The increased incidence of Alzheimer’s disease and the lack of effective treatment options has led our lab to evaluate novel potential therapeutic compounds. The goal of the mentor’s current project is to test compounds in laboratory systems in order to identify those which demonstrate the most promising efficacy and could be moved forward to clinical testing. Using molecular biology techniques, including those used to monitor gene and protein expression, the intern will evaluate the protective effects of compounds against the toxic consequences of Alzheimer’s pathology and/or identify novel targets for therapeutic intervention.
This internship is located at the VA Hospital, but the mentor is also affiliated with OHSU. OHSU and the VA offer state of the art facilities as well as exceptional opportunities to learn from some of the country’s leading scientists in neurodegenerative research. For more information please visit the mentor's website.
The mentor's goal is to give the intern a taste of what it is like to work in a research laboratory. The mentor and selected intern will work together to go over the background and rationale for their project, the methodology needed to complete the project as well as the data analysis and communication of results. This is a full-time in-person internship, with the expectation that the intern will work at least 300 hours over the course of the summer.
Per VA federal regulations, applicants 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, students who are neurodivergent, and those who speak a primary language other than English.
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.