Saturday AcademyExplore. Discover. Learn.Follow Your Curiosity!

audience-menu

Menu
  • Classes & Camps
    • Find a Summer Camp
    • After-School Classes (SA2U)
    • SA2U class catalog for student groups
    • Girls Engage Technology (GET)
    • Tuition Assistance
    • FAQs, Policies & Permissions
  • Career Preparation

    APPRENTICESHIPS IN SCIENCE & ENGINEERING (ASE) PROGRAM

    • ASE Program Overview
    • Selection Process
    • Testimonials

    FOR STUDENTS

    • Be an Intern
    • The ASE Experience
    • Internship Catalog
    • Current Interns

    FOR MENTORS

    • Be a Mentor
    • Current Mentors

    STEAM Career Tracks (SCT)

    • SCT Program Overview
    • Students Served & Testimonials
  • Instructors & Mentors

    Do you want to enrich a students future? Our instructors are community experts interested in sharing their expertise with students in grades 2-12. Our mentors provide 8-week summer internships to high-school students in science and engineering. Be a part of hands-on, in-depth education!

    Instructors

    • Be an Instructor
    • Current Instructors

    Mentors

    • Be a Mentor
    • Current Mentors
  • About Us

    Join Our Team

    • Job Openings
    • Volunteer
    • Be an Instructor
    • Be a Mentor

    ABOUT US

    • Our Mission & History
    • Our Values
    • Our Equity Statement
    • Our Team
    • Your Impact
    • News & Events

Donate

  • My Account
  • My Locker (0)
  • (503) 200-5858
  1. Home
  2. Internship Catalog

VA Portland Health Care System

Behavioral Genetic Research in Drug Addiction

Behavioral Genetic Research in Drug Addiction
Help uncover what mice can tell us about our genes and drug addiction behaviors.
Add Internship to Locker

Twin, family, adoption and other types of genetic investigations have determined that certain genetic, but also environmental factors increase risk for developing alcohol and drug use problems. The mentors' labs include mice in their research to study specific genes and genetic mechanisms for their impact on the development of alcohol and drug use problems. They develop animal models of drug use and drug effects, because they can control the drug exposure history of the animals and can alter gene sequence or gene expression to examine the consequences. A selective breeding procedure is used to create mice that have very high or very low levels of a particular alcohol or drug-related trait. As a result, similar to human populations, offspring resemble their high- or low-scoring parents for these traits. However, some individuals exhibit unexpected behaviors that may be associated with effects of the external environment, and the lab is interested in this as well.


Ultimately, the goal is to identify better treatments for alcohol and drug use disorders that could help those who become addicted to reduce their drug use and avoid relapsing. The mentors believe that the identification of important genes and gene networks (interacting webs of genes) will help in the development of new and more effective therapies. Activities that the intern might perform using mice include measuring alcohol or methamphetamine preference, measuring locomotor responses to drugs, measuring other behavioral responses to drugs such as the induction of or changes in anxiety-like or depression-like behavior, coordination, sedation, aversion, reward and body temperature change.


Some weekend work may need to be performed, so flexibility in working schedule is a must. Per VA federal regulations, applicants must be U.S. citizens and must be at least 16 years of age. Students must be minimum age specified by May 15. These age requirements are strictly enforced by the mentoring organization, and there are no exceptions. Applicants should be aware that on-site parking may be limited and/or unavailable throughout the summer; interns may be required to rely on public transit or alternative transportation.


We strongly encourage students to apply who are from one or more systemically and historically excluded group, including but not limited to, non-cis-gendered students, girls, BIPOC, first-generation college bound students, low-income/low-resourced students, students with disabilities, who are neurodivergent, and those who speak a primary language other than English.


This internship will be taking place in-person, as permitted by Federal/State/Local/VA Healthcare Systems guidelines. To reduce the risks of coronavirus exposure, mentors and interns will act in accordance with applicable COVID guidelines and procedures. Selected applicants will be required to review and sign a waiver agreement.


If you have any questions about the application, website technical issues and/or this position description, please contact Saturday Academy at ase@saturdayacademy.org. Do not contact the mentor directly. Contacting the mentor directly is grounds for disqualification of your ASE application.

Internship Dates: 
Jun 20, 2023 - Aug 25, 2023
Location: 
Portland, OR
Disciplines 
Biology Medical science
Minimum Age: 
16
Citizenship: 
Must Be US Citizen
Prerequisite: 

Applicants should have strong math skills, have taken at least a year of high school biology and have an interest in psychology. Intern will be required to wear closed-toe shoes and must complete a security/background check. Medical clearance may be required. If required, you will need to provide your personal health records. Students must be minimum age specified by May 15. Some weekend work may need to be performed, so flexibility in working schedule is a must. Intern should support animal research for the advancement of scientific understanding and the improvement of human and non-human health and welfare.

Add Internship to Locker
Saturday Academy's SA Circle Logo

In affiliation with
University of Portland

Saturday Academy

5000 N Willamette Blvd
Portland OR 97203

503-200-5858

Follow us

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram

Our Programs

  • After-School Classes (SA2U)
  • ASE Internships & Workshops
  • Girls Engage Tech Classes
  • Summer Classes & Camps

About Us

  • Our Mission & History
  • Our Equity Statement
  • Our Values
  • Our Team
  • Our Locations
  • Job Openings
  • Volunteer
  • News & Events

Saturday Academy is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and contributions are fully tax-deductible. Our Federal Tax ID# is 20-3770321. ©2021 Saturday Academy

Top