1. Dr Sarah K Coleman
Division of Biochemistry and Biotechnology
Department of Biosciences
University of Helsinki
14.10.2013
Biotieteiden laitos, biokemian ja biotekniikan osasto, PL 56 (Viikinkaari 5), 00014 Helsingin
yliopisto
Puhelin (09) 1911, faksi (09) 191 59068, www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
Biovetenskapliga institutionen, avdelningen för biokemi och bioteknik, PB 56 (Viksbågen
5), FI-00014 Helsingfors universitet
Telefon +358 9 1911, fax +358 9 191 59068, www.helsinki.fi/universitetet
Department of Biosciences, Division of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, P.O. Box 56
(Viikinkaari 5), FI-00014 University of Helsinki
Telephone +358 9 1911, fax +358 9 191 59068, www.helsinki.fi/university
To whom it may concern,
The student, Alessio Cantara, carried out his 3 month ERASMUS training from 10 June 2013 to
16 September 2013, in the laboratory of Prof Kari Keinänen (Division of Biochemistry and Bio-
technology, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki) on the project ‘Homomeric and
heteromeric kainate receptors: structural basis for the poor transport of GluK5 kainate re-
ceptors to the plasma membrane’. During this he learnt basic molecular biology and some of
the skills related to working in a research laboratory. These included:
Different ways solution concentrations maybe expressed
How to do concentration calculations for preparing solutions
Isolating DNA plasmids from bacteria
Making and running agarose gels
Determining DNA concentrations by spectroscopy
The theoretical and practical aspects of PCR
Setting up restriction enzyme digestion, ligations and dephosphorylation reactions
Chemical transformation of competent E.coli
Use of Quantity One ™ software, BioRad
How to keep a laboratory record
His self-confidence and organisational skills improved during the time period; as did his English
language fluency - both spoken and written. He learnt a lot during the time period and depite
problems with the project showed an interest in the work. He was a pleasant person to work with
and have in the research group and got on well with everyone.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Sarah K Coleman