The Oregon National Primate Research Center is a publicly funded research center supported by the National Institutes of Health. Its goal is to perform basic and translational research in non-human primates to help improve human health. Some of the areas of focus are development of new vaccines, the study of aging and diet, reproductive health, genetic disorders and neuroscience.
The selected intern will be working in the laboratory of Dr. Lisa Vrooman. In the United States, approximately 2% of live births are conceived using assisted reproductive technologies (ART), such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). IVF pregnancies are associated with increased risk of low birth weight, abnormal placental development, birth defects, preterm delivery, high blood pressure, and other pregnancy complications. Our lab focuses on understanding and improving outcomes of ART-conceived offspring. We leverage the power of the mouse and monkey models to conduct translational research with the goal of optimizing ART protocols to make ART more efficient and improve maternal and fetal outcomes.
The selected intern will receive one-on-one training in basic mammalian female reproductive biology and responsible conduct of research from the principal investigator and laboratory staff. Their main responsibilities will be to assist staff in data collection, data entry, and analysis. They will perform experiments such as semi-quantitative and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, gel electrophoresis, in situ hybridization, histology and microscopy, as well as help with various aspects of managing a laboratory. At end of the internship, they will have contributed significantly to the acquisition of data of the lab's primary project and will be able to give a short presentation about the project, how it was performed, the basic science protocols used, and what the conclusions and limitations are of the project.
The mentor provides a safe environment and lab culture where asking questions is expected and encouraged. She expects mentees to have a general enthusiasm and motivation to participate and learn. You can read more about the mentor's work here:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7272348/
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2022.884088/full
Students must be minimum age specified by June 17. 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/OHSU/ONPRC 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.
Please note: OHSU policy states that applicants must have received current and up-to-date vaccines for both Flu and COVID-19 (given after September 12, 2023) and have them recorded in Enterprise Health, or they must submit a declination form for the Flu or COVID vaccines in Enterprise Health. Applicants receive access to Enterprise Health during their onboarding. Applicants who decline to receive Covid-Flu vaccines must adhere to OHSU guidelines for the prevention of infectious disease.
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.
The intern should have a high motivation to learn and participate in biological research, attention to detail, and ability to work well in a team. Intern should support animal research for the advancement of scientific understanding and the improvement of human and non-human health and welfare. The selected intern must wear lab-appropriate clothing (closed-toed shoes, long pants/skirts for full coverage), and must have reliable transportation.
Please note, the intern will be required to complete a security/background check. Medical clearance may be required, and may take 3-5 days to process. If required, you will need to provide your personal health records. If you do not have up to date immunizations or cannot find documentation, you may receive medical services by OHSU at no cost to you. Students must be minimum age specified by June 17.