Vitalant Research Institute (VRI) in San Francisco, an affiliate of the University of California, San Francisco, has openings for full-time 8-week paid summer internship positions beginning June 17 through August 09, 2024. Selected students are eligible for a $4,000 stipend for the successful completion of the 8-week program. Students will participate in seminars, presentations, and institutional events.
Requirements: Candidates are required to be enrolled in an educational institution (must be matriculated in semester before or after summer 2024, work in a team environment, set priorities, and devote full time to this training experience. Candidates must also have effective oral and written communication skills and be self-motivated with good organizational skills.
2024 Application Deadline: April 12, 2024
The Summer Internship Program at VRI provides undergraduate and master’s students the opportunity to participate in research in the areas of transfusion medicine and cellular therapy through pairing with an investigator/mentor in one of the following research areas:
1. A summer internship is available in the Dr. Norris Immunology Laboratory, located in San Francisco, CA. Ongoing research projects focus on the molecular mechanisms of HIV and COVID-19 pathogenesis, with special emphasis on novel mechanisms of immune signaling mediated by extracellular vesicles in disease states. The summer project will focus on optimizing methods to determine the effect of extracellular vesicles derived from COVID-19 individuals in mediating immune responses leading to inflammatory cell death in endothelial cells an in vitro model.
2. A summer internship is available in the San Francisco laboratory of Dr. Satish Pillai, PhD, to investigate the molecular biology and pathogenesis of HIV/AIDS from an evolutionary perspective. Ongoing projects in our lab include studies of host and viral factors involved in the maintenance of HIV latency, which is the principal obstacle to a cure for HIV infection. Projects will involve learning cell culture, flow cytometry, next-generation sequencing, and gene editing techniques to study the virus-host interface.
3. A summer internship is available in the cell biology laboratory of Dr. Marcus Muench, located in San Francisco, CA. Will use cells and progenitors isolated form human tissues. The project will involve testing the differentiation of these cells in various in vitro and in vivo systems. The internship will offer the opportunity to gain experience in basic laboratory skills in cell culture, flow cytometry, and work with xenogeneic transplant models. Basic concepts in stem cell biology, hematology, and developmental biology will be taught. Applicants must be willing to work with human pathology specimens, transplant models and be willing to handle potentially infectious agents.
4. A summer internship is available assisting Dr. Shana Hughes, PhD, MPH. Project: Understanding Motivations for Blood Donation, located in San Francisco, CA. The intern will assist Shana D. Hughes, PhD, MPH with several projects focused on understanding motivations among blood donors. Shana is an applied medical anthropologist, currently engaged in formative qualitative and “mixed methods” research on this topic. Responsibilities will vary depending on intern’s interests and background (ideally pursuing master’s degree in a social science discipline but advanced undergraduate and other disciplines also considered) but may include assisting with qualitative data collection, management, and analysis for studies at multiple locations across the US.
5. A summer internship is available in the laboratory of Dr. Kimberly Thomas, PhD, located in Denver, CO. A summer internship is available in Dr. Kimberly Thomas, PhD's laboratory, focusing on platelet:endothelial cell interactions. Platelets are vital for vascular homeostasis and endothelial barrier function. Thrombocytopenia, characterized by low platelet counts, leads to endothelial barrier breakdown and bleeding in some diseases. Platelet transfusions are used to counteract this, but there's a shortage due to their short shelf life and fewer donors. Research in the Thomas Lab aims to extend platelet shelf life by exploring refrigeration's impact on vascular hemostasis and endothelial function. As an intern, you'll design and conduct experiments in a biosafety level II setting, utilizing techniques such as cell culture, flow cytometry, qPCR, and microscopy. Training includes data analysis, documentation, and participation in lab meetings, along with opportunities to present your research.
6. A summer internship is available in the laboratory of Dr. Rachael Jackman, located in San Francisco, CA. Our lab studies the immunology of blood transfusion and uses animal models to evaluate immune responses to transfusion such as alloimmunization and rejection. Interns will have the opportunity to gain experience in mouse handling, flow cytometry, and other lab skills along with basic concepts in immunology.
7. A summer internship is available in the laboratory of Dr. Graham Simmons, PhD, located in San Francisco, CA. The project will involve screening of compounds to identify novel protease inhibitors of Ebola virus entry. Panels of wild-type and mutant Ebola glycoproteins will be pseudotyped onto lentiviral vectors and used to screen libraries of compounds. Hits will be used to identify unknown proteases required to Ebola virus entry, which will be confirmed via gene knockout. The internship will offer the opportunity to gain experience in basic laboratory skills in molecular biology, cell culture, viral vectors, and gene editing.
8. A summer internship is available in the laboratory of Dr. Tamir Kanias, PhD, located in Denver, CO. Effects of testosterone replacement therapy and variation in blood donor plasma testosterone levels on red blood cell (RBC) storage and transfusion outcomes. This project is part of Dr. Kanias’ studies of gender differences in RBC biology and hemolysis in transfusion medicine. The intern will learn current approaches in ‘Omics research’ including genome wide association studies and linking blood donor-derived products with patient transfusion outcomes. Part of the study may include RBC hemolysis and immunoblot assays to test genes/proteins identified in Omics analysis.
To access the 2024 Summer Internship Application, please go to-https://research.vitalant.org/Employment.aspx. The instructions for submitting the application with any additional documentation is located at the bottom of the application.
