Tag Archives: physiology

Research Opportunity: The role of mitochondria and metabolism in the development of human diseases

Con­tact Name: Rong Tian

Con­tact Email: rongtian[at]uw.edu

Depart­ment: Anesthesiology, Bioengineering, Biochemistry

Descrip­tion:

We are looking for students to work with mouse models of altered mitochondrial function and/or cell metabolism to investigate disease mechanisms.  The student will be involved in treatment of mouse models, monitoring physiological function of multiple organ systems, and biochemical analysis of tissue samples.  Molecular and genetics analysis will be included in the later stage of the project.

Require­ments:

Comfortable to work with animals.
General knowledge of biology, biochemistry and physiology.
A minimum of 10 hours per week needed.

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Summer Research Opportunities at Case Western Reserve University

Case Western Reserve University highly values student research which provides opportunities for active learning, practical experience and training. Below is a list of summer research opportunities for undergraduate and medical students offered by the University, School of Medicine or in the Cleveland area.

Undergraduate Research

  • School of Medicine Summer Medical Dental Education Program, June-July
    A rigorous six-week program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for pre-medical and pre-dental students with classes in the basic sciences and direct observations with a physician in a healthcare setting. Open to freshmen or sophomores who are U.S. citizens or hold permanent resident visas, belong to a group that is racially/ethnically underrepresented in medicine or dentistry, or comes from a disadvantaged background, and demonstrates an interest in issues affecting underserved populations. Stipend $600 plus housing and meals. Application Deadline: March 1, 2014
  • Academic Careers in Engineering and Science for Minority Students, May-July
    A 10-week, biomedical research program for minority undergraduate students in science and engineering. Stipend $3,500 and support for meals, housing, travel and supplies. Application Deadline: February 15, 2014
  • Heart, Lung and Blood Minority Research Training Program, May-July
    An 8-10 week program for minority, low-income, or disabled undergraduate and medical students in cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematological or sleep disorders research, with a weekly seminar series and poster session. Stipend $1,750 per month, plus support for housing and travel. Application Deadline for Undergraduates: February 15, 2014 Application Deadline for Medical Students: March 1, 2014
  • MetroHealth Chester Scholars Program, June-August
    A 10-week program in clinical or laboratory research settings at MetroHealth Medical Center that includes observation of surgery and hospital rounds. Open to 15 students who have completed their second year of undergraduate studies in the sciences, and who is either an Ohio resident or attends an Ohio university. Stipend $2,500. Application Deadline: February 14, 2014
  • Minority HIV Research Training Program, June-July
    An eight-week program where students work side-by-side with a Center for AIDS Research faculty member on various projects. Open to undergraduate, graduate or medical students enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university. Stipend $3,500. Application Deadline: February 7, 2014
  • Pediatrics Program in Summer Research, June-August
    A 10-week program in biomedical and psychosocial research relating to pediatric disorders supported by the Department of Pediatrics at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital and Case Western Reserve University. Open to undergraduates who have completed the first year of study from any U.S. college or university. Stipend $3,000. Application Deadline: February 21, 2014
  • Summer on the Cuyahoga Internships, May-July
    A 10-week internship in professional, health, civic and social topics in the Cleveland area. Open to students from Case Western Reserve University, Colgate University, Cornell University, Ohio Wesleyan University, Smith College, Denison University, University of Chicago and Yale University. Paid internships.
  • Undergraduate Research Program in Physiology and Biophysics, June-July
    An eight-week program offered by the Department of Physiology and Biophysics where students obtain first-hand research experience in a state-of-the-art research environment. Open to sophomores, juniors and seniors from any American university. Stipend $3,500. Application Deadline: March 31, 2014
  • Undergraduate Research in Pharmacology, May-August
    A 10-week, hands-on research program in molecular pharmacology offered through Case Western Reserve University’s Department of Pharmacology, and funded by the American Society for Pharmacology and Therapeutics and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute-sponsored Summer Program in Undergraduate Research. Open to sophomores and juniors who have strong academic records and have completed at least one laboratory course prior to application. Stipend $3,000 plus lodging, travel funds and food allowance. Application Deadline: January 31, 2014
  • Undergraduate Research, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute
    Various opportunities for juniors and seniors to gain hands-on experience in laboratory techniques and to explore careers in biomedical research.
  • Undergraduate Research, Cleveland Clinic Center for Reproductive Medicine, July-August
    A seven-week program including state-of-the-art lectures, cutting edge bench research, and opportunities to write scientific research articles for publication in medical journals. The focus of this internship is on human infertility and reproductive medicine research with world-renowned scientists from the Cleveland Clinic Center for Reproductive Medicine. Open to medical or undergraduate students interested in a medical career. Application Deadline: March 1, 2014
  • The Cleveland Foundation Summer Internships Program
    Since 1999, the Cleveland Foundation has conducted a summer internship program that provides undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates an opportunity to work for 11 weeks in Cleveland-area nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies. Application Deadline: February 14, 2014
  • The NASA Glenn Research Center Research Internships
    The Lewis’ Educational and Research Collaborative Internship Project at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio consists of internships for High School Students, College Students, and Secondary School Teachers. Application Deadline: 2014 TBA
  • Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP), July (a year long program)
    The Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) provides an outstanding environment for students who feel additional preparation in research is needed. PREP Scholars enjoy mentored research experience, graduate courses, GRE workshops, and a variety of venues to interact with and learn from some of the best researchers in the world. Application Deadline: March 31, 2014
  • Additionally, students may find research opporutunites through the Case Western Reserve University Office of Undergraduate Studies, off campus, through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, through the National Science Foundation, and in Cleveland.

Research Opportunity: Mouse models of human aortic aneurysm and dissection

Con­tact Name: David Dichek

Con­tact Email: ddichek[at]uw.edu

Depart­ment: Medicine/Cardiology

Descrip­tion:

Signaling by transforming growth factor-β (TGF- β) is critical for normal cardiovascular development.  However, the role of TGF-β signaling in the adult vasculature is less well understood.  Available evidence supports roles for TGF-β signaling both in maintaining normal vascular structure and in causing vascular disease, including aortic aneurysms and dissections.  We are using mice with inducible loss of a key TGF-β signaling molecule to investigate the contributions of TGF-β signaling to aortic health and disease and to identify the pathways through which TGF-β signaling alters aortic structure and function. Our long-term goal is to discover therapeutic targets for molecular interventions that can be applied in patients at risk for aortic aneurysms and dissections.

Student Responsibilities: For this project the student would be involved in genotyping experimental animals, analyzing gene expression through quantitative PCR and protein expression through western blotting, as well as preparing tissue samples, sectioning and staining, and analyzing data.  The student would also be expected to help with laboratory maintenance tasks.  He/she will also learn the scientific method and learn basic concepts of molecular biology and animal models of disease. 10-15 hours per week is expected.

Require­ments:

High academic accomplishments, excellent manual dexterity, reliability and punctuality, attention to detail, excellent record-keeping skills, an ability to work well with others, good communication skills, an ability to follow directions closely but to also think independently and make suggestions for improvements.  Preference is given to freshmen and sophomores because of the potential for these students to continue to work in the laboratory for multiple years, and gradually move towards more independent work.

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New Fall Research Opportunities

Every fall we get many new research opportunity postings all the time. Below are the postings from the last week or so. Follow the links for more details. As always, you can browse all postings here.

  • James Lawson, Nonviolent Revolutionary
  • Sharecroppers’ Troubadour: John Handcox, the Southern Tenant Farmers Union and the African American song tradition
  • A Novel Process for Water Purification
  • Development of point-of-care diagnostic devices for the developed and developing worlds
  • Effect of requirement for prior insurance clearance on accrual of patients onto clinical trials for acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
  • Closed Ecological Systems–Aquatic
  • Diversity and Teamwork Study
  • Stem cells as drug discovery agents
  • Transplant Surgery
  • Regulation of Macrophage Activation
  • Web-based Adolescent Health Screening and Risk Prevention
  • Medical Tricorder Project
  • Echocardiographic assessment of the structure and function of the normal and abnormal heart
  • Foster Business School Laboratory – 2 Research Assistants Needed
  • Manipulations of host cells by Chlamydia trachomatis
  • Local anesthesia in dentistry; techniques
  • Ultrasound imaging in dentistry
  • Human Immunology of Tuberculosis
  • Marketing/Social Media Research for Computer Experts
  • Sequencing Treatments for Mothers with ADHD and Their At-Risk Children
  • Myogenic stem cells: basic biology and applicability to muscle wasting disorders (muscular dystrophy) and age-associated muscle deterioration (sarcopenia)
  • Maternity, neonatal, Women’s health
  • Human Prostate Cancer Progression, Fred Hutch
  • Zebrafish models of heart and muscle disease
  • Oceanography research cruise
  • Undergraduate Research Assistant in Traumatic Brain Injury Lab
  • Learning in Biology
  • Platelet hyper-reactivity Cross talks between inflammation and hemostatic signals
  • Oral health and disease
  • Molecular Signaling Mechanisms of Heart Disease
  • Controlled fusion research in the HIT program
  • Blood-brain barrier in disease
  • Mouse genetics, cognition and Parkinson’s disease
  • Social Development in Childhood