Research Assistant: Biochemistry-Biophysics of Ion Channels

Term: Semester
Type: Research
Major discipline: Pre-Medicine / Health Science, Biology, Biomedicine / Biotechnology
Related discipline: Neuroscience, Public Health
Available: Fall, Spring
Location: Stockholm
Credits: 6

Course note

This course is paused for the fall 2026 semester.

Introduction to the topic:

This Research Assistantship is based at Stockholm University’s Research Institution and Department: Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics. This research group is interested in electrical signaling through brain proteins, including its alteration by drugs such as alcohol and anesthetics. They use electrical recordings, structural biology, and molecular simulations to investigate the structure-function basis of drug action.

Project details:

As a Research Assistant, you can advance your knowledge within the natural or health sciences. Matched with a Stockholm-based research institution and a mentor, you participate in existing research and spend on average 20 hours per week developing your clinical or laboratory skills. You should have an interest in multidisciplinary collaboration and communication, particularly at the interface of laboratory and computational methods.

Prerequisites

One year of chemistry and one year of either biology or physics at university level.

Additional research application required

You will need to submit an additional research application through Student Registration in order to enroll in this course.

To submit your research application, you must already be admitted to DIS.

All research application materials must be submitted on the following dates by 23:59 Central European Time:

November 1 for spring semester applicants
May 1 for fall semester applicants

Complete your additional research application through Student Registration.

If you are not already enrolled, use this link to apply to DIS before completing a research application.

Syllabus

Fall 2024

Go to syllabus

This is the most recent syllabus for this course

Faculty

Rebecca (Reba) Howard

Faculty

Dr. Rebecca (Reba) Howard completed bachelors and doctoral degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Biology from Pomona College and the University of California, San Francisco in addition to a NIH-NIAAA post-doctoral fellowship at The University of Texas at Austin. Previously Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at Skidmore College. She has managed a team conducting biochemistry and electrophysiology experiments as well as molecular simulations to investigate the structure and function of ion channels at the Science for Life Laboratory in Stockholm since 2016. Howard’s recent work includes first-author publications in PNAS, Nature Communications, Cell Reports, etc., and invited talks at the Biophysical Society, International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism, TEDx, and other institutions. With DIS Stockholm since 2018.

Research Assistantship FAQ

Learn more about research at DIS.

: Earning authorship within the course of a semester is challenging. Exceptional Research Assistants may be considered for co-authorship, subject to evaluation from the supervising Research Mentor.

Though you may not ultimately become an author on a published paper, you will gain many practical skills and insights into the publication process.

: Many research projects last across several semesters, so not all RAs on the same project will conduct the same research.

: On average, students in 3-credit Research Assistantships spend at least 10 hours a week on research tasks. These 10 hours per week consist of a variety of different research-related tasks, including conducting a literature review, data collection, analyses, coding, documentation, and meetings with your mentor. You may decide on a particular block of time (consistent each week) for you to carry out the work, or adjust it on a week-by-week basis.

Students in a 6-credit Research Assistantships spend an average of 20 hours per week with lab and clinically based research tasks. You decide the exact meeting and lab times with your supervisor, but your schedule consists of classes at DIS two days a week, with two days a week in the lab.

There may be peak times in the research process where all Research Assistant students are expected to spend a few more hours, and then possibly fewer hours another week – to reflect the individual research project and process.

: Work for the 3-credit Research Assistantships may take place outside DIS, on your own time at a location of your choosing, or at DIS – this varies from project to project. The 6-credit research assistantships generally take place at labs in Copenhagen or Stockholm outside DIS.

: Students with a variety of academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply for the 3-credit Research Assistant course. While some courses do have prerequisites, many opportunities do not require prior research experience.

The 6-credit Research Assistant opportunity is designed for highly motivated students who have a strong science background within the field of interest and some basic research experience. The student must be willing to commit a large portion of their semester to an engaging opportunity involving hands-on research in universities and medical institutes in Copenhagen or Stockholm.

Course note

Introduction to the topic:

Project details:

Prerequisites

Additional research application required

Syllabus

Fall 2024

Faculty

Rebecca (Reba) Howard

Research Assistantship FAQ

Will I publish a research paper?

What exactly will I do?

What is the time commitment for a 3-credit or 6-credit Research Assistantship?

Where is the research work carried out?

What type of student applies for the 3- and 6-credit Research Assistant courses?