The intern will contribute to an OHSU gene therapy research project by manipulating a safe virus to develop novel therapeutics. Gene therapy is a promising approach to treat various inherited and acquired human diseases that are difficult to treat with conventional therapies. A wide variety of viruses have been used as gene delivery vectors. Of these, adeno-associated virus (AAV) shows particular promise due to its non-pathogenic nature. The mentor's laboratory studies the biology of AAV, engineering it to develop new gene therapy approaches for targeting human diseases. The intern will participate in an ongoing gene therapy research project: Molecular engineering of viral genome and coat proteins to create new AAV vectors with the most desirable biological properties in each clinical application. In addition to learning and applying basic and advanced molecular biology, students will contribute to the production of gene therapy viral vectors and assessment of the vectors in cultured cells and experimental animals. The intern will also have an opportunity to learn computer programming (Python), bioinformatics/biostatistical concepts, and deep learning to analyze and utilize a large quantity of data generated by wet lab experiments.
The mentor's approach includes working directly with students as they are members of the mentor's lab and are expected to be prepared and eager to learn.
Students must be minimum age specified by June 16. 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 hybrid, with both virtual and in-person components as permitted by Federal/State/Local/OHSU 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.