STUDENT. 22-year-old Benjamin Dedic sees no problem with conducting research while studying to be a pharmacist at Sahlgrenska Academy. Halfway through his education and he has already examined moose intestines and the toxin that causes cholera.
When Benjamin is in the lab, he spends a lot of time on different experiments. He finds going through the material to understand the results and draw relevant conclusions after all of the trials are run to be the most fun. He has contributed to two scientific articles – one where the research group mapped the intestinal structures of moose and one article published last fall on the involvement of carbohydrates when cholera toxins enter human cells.
“For me, research is not work, it requires no effort. I do research because it is fun and it enables me to grow as a person,” says Benjamin.
He has long known that he likes research and an important reason he chose to study to become a pharmacist is the clear connection to biomedical research. After a few semesters in the pharmacy program, he contacted Susann Teneberg and her biochemical research group, and was given the chance to conduct research in the laboratory that summer. For the past year and a half he has been a natural member of the research group while simultaneously continuing his pharmacist studies.
“It is not hard at all to get a place in a research group, and combining studying and researching is no problem whatsoever. I even have time for a social life,” says Benjamin with a wry smile.
The research is basic science within the research field known as glycobiology. The group examines the role of carbohydrates as receptors for bacteria and viruses, how the immune system recognizes different carbohydrates and the role of carbohydrates for stem cells. In addition to Benjamin, Susann currently has two medical amanuenses in the group and she says that the students’ presence positively affects the group:
“The students see the project with fresh eyes and pose questions that make me and the others in the group think in new ways. It gives the group new angles and ideas.
If the students at the undergraduate level are to be able to complete their studies and do research at the same time, the supervisors need to find projects that are executable, limited and allow the student to work as time permits. The supervisor also needs to be prepared to set aside the necessary time.
Susann has always had students in the research group.
“Of course, not everyone continues with research after they finish their education, but one of the students that worked in the lab actually received a fellowship at Johns Hopkins in the USA,” she reminisces.
As opposed to students in medicine and the care sciences, students in the pharmacy program and several other programs, are not applying for research amanuensis positions, and Susann thinks this is a pity. Instead, these students are financed by the projects or by scholarships.
The faculty has long worked to increase interest in research among the students, and for the past several years the students, themselves, have taken the initiative to make more students aware of research. SiF, Students in Research, is a committee of Sahlgrenska Academy’s Students’ Union SAKS.
“We want more students to become involved in research for several reasons. An early start in research as a student, advances your eventual research career. But even as a student, research work enriches your education and gives you a useful mindset regardless of what you choose to do after your education,” explains Anna Björk, Chairperson of SiF.
SiF is often out explaining to students how they can combine studies and research, and regularly invites researchers to present their research fields as inspiration to the students.
“We get many visitors to our events and a good response when we visit the classes. We also receive quite a lot of mail from students that want to know how to go about getting into research,” explains Anna.
Even supervisors that want to bring students into their projects contact SiF with questions on scholarships. SiF maintains an updated and growing list of interested supervisors that are willing to consider taking on students – currently 51 supervisors have listed themselves.
Benjamin’s advice to other students who want to do research:
- Discover what excites you – a genuine interest makes it easier to combine research and studies.
- Find a group – Students in Research – (SiF) has an updated list of supervisors that have registered their interest in accepting students. You can find the list at http://saks.gu.se/studiesocialt/sif
- Do not hesitate to contact researchers. Most of them are pleasant and sympathetic to students.
