reports with information collected and concrete proposals

Prototype 20%: Description of the prototype in writing. Possibility of creating the prototype with physical tools or computer-based tools.

Public presentation 10%: Presentation during DIS showcase. Possibility or presentations at other sites as well.

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

DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.disabroad.org

Course Summary:

Date Details Due