How to prepare for the future, within and outside the course Ewa Ehrenborg 1

Future - career opportunities 2

What skills will you need in the future? Asked at a hearing as part of preparation for the new International Biomedicine Bachelor Programme at KI What are the opportunities and general requirements for Biomedicine students within the future workplace?

General requirements for Biomedicine students within academia

General requirements for Biomedicine students within industry

6 From Lars-Arne Haldosén

How to prepare within and outside the course Use time for self studies and group work Interact with each other Prepare yourself – workshops (atherosclerosis, clinical immunology) – Lab work (cell and plasma isolation, ELISA and RNA extraction) – Assignments (GWAS, bone metabolism) 7

How to prepare within and outside the course Use time for self studies and group work 8

How to prepare within and outside the course Interact with each other 9

How to prepare within and outside the course Prepare yourself – workshops (atherosclerosis, clinical immunology) – Lab work: watch the movies! (cell and plasma isolation, ELISA and RNA extraction) – Assignments (GWAS, bone metabolism) 10

Summary 11

Writing a research application Ewa Ehrenborg 12

13 Choose your own project within the “broad” topic allocated –Interesting –Relevant Supply provisional title by November 16 th Application form – Popular science description and ethical risk-benefit considerations Research plan should be a maximum of 3 A4 pages (12-point text, single spacing) Provide a short reference list (max 20)

14 Research application part I: submission Write a grant application 3-4 students/group Submit title by 2 pm, November 16 th “Check point” November 19 th and 20 th – 20 min/group “Drop in”, December 10 th – optional  book time via Use the application form provided Submit a first version of the application by 2 pm, January 7 th Submit a final version of the application by 2 pm, January 13 th

15 Check point meeting November 19 th, or November 20 th, Separate schedule on the web Present your plans Each research team ~ 20 min Support and discussions

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Popular science description/Summary Relevant (what is your research question?) Clearly written Easy to follow 18

19 Research programme Title Hypothesis/Aims Background Methodological approaches Importance/ impact of results References (max 20) 3 pages

20 Research plan - Title Informative Interesting - attention catching Not too long Should not contain abbreviations

21 Research plan - Aims/Hypothesis State clearly the aims of the research Explain the scientific hypothesis –Most important part of the application –State very clearly –Is it novel? –Is it realistic? –Is it possible? –Is it well planned?

22 Research plan - Background Introduce the field (generally + specifically) Place the proposed research in the context of what is already known (or not known) How would the proposed research add to current knowledge?

23 Research plan - Work plan Define clearly the proposed research –Which research questions can the work answer –Whom will carry out the work? –What facilities are needed? –What are the critical steps?

24 Research plan - Methods Describe the methods of choice –Explain the choice –Are they the best to meet the objectives? –If novel, how do they compare with already known methods? –Novel methods require detailed description –Validation –Sample size (refer to the work of others)

25 Research plan - Importance/Impact Explain how the proposed research would contribute significantly to: –scientific knowledge –society –health care –specific patients –commercial interests

26 Research plan - References Relevant publications (key papers) May include previous work published by the applicant Cite full reference (according to instructions)

Help the reader to understand - clearly state the hypothesis and aims - include an overview slide (strategy & context) - relevant background - well described and appropriate methodological approaches - include titles in the references 27

What is the evaluator looking for? 28

29 Group 1 1A Inflammation in CVD: 1B Vascular remodeling: Group 2 2A Coagulation: 2B Inflammatory lung diseases: Group 3 3A MicroRNA and vascular disease: 3B Genetics and diabetes: Group 4 4A Aneurysm: 4B Liver and gastric diseases: Group 5 5A Cell death in metabolism: 5B Thyroid diseases: Group 6 6A Allergy: 6B Adipose tissue and cardiometabolic disease:

30 Feedback partner Facilitate the process and discuss the strategy NOT: Decide what to study Write the application Responsible for making contact The role of the discussion partner

31 Examples of previous titles The role of Natural Killer T cell subtypes in different stages of asthma The association of microRNA expression and matrix metalloproteinase levels in atherosclerotic plaque stability Role of thyroid hormones in the browning process of white adipose tissue and the involvement in weight control

32 Oral presentations January 15 th 15 min presentation/group min discussion 3-4 students/group – all students should present Everybody in the group should be able to present all parts of the application – lottery Each group (individually based) will act as “opponent“ for one other group Assessment form for feedback – Ewa & Rachel

33 Research application part II: Feedback/evaluation Submit individual critical evaluation of another group’s research application by 8 pm, January 11 th Peer discussions on January 12 th Each group (individually based) will act as opponent for the group that they critically reviewed on January 15 th

34 Feedback/evaluation of another group’s research application The following points should be addressed both in oral and written forms; 1)Are the hypothesis and aims clearly stated? 2)Does the proposed study address the stated aims? 3)Is the experimental approach clear with appropriate methodologies? 4)Give (and explain) three suggestions as to how to improve the research proposal. 5)Have the applicants provided and referred to valid references (i.e. peer-reviewed publications)? 6)In your view, is the popular science summary understandable for a layman?

35 Summary Submit your application by 2 pm, January 7 th January 8: download the other group’s research application from PingPong January 11: submit critical evaluation individually January 12: peer discussions of critical reviews (2 groups) January 13: submit final version of research application January 15: Oral presentations (order decided by drawing of lots) Each group will act as opponent for the group that they critically reviewed Assessment form for feedback - Ewa & Rachel

36 Replacement assignment Consists of two parts: Your own research project –Application (filled in forms + research proposal) –Submit a relevant article that the application is related to and explain your choice ( ̴ ½ A4 page) –Powerpoint presentation of the application Opponent for an application from another group –Download assigned research application from PingPong at the time given in the schedule –Critically evaluate the downloaded research application according to the 6 points given in the instructions and submit ( ̴ one A4 page) To be submitted via PingPong by January 15 th

Take home message Clearly state the hypothesis/aims and how it will be tested Specify what should be measured and why Explain how the experiments/strategy can contribute to an increased understanding - could include an overview figure with strategies & pathophysiological context 37