Undergraduate Research Intern - Medicine - Bottini Lab (Academic Credit)

Cedars-Sinai

Jul 18, 2024

Applications are closed

Internship
Full-time
Off-cycle Internship
Research & Development
Los Angeles

Requirements

Must be 18 years of age or older.
Must have a HS Diploma or GED.
Must reside in the greater Los Angeles area or surrounding cities while conducting all activities related to the intern appointment.
INTERNS: Those participating for academic credit must receive academic credit for the duration of the internship.

Responsibilities

We are recruiting one highly motivated Research Interns interested in a long-term commitment to the lab to work on PTPs function in Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) by using bulk, single cell mRNA sequencing or spatial technology platforms. The students will be full participant in the research activities of the Bottini Laboratory under supervision and their work is expected to result in or provide a major contribution to a manuscript submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. The projects will generally involve the acquisition of skills for primary cell isolation, cells staining, flow cytometry, cell sorting, etc) and basic molecular and cell biology will then be applied in order to validate the results in a cellular context, including molecular cloning, site-directed mutagenesis, cell culture, and in vitro assays. Depending on the direction the work takes and the intern’s interests and aptitudes, other techniques will be applied, such as more advanced cell-based methodology in use in the lab (CRISPR/Cas9, microscopy, gene knock-out/knock-down, migration assays, histology etc.).
The intern will interact daily with the direct supervisor and present/discuss his/her results with the PI approximately every week. A more formal presentation will be held each academic quarter to assess performance and discuss future directions. Over time, the intern is expected to become progressively more independent, however both direct supervisor and PI, along with other lab members with the specific expertise needed will be available to supervise and guide their work over the entire length of the student’s stay. Finally, the intern will be closely involved in the preparation of a manuscript related to the work performed.
Role Activities & Timeline:
On the first 1-2 weeks the intern will be briefed on the background and the objectives of the assigned project, given a chance to ask questions and discuss preferences and expectations, and familiarize him/herself with the setup of the lab. Following this, and depending on completion of all the mandated training, he/she will begin training and performing experiments. The focus in the early weeks will be on training and gaining a deeper understanding of the FLS cellular biology and the technical aspects of the project, however there is no specific timeline for the end of the training period. Rather, the intern will start performing experiments and analyzing data as soon as feasible and allowed to progress at his/her own pace, and will be trained on new techniques as required regardless of the time frame. In this phase, priority will be given to the intern’s growth rather than the progress of the work, however a result-oriented attitude will be emphasized from the beginning. There will be a performance evaluation in the form of a presentation at 4 months, at which point the student is expected to have a good grasp of the objectives of the work, the strategies, and the tools to achieve them, the strengths and limitations of the techniques used. A tentative timeline (depending on the length of stay in the lab) is as follows:
Week 1: Lab orientation and overview of the work.
Week 2: Start of hands-on training and experiments.
Week 5: First presentation to and under guidance from the direct supervisor.
Week 11-12: Formal presentation of the work done to the mentor and performance evaluation. Grading, if applicable.
Once a quarter thereafter: Formal presentation, grading.
Months 4-12: Focus on experiments that will help define the direction of the work in more detail. Formulation of an experimental plan for a feasible pathway to a manuscript.
Months 10-20: Focus on proposed plan.
Months 18-24: manuscript preparation and submission.

FAQs

What is the primary focus of research in the Bottini Laboratory?

The Bottini Laboratory focuses on the study of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases (PTPs), which are enzymes that regulate cellular signaling by removing phosphate groups from tyrosine residues, especially in the context of autoimmune disease.

What will be the main responsibilities of the Undergraduate Research Intern?

The main responsibilities include working on PTP function in Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) using various technology platforms such as mRNA sequencing, performing cell isolation and staining, conducting flow cytometry and cell sorting, and validating results through molecular and cell biology techniques.

What type of training will the intern receive?

The intern will receive training on primary cell isolation, advanced cell-based methodologies (such as CRISPR/Cas9 and microscopy), molecular cloning, site-directed mutagenesis, and in vitro assays, among others.

How will the intern's progress be evaluated?

The intern's progress will be evaluated through weekly discussions with the PI, formal presentations at the end of each academic quarter, and a performance evaluation presentation at the four-month mark.

What is the expected timeline for the internship?

The internship timeline includes initial orientation and training in the first two weeks, followed by hands-on experiments starting in week two, with formal presentations for performance evaluation occurring every four months. The later stages involve focusing on manuscript preparation and submission.

What are the required qualifications for applicants?

Applicants must be at least 18 years old, possess a high school diploma or GED, reside in the greater Los Angeles area, and, if participating for academic credit, must receive academic credit for the duration of the internship.

Will the intern work independently or under supervision?

The intern will initially work under close supervision, interacting daily with their direct supervisor and will be guided by the PI and other lab members. Over time, the intern is expected to become more independent in their work.

Is there an opportunity to contribute to a publication during the internship?

Yes, the intern is expected to contribute to research that could lead to a manuscript submitted to a peer-reviewed journal based on their work in the laboratory.

How long is the internship expected to last?

The internship is designed for a long-term commitment, with a focus on progressive skill development and culminating in manuscript preparation within a timeline of 18-24 months.

Can the internship be conducted remotely, or is it necessary to be in the lab?

The intern must reside in the greater Los Angeles area and conduct all internship activities in the lab, indicating that the internship requires in-person participation.

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