Current Harvard Undergraduates: contact Kate Penner Undergraduate Science Research Advisor, for advice on applying for research positions. If you find a position below that looks interesting, please contact the lab directly.
Faculty: if you are interested in posting your open research position, please contact Kate Penner.
Posted for Spring 2024
Undergraduate Opportunity, Ramanathan Lab, Posted April 6, 2024.
Undergraduate Reserach Opportunity, Deciphering the genetic and epigenetic interaction network of neurodevelopmental disorders genes, MGH, Posted March 12, 2024.
Undergraduate Research Opportunity, Multiple Projects on AI, Human Microbiome, and Biological Network Models, MGH, Harvard Medical School, Posted March 12, 2024.
Undergraduate Research Opportunity, Chemical Biology Approaches to Study Glycoproteins in Bleeding and Clotting Disorders, Departments of Medicine and Hematology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Posted March 12, 2024.
Undergrad Research Opportunity, Protein Engineering and Synthetic Biology, Church Lab, Harvard Medical School
Posted for Fall 2023
Research Opportunity, Multiple projects on use of CRISPR base editing to understand complex genetic disease, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Posted August 26, 2023.
Research Opportunity, Medicinal Plant Genomics Project, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard Herbaria, Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Posted August 25, 2023.
Research Opportunity, Multiple Projects involving Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Brain Vascular Physiology in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease, Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Posted August 25, 2023.
Research Opportunity, Mechanical Forces in Brain Cancer, Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, MGH, Harvard Medical School, Posted August 25, 2023.
Harvard Radcliffe Institute, Multidisciplinary Research Program (deadline is July 24, 2023)
Posted in Spring 2023
Undergraduate Research Opportunity, Walsh Lab, Boston Children's Hospital, Posted January 31, 2023.
Posted in Fall 2022
Undergraduate research opportunity, Viswanathan Lab, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Posted December 13, 2022
Community Residence Counselors, The Pavilion at McLean Hospital, Posted November 14, 2022
The Faja Lab Internship Opportunity, Boston Children's Hospital, Posted November 9, 2022.
Undergraduate Research in Computational Genomics, Walsh lab, BCH, Posted October 31, 2022
Student Research Assistant, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dept of Radiology, Posted Oct 19, 2022
In-Person Undergraduate Research Opportunity, Dr. Wayne Marasco Lab, DFCI, Posted Oct 18, 2022
Metabolism, Harvard Chan School of Public Health, Kory Lab, Posted Sept 22, 2022
Neuroscience research, Orefice Lab at MGH, Posted Sept 22, 2022
Research Opportunities for Undergraduates in the Ramanathan Lab, Posted Sept 2, 2022
Multiple projects on leveraging machine learning for biomedical applications, Marks Lab, Harvard Medical School, Systems Biology, Broad Institute, Posted April 18, 2024.
Applicant requirements: Programming experience; Intro biology and genetics
In person/remote/hybrid: Hybrid
Funding: Funding possible
The Marks Lab conducts research at the intersection of machine learning and biology, with a focus on developing novel statistical models for biological sequences. These tools are applied to the domains of protein and RNA structure prediction, fitness estimation, clinical pathogenicity prediction and protein design. The Marks Lab is looking for motivated undergraduate students to join the team (https://www.deboramarkslab.com/). Work can be conducted hybrid (from home and periodically in the lab) or fully in person. Underrepresented minorities in STEM are especially welcome and encouraged to apply!
Expected working time is on average 10-12 hours per week, are negotiable, and may take place during semester and/or summer semester when classes are not in session, as per Harvard guidelines. There is a possibility of extending.
The Marks Lab currently has three specific projects:
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Developing novel ML methods for multi-modal protein design
Machine Learning (ML) has revolutionized the field of protein design. ML models have been used for tasks ranging from optimizing known proteins for specific functions to designing de novo, stable proteins. However, much work is still needed to develop design methods for the myriad protein families and functions in which engineers are interested. Members of the Marks Lab have developed multiple ML models of various protein data modalities and performed the largest benchmarking study of state-of-the-art methods for mutation effect prediction to provide insights as to what tool is best fit for particular protein engineering applications. Current lab focus is on methods that combine multiple protein modalities for protein design, in addition to methods for quickly retrieving protein representational information for powered inference. The lab is seeking talented undergraduate students to work closely with graduate students on these method development projects.
Desired qualifications: Experience with python. Intro biology coursework
Questions about the position can be directed to project mentor, Ruben Weitzman
2. Predicting pathogenicity of non-coding variants
Non-coding regions make up the majority of the genome and house thousands of variants associated with human disease. When non-coding variants are identified in genomics studies, identifying whether these variants are actually causal or simply in linkage disequilibrium with the causal variants is difficult. Existing methods to prioritize non-coding variants generally rely on training convolutional neural networks on epigenetic data, and fail to identify variants that may function in biological contexts for which no such data exist. There is a need for models that can uncover pathogenic non-coding variants associated with heritable traits and diseases irrespective of the available high-throughput regulatory sequencing studies. Our lab is looking for interested candidates to join our team in applying modeling approaches from evolutionarily-informed generative models for proteins to non-coding regions such as promoters to accurately predict the pathogenicity of non-coding variants.
Skills Required: python coding and biology background
Skills to be gained: bioinformatics with large datasets of human sequences and evolutionary sequences, deep learning modeling (pytorch), human genetics
Questions about the position can be directed to project mentor, Courtney Shearer
3. Models for pandemic preparedness using pre-pandemic evolutionary data
The Marks Lab has worked on predicting viral antibody escape from pre-pandemic data and designing proteins for vaccine development. While current vaccine design and testing strategies rely only on currently-circulating variants, our model provides early warning to allow for vaccine development before a new variant appears. Our lab designs variants that mimic the neutralizability of future pandemic variation, transforming the way vaccines should be evaluated, and our model can be used to computationally design variant-proof vaccines. Our team is looking for interested candidates to develop new machine learning models on evolutionary protein sequences and structures to aid in further pandemic preparedness efforts, including epitope prediction, and protein design for vaccine testing and development.
Preference for at least some biology background and Python coding experience.
Questions about the position can be directed to project mentor, Sarah Gurev
Multiple projects on Mechanistic studies of muscle hypertrophy and atrophy, Dept of Medicine, MGH, Harvard Medical School, Posted April 2024.
PI: Gregory Wyant
Charlestown, in-person opportunity
The laboratory is dedicated to pursuing a cellular and molecular understanding of how physiological cues, such as oxygen, nutrients, mechanical, or electrical signals regulate tissue physiology and function, with special reference to heart and skeletal muscle. We have a deep interest in understanding the pathophysiological consequences of disruption of any of these signals, such as in the setting of ischemic injury, starvation, or denervation, and development of novel therapeutic approaches. We are particularly interested in organelle metabolism in relation to these tissues and the development of novel tools to isolate and study compartmentalized metabolism in the in vivo context.
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: Those interested in tissue physiology, cell biology, biochemistry, genetics. Those interested in basic and translational science. Interest in graduate or medical school.
Requirements: Must be able to travel to Charlestown Navy Yard MGH campus, otherwise No previous research experience is required, though previous laboratory experience is a plus. We will teach you all the skills you need. Students are welcome to use this research opportunity for concentration credit. The PI will support students in applying for undergraduate research fellowships such as HCRP.
This project/lab is thesis-friendly.
If interested, please contact: Gregory Wyant, gwyant@mgh.harvard.edu
Multiple projects on genomic and biophysical modeling of collective cell migration, Dept of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Posted April 6, 2024.
PI: Margherita De Marzio, website
Longwood campus, hybrid opportunity
Cell migration drives essential processes such as organ development, wound healing, and cancer invasion. But how do cells determine their destination, timing, and method of migration? Our lab is interested in deciphering the link between single-cell molecular mechanisms and collective migration in epithelial tissues. We do so by developing computational methods that combine biophysical modeling, network science, and bioinformatics.
Two projects available: 1) Investigate cellular migration during the development of curved epithelial tissues commonly lining organs in vivo. Students will model the mechanical stability and dynamics of epithelial tissues across different geometries, such as those found in spherical alveoli, tubular airways, or ellipsoidal embryos. Main frameworks: cell-based computational simulations with Python/Matlab.
2) Identify molecular cues that coordinate collective migration during asthmatic airway remodeling. Students will examine the signaling pathways involved in the pathological remodeling of the asthmatic airway epithelium. Main frameworks: large-scale data analysis of biological networks and genomics with Python/R.
Expected learning outcomes: Students will gain research experience in scientific programming, biomechanical and network modeling, and omics-data analysis, valuable for pursuing paths in biophysics, applied math, computational biology, or molecular medicine.
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: We are seeking highly motivated students with a passion for biophysics, computational biology, and biomedical research. If you're interested in a unique opportunity to “think interdisciplinary” at the interface between life and physical science, we encourage you to apply! Projects can be tailored based on individual interests/skills.
Additional notes: Environment: students will present to and interact with our interdisciplinary faculty team, comprising physicists, clinicians, and biologists.Student stipend: students are encouraged to apply for funding from the Harvard College Research Program (HCRP). Previous students in our lab have had successful applications to HCRP.
Requirements: No experience required.
This project/lab is thesis-friendly.
If interested, please contact: Margherita De Marzio, mdemarzio@bwh.harvard.edu
Undergraduate Opportunity, Ramanathan Lab, Posted April 6, 2024.
The Ramanathan Lab has a position for motivated undergraduate students to study the mechanisms underlying the maintenance and differentiation of multipotent stem cells that drive the elongation of the human embryo using an in vitro organoid system. In this project, you will help elucidate the feedback mechanisms that govern the proper proportions of these neural progenitors (Nps), and mesodermal progenitors (Mps) as the organoids develop and elongate to generate the spinal cord and flanking muscles. You will work closely with a postdoctoral fellow, Professor Ramanathan, and other lab members to apply cutting-edge high-throughput bioengineering, sequencing stem cell biology and perturbation techniques.
This is an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience conducting developmental biology research using state-of-the-art methods.Ideally we are looking for students who have research experience and are looking for opportunities for a senior thesis in the future. Please email Sharad (sharad@post.harvard.edu) and Alon ( alonchappleboim@fas.harvard.edu ) if you are interested.
Multiple Projects on Clinical Computational Neuroimaging, Radiology, Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Mass General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Posted March 19, 2024.
PI: Ona Wu, ccni.mgh.harvard.edu
Charlestown campus, Hybrid opportunity
We are a team of interdisciplinary individuals interested in data science and clinical research. Our research activities focus on developing methods to improve the diagnosis, prognosis, and management of patients with brain injury as a result of stroke, cardiac arrest, or trauma. We use state-of-the-art MRI acquisition and analysis techniques and combine imaging with clinical data via machine learning algorithms to create quantitative biomarkers that can be used to monitor disease progression or recovery. The following are examples of our research topics. We used an imaging-based model in a prospective clinical trial to triage patients with unwitnessed acute ischemic stroke for thrombolytic therapy, offering treatment options to patients for whom none had existed. We developed machine learning methods to predict tissue and clinical outcomes after acute ischemic stroke and to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of novel stroke treatments. For comatose cardiac arrest patients, we applied imaging to predict long-term neurological outcomes by investigating changes in post-arrest structural and functional brain connectivity. We developed algorithms to combine structural and functional MRI to evaluate the sequelae of post-concussive mild traumatic brain injury. We developed methods to measure cerebral blood flow, cerebral blood volume, and blood-brain barrier permeability calculated from dynamic-susceptibility contrast MRI.
We are seeking self-motivated individuals to assist in various projects. Projects will be tailored to the interests and expertise of the students.
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: Biomedical imaging research, machine learning
Requirements: Coding experience (bash, python), and Linux experience preferred
Term-time time commitment: Negotiable
If interested, please contact: Ona Wu, ona.wu@mgh.harvard.edu
Undergraduate Research Opportunity, Genomic analyses in a cohort of neuromuscular patients, Genetics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Posted March 14, 2024.
PI: Vandana Gupta
Longwood campus, Remote opportunity
A position is available immediately for genomic analysis in a large cohort of neuromuscular patients. The student is expected to have a working understanding of fundamental human genetics concepts. Experience with some of the following skills is needed.
-Experience in performing genomics analysis on whole
-genome and/or whole-exome sequencing data, working with variant-call files (vcf), working in a Linux environment on cluster-Programming in Python, R, shell-scripting-Genomics tools: vcftools, bcftools, plink, tabix, bedtools, samtools, GATK, etc.
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: Students with interest in computational genomics, bioinformatics, medical genetics will learn to analyze genomic and clinical data.
Requirements: Experience with programming in Python, R, shell-scripting and some of the genomics tools
This is a funded opportunity.
Term-time time commitment: 8-10 hours/week
If interested, please contact: Vandana Gupta, vagupta@bwh.harvard.edu
Multiple Projects on neurodegenerative disease mechanistic study and drug mining, Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Posted March 13, 2024.
PI: Feng Tian, fengtianlab.com
Neurology, Harvard Medical School
Longwood Campus, Hybrid position
An intriguing feature of biological aging is that different individuals age at a different rate. In the case of brain aging, age-related memory impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease affect part of the population while spare others. This proposed study seeks to characterize the key gene regulatory programs that drive a healthy aging brain toward pathological changes (such as deposition of senile plaques). To achieve this goal, we comprehensively combined AAV-based CRISPR perturbation, multi-omic sequencing analysis and molecular pathology tools.
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: Students in Biology/Neuroscience concentrations, especially for those who are interested in human diseases. Also, computer science major students who have a motivation to study human health application would be a good fit too.
Additional notes: Please feel free to check my lab website https://www.fengtianlab.com/
Applicant requirements: No experience required.
Term-time time commitment: 5-10 hours/week.
This is a funded opportunity.
If interested, please contact: Feng Tian, ftian@fas.harvard.edu
Undergraduate Research Opportunity, Role of clotting factors in oral mucosal diseases, Oral Medicine, Infection, and Immunity; Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Posted March 12, 2024.
PI: Lakmali M Silva, Website
Longwood campus, In-person opportunity
Our lab work on understanding how clotting factors mediate immune responses at the mucosal barrier sites. Mucosal barriers are the first encounters of a myriad of insults, including microbial, physical, and environmental factors that lead to damage. This damage can activate the coagulation cascade at the mucosa, which works in a hand-in-a-hand relationship with the inflammatory system to repair the damage and restore balance. However, we know very little about how these two systems work at a molecular level. Therefore, we aim to understand how different clotting factors contribute to mucosal inflammation, especially at the oral mucosa. We mainly use genetically-modified mice to understand how these clotting factors mediate inflammation and state-of-the-art immunological techniques to determine the inflammatory responses due to genetic mutations.
We would be delighted to have motivated individuals joining our lab to learn research approaches, and participate in ongoing projects. We have a diverse, inclusive, and a collegial environment in our lab. Please contact if you are interested.
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: Pre-dental students or students interested in graduate studies (PhD)
Requirements: No experience required
If interested, please contact: Lakmali Silva; lakmali_silva@hsdm.harvard.edu
Neural mechanism of Cognitive flexibility and the role of dopamine, Molecular & Cellular Biology, FAS, Posted March 12, 2024.
PI: Naoshige Uchida, Website
Cambridge campus, In-Person opportunity
The Uchida lab is primarily interested in neural basis of decision making and value updating. How do know what is valuable? How do we perform actions based on these values? How does the brain learn, store and use values to guide future decision? and how does this go awry in addiction, aging and various neuropsychiatric disorders? This project is aims to uncover principles that underlie how animals can build internal models of the environment to guide value estimation. We employ classical Pavlovian conditioning in mice, with odors as cues to test how mice learn the value of each stimulus, and vary the value of the cues dynamically to test if mice can infer the value of one cue based on the value of the other cue. We will use fiber-photometry to record dopamine release in the ventral striatum, and test specific predictions about how internal models are built in the brain. Furthermore, we will manipulate and record activity in regions like Orbital Frontal Cortex (OFC) and hippocampus, in order to understand the neural basis of cognitive flexibility. This work could have huge implication for understanding cognitive decline in aging, as well impaired ability to form internal models in mice models of autism. You can have a look at my previous research on my webpage:https://jel0624.github.io/
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: A person interested in learning more about systems neuroscience, how basic neuroscience is conducted in a lab setting, a person who is interested in behavior and how brain generates complex behavior etc. Aspiring Ph.D students or med students willing get broad exposure to the field of neuroscience.
Requirements: No prior experience required. Willingness to touch, handle mice for behavioral experiments. Ability to code in matlab or python is a plus, but not necessary.
Additional notes: Feel free to message me or reach out for a meeting! I'm happy to discuss any interest in the lab, and show you the lab environment.
If interested, please contact: Jaeeon Lee, jaylee@g.harvard.edu
Multiple Projects on the neural basis of heart-brain interactions, Molecular & Cellular Biology, Stem Cell & Regenerative Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard Brain Initiative, FAS, Posted March 12, 2024.
PI: Luis Hernandez-Nunez, Website.
Cambridge campus, In-person opportunity
How do the brain and heart modulate each other’s function? The heart-brain communication axis is central to vertebrate health and survival. For example, when an animal perceives a threat, during its response the brain modulates heart function, and neural feedback from the heart modulates brain activity. We know that the intracardiac nervous system (ICNS), composed of all the heart neurons, communicates with the central nervous system (CNS) through the autonomic nervous system (ANS), and vice versa. However, our understanding of the neural control of cardiac function is limited to knowing some of the brain regions involved in the process; we do not understand the computations carried out by the neural circuits within and between the cardioregulatory areas of the CNS, ANS, and ICNS. Our team uses a multidisciplinary approach that combines control engineering, systems neuroscience, and genetics to uncover the neural and molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac control.
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: Ideal for students interested in pursuing a PhD or MD-PhD in any science or engineering field.
Requirements: Juniors or Seniors concentrating in any Neuroscience track, Integrative Biology, MCB, HDRB, Bioengineering, Physics, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or Computer Science are encouraged to apply.
Hours per week: During the semester, students are expected to spend 12-16 hours at the lab per week, and full-time during summer internships. We will also consider recent graduates with a strong interest in biomedical research
This is a funded position.
Additional notes: The specific project will be decided based on the student's concentration, interests, and future goals.
If interested, please contact: luishernandeznunez@fas.harvard.edu
Undergraduate Research Opportunity, Generating a Biobank of Genotyped Human Blood Samples for Assays of Parasite Infection, Immunology & Infectious Diseases, Harvard Chan School of Public Health (HSPH), Posted March 12, 2024.
PI: Manoj Duraisingh, Duraisingh Lab
Longwood, In-person opportunity
Malaria is a disease caused when Plasmodium parasites invade human red blood cells. Our lab has developed amplicon panels allowing for the simultaneous genotyping of hundreds of human genetic variants relevant to malaria resistance, using PCR and Illumina sequencing. This project involves processing, cataloging, and genotyping the anonymized and discarded blood samples we obtain from a local hospital. This is a lab benchwork position (you will not interact with the blood donors). With a biobank of over a thousand genotyped samples, we will be able to conduct assays of how human genotype affects parasite invasion. Optional future steps could include helping to analyze the genotype data, assisting with parasite invasion assays, or genotyping clinical blood samples from Plasmodium-infected patients.
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: This position would benefit a student interested in public health and infectious disease, who wants to develop laboratory skills in genetic, cellular, and molecular biology.
Hours per week: Negotiable
This is a funded position.
Requirements: No prior experience required
If interested, please contact: Jacob Tennessen, jtennessen@hsph.harvard.edu
Undergraduate Research Opportunity, An Augmented Reality (AR) Smart Decisions Support System to Advance Trauma Care at the Point of Injury, Emergency Medicine, MGH, Harvard Medical School, Posted March 12, 2024.
PI: Ryan Harari, Website
Longwood, Hybrid opportunity
Despite advancements in trauma care, errors in prehospital treatment are common, resulting in poor patient outcomes. Telemedicine has emerged as a promising tool for delivering care in prehospital settings and has been shown to improve the quality of care provided. However, conventional telemedicine tools have significant limitations when it comes to delivering real-time support and guidance to providers in point-of-injury (POI) settings, where rapid response and informed decision-making are crucial. Moreover, POI settings often require specialized equipment and expertise, which may not be available in conventional telemedicine setups.
With Stepping Strong Center funding, Ryan Harari, PhD, and his team plan to develop and test an augmented reality (AR)-based telemonitoring support system, which will aid real-time decision-making and procedural guidance to healthcare providers in challenging online and offline POI settings. The team will leverage the AR-Coach system, which was developed in previous NASA-supported projects, to create an AR telemonitoring system. By incorporating both online telemonitoring for real-time support and an offline interactive checklist based on best practices, the team aims to improve clinical practices in trauma care in civilian and military applications, leading to less death, and reducing the cost burdens on healthcare systems.
Activities: - Literature review and reviewing medical scenarios to be used for development of AR technology
- IRB protocol/Data collection/analysis
- Manuscript drafting
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: Student(s) who are curious and have passion to learn about medical AR/VR technologies and evaluating their effectiveness in supporting clinicians.
Hours per week: 5-10 hours/week
Requirements: Being able to do literature review and having good writing skills, having willingness to learn about data collection for testing technologies in simulated environments, and interested in learning how to perform preliminary data analysis
If interested, please contact: Dr. Ryan Harari, rharari@bwh.harvard.edu
Undergraduate Reserach Opportunity, Deciphering the genetic and epigenetic interaction network of neurodevelopmental disorders genes, MGH, Posted March 12, 2024.
PI: Sudhir Thakurela, Thakurela Lab.
Charlestown, In-Person opportunity
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) encompass a diverse group of conditions characterized by atypical development of the brain and nervous system. These disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability (ID), and schizophrenia, affect millions of individuals worldwide, causing significant challenges and impacting their quality of life. While the exact causes of NDDs remain largely unknown, accumulating evidence suggests a complex interplay between genetic and epigenetic factors. Genetic studies have identified numerous genes associated with NDD risk, often involving mutations or variations that disrupt their function. However, the specific mechanisms by which these genetic alterations contribute to NDDs are often unclear. Promoters and enhancers, the regulatory elements of the genome, act as crucial players in this process by directly influencing gene expression through direct interactions via chromatin looping. Alterations in the epigenetic landscape, such as modifications to enhancer activity or mutations in promoters, can significantly impact gene expression and potentially contribute to NDD development. Studies have traditionally focused on either genetic or epigenetic factors in isolation. These studies provide gene-specific details but do not reveal how genetic and epigenetic elements interact to regulate the NDD genes. Hence, the crucial information regarding the complete interaction network of the gene of interest remains concealed. Strategies that can interrogate and identify genome-wide activators or repressors of the NDD genes will provide hitherto unavailable resources to understand the fundamental gene regulatory network and provide novel intervention points to design new therapeutic targets.
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: Learning new epigenetic techniques, neuronal culture, iPSCs, computational biology
Hours per week: Negotiable
Requirements: No experience required.
If interested, please contact: Sudhir Thakurela, sthakurela@mgh.harvard.edu
Undergraduate Research Opportunity, Multiple Projects on AI, Human Microbiome, and Biological Network Models, MGH, Harvard Medical School, Posted March 12, 2024.
PI: Ali R. Zomorrodi, Zomorrodi Lab.
Boston, Remote opportunity
The Zomorrodi Lab leverages various computational approaches to investigate the intricate interactions between the human host and microbiome, with a particular emphasis on the realms of metabolism and nutrition. Our work also extends to developing innovative machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) tools for the precise prediction of clinical outcomes using multi-omics and clinical data.
The following research projects are available in the lab. Interested candidates should email a CV to Dr. Zomorrodi, using “Undergraduate Research Opportunities” as the subject of your email.
1. Using Large Language Models (LLMs) for clinical decision making and biomedicineThe goal is to leverage advanced prompting techniques to build LLM-powered tools for clinical decision support and biomedical research. Skills required: Basic familiarity with Python.
2. Develop ML models to analyze multi-omics microbiome dataThe goal is to develop the state-of-the-art ML models that utilize multi-omics microbiome data to predict host’s health and disease status. Skills required: Basic familiarity with ML and a programming language such as Python or R.
3. Computationally investigate the gut microbiota and host metabolism in chronic diseases We construct computational models of metabolism for the gut microbiota using microbiome sequencing data, and cell line- and tissue-specific metabolic network models using gene expression data from different human cell lines and tissues. We use these models to computationally investigate the metabolic functions of the gut microbiota and host, and interactions thereof in healthy and diseased subjects. Skills required: Basic familiarity with Python, or MATLAB, or another programming language.
Hours per week: 5 hours/week or more
Requirements: (1) Please see the projects descriptions for specific requirements for each project. (2) We prefer students who are willing to do research in the lab for a minimum of six months.
Additional notes: Enthusisam is the only requirement!
If interested, please contact: Ali Zomorrodi (azomorrodi@mgh.harvard.edu)
Undergraduate Research Opportunity, Multiple projects on medical image segmentation and brain connectivity analysis, Radiology, Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, MGH, Harvard Medical School, Posted March 12, 2024.
PI: Iman Aganj, Lab website.
Charlestown, Hybrid opportunity
Medical image segmentation: Using computational algorithms and deep neural networks to segment brain structures from available T1/T2/diffusion MRI images. Brain connectivity analysis: Finding relationships between structural and functional connectivity of the human brain and neurodegenerative diseases. Diffusion MRI analysis: Mining data from diffusion-MRI images of the brain acquired with long diffusion time. Code optimization: Optimizing existing codes so they run faster and more efficiently on the CPU and the GPU.
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: The main topic is biomedical image analysis. Best for students interested in biomedical/electrical engineering, computer science, and/or neuroscience.
Hours per week: Negotiable
Requirements: Coding skills (Matlab, Python, etc.)
Additional notes: You will be a part of the Laboratory for Computational Neuroimaging (https://lcn.martinos.org) If interested, please contact: Iman Aganj, iaganj@mgh.harvard.edu
Undergraduate Research Opportunity, Chemical Biology Approaches to Study Glycoproteins in Bleeding and Clotting Disorders, Departments of Medicine and Hematology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Posted March 12, 2024.
PI: Marie Hollenhorst, The Hollenhorst Lab
Longwood, In-Person opportunity
The Hollenhorst Lab applies innovative chemical and biochemical strategies to study clinically relevant questions regarding the proteins that regulate bleeding and clotting. The goal is to further our understanding of the basic biochemistry and glycobiology of hemostasis and thrombosis with an eye towards questions directly relevant to the care of patients.
We are looking for a motivated undergraduate who is eager to learn biochemical laboratory techniques and contribute to projects that have direct relevance for human health. This is a fantastic opportunity to deepen your knowledge of biochemistry and medicine. The principal investigator (PI) will provide direct mentorship, clinical shadowing opportunities, and long-term career advice. The student would benefit from the opportunity to learn from scientists in the lab who are enthusiastic about teaching and mentoring.
The Hollenhorst laboratory is in the Harvard Institutes of Medicine building, 4 Blackfan Circle, in the center of the Longwood Medical Area. Our primary affiliations are the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Division of Hematology and Harvard Medical School. The laboratory works closely with the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT and is a member of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and the Harvard Chemical Biology PhD Program. These institutions and programs house scientific and clinical experts in a wide variety of areas, enabling interactions with a myriad of collaborators and communities. We have access to state-of-the-art core facilities for glycomics, proteomics, flow cytometry, etc. These rich resources allow laboratory members to thrive in a supportive and well-equipped environment.
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: The position is ideal for students who are contemplating careers in science and medicine, especially those who want to determine if they would like to apply for PhD and/or MD programs. This position would be well-suited for students enrolled in or considering a concentration in Chemical and Physical Biology, Chemistry, Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology, or Molecular and Cellular Biology.
Requirements: Preferred: Previous course work in chemistry, biochemistry or molecular biology.
Additional notes: Skills/abilities/competencies required: • A positive attitude and eagerness to learn.
• Comfortable with working independently and in a team. Good oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to learn and perform a variety of laboratory protocols, to identify potential problems and troubleshoot solutions.
• Strong organizational skills. • Sound judgment regarding time-management and laboratory safety.
• Students will be expected to pursue outside funding opportunities and will be provided with the necessary support for those applications. If interested, please contact: mariehollenhorst@massgeneralbrigham.org
Undergrad Research Opportunity, Protein Engineering and Synthetic Biology, Church Lab, Harvard Medical School
PI: George Church, The Church Lab https://arep.med.harvard.edu/gmc/
The Church lab has pioneered development of technologies for genome sequencing, DNA assembly, genome editing, writing, and recoding, machine learning for protein engineering, tissue reprogramming, organoids, gene therapy, aging reversal, xeno-transplantation, and in situ 3D DNA/RNA/protein imaging. We are interested in designing new-to-nature biological systems that can have real-world applications, and which expand our understanding of natural biological systems.
A few exciting research opportunities are currently available. Students will have the opportunity to contribute to research projects such as:
* Development of new genome editing and directed evolution methods
* Expanding the number of open codons to be used to translate proteins with chemistries beyond what is available in nature
* Engineering of enzymes containing multiple instances of nonstandard amino acids
Time commitment (during the term): 15-20 h/wk, but hours are negotiable
Applicant Requirements: students with prior laboratory experience are encouraged to apply. Students will have the opportunity to work with senior scientists in the lab and be trained in lab techniques.
Who is this position a good fit for in terms of interests or goals? The student will develop a broad set of research skills. This is an opportunity to learn advanced techniques at the bench and also develop experience in developing novel research directions. Over time, the student will develop increased independence in understanding of subject matter related to their project, experimental design, and data analysis. The student will have opportunities to present data in both individual meetings and group settings.
If interested, please contact: Dr. Felix Radford, felix_radford@hms.harvard.edu
Computational Modeling Research Opportunity, Chao Lab, Dept of Molecular Biology, MGH, Dept of Genetics, HMS, Posted January 22, 2024.
Curious about how proteins form large assemblies to shape dynamic and responsive subcellular membrane structures? The Chao Lab explores structural and biophysical principles of organelle morphology, with a major focus on the mitochondrion. We integrate electron microscopy, biochemistry, biophysics and bioinformatics to reveal mechanisms for membrane rearrangement. This project would be a collaboration with the Allolio Group (Charles University, Prague CZ), who has developed a monte carlo simulation program for understanding membrane morphogenesis. You would have the opportunity to be jointly mentored by both groups, in testing and implementing new functionalities into OrganL. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.09.18.557233v1
We are located at the MGH main campus in downtown Boston, easily accessible by the red, blue, green, and orange line, as well as by bike and bus shuttle. We are a diverse and interdisciplinary team and we believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion is central to the productivity and vitality of our group. We welcome students of all backgrounds. You can learn more about us at: chaolab.org.
Skills required:
Motivation and interest in membrane biophysics and/or computational biology is needed. Experience with Linux, C++ is helpful but not required. No prior wet-lab experience is required, nor expected. The project is suitable for a 2nd, or 3rd year student. Prior research experience is helpful, but also not required.
Learning outcomes:
Research skills, mathematical modeling in biology, building biophysical, models, scientific programming, presentation and potentially scientific writing.
Time commitment:
10 hrs/week during the semester, with the option for more extensive work during the summer. Options for this work to develop into an independent thesis project. This is a paid position that may have a potential remote work component, pending discussion.
Mentoring:
Will be mentored by PI on day-to-day basis, with regular meetings and the opportunity to present and receive feedback in lab meetings, as well as participation in ongoing collaborations.
Student stipend:
Students are encouraged to apply for support from HCRP, PRISE and other fellowships, or register for a research course credit, however this is not required. Funding is available.
Application information:
Interested candidates should email a CV and letter of interest to luke@chaolab.org
In-Person Undergraduate Research Opportunity, Dr. Wayne Marasco Lab, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Posted January 9, 2024.
Contact information:
PI: Wayne Marasco.
Contact: Matthew Chang, marascolab@dfci.harvard.edu.
The lab is located in the Longwood area in DFCI’s Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology (https://marascolab.dana-farber.org/).
Project description and duties: We have available projects focused on developing novel CAR T cells and checkpoint modulating antibodies for various cancers. Additionally, our lab is working
on characterizing the immune response from vaccinated/infected individuals and identifying broadly neutralizing influenza, coronavirus, and Lyme disease antibodies. We have also
generated vast single cell RNAseq and other NGS datasets that can be analyzed. Students will be responsible for executing experiments, analyzing the data, and discussing the results with
their mentors. All students are also required to attend and present during group meetings and journal clubs.
Skills required: No prior wet lab research experience is required. Students who wish to work on computational analysis projects are required to have a working knowledge of R and/or Python
and prior experience working with scRNAseq/NGS data sets is preferred. Students are expected to commit to the agreed upon schedule, be well organized, have good time
management skills, pay careful attention to experimental details, and have excellent communication skills. Students should also have a desire to learn and be self-motivated to carry
out their projects. Completion of a general biology course is a plus.
Learning outcomes: Students in the Marasco Lab will gain hands on experience in antibody and/or CAR-T engineering, immunology, and infectious disease research, and will have a
unique opportunity to contribute to projects headed towards clinical development. They will also have an opportunity to improve their research skills (experimental design and execution, data
analysis) and are expected to provide updates and present during group meetings.
Number of hours students are expected to work, length of the project: Time commitments are negotiable, however we recommend 10-20 hrs/week for the academic semester and 40
hrs/week during the summer.
Mentoring: Students will work directly with a postdoc or scientist in our lab and other lab members are available for support as needed. Additional mentorship will be provided by Dr.
Marasco.
Student stipend: The Marasco Lab is not able to provide stipends to students, however we are happy to support applications to available undergraduate research fellowships.
Application information: Interested students should submit a resume and a brief paragraph describing their interest in the lab to Matthew Chang (marascolab@dfci.harvard.edu).
Undergraduate Research Opportunity, Cognition during sleep, Mass Eye & Ear, Posted December 13, 2023.
Project Description: A new project at Mass Eye & Ear hospital aims to understand the cognition that occurs during sleep. Though sleep is often considered a time of disconnect from the outside world, in reality we continuously analyze our environment as we sleep. Sounds are particularly useful for analyzing the nature and proximity of threats or other important events, to aid in determining whether we should wake up. For example, people tend to wake up more readily when hearing their own name, versus other sounds. Other stimuli may not wake us up, but still impact sleep architecture, for example making it more likely that we will enter REM sleep versus non-REM sleep.
People with hearing disorders often complain of poor sleep, but the underlying causes are unknown. We will perform quantitative videography and neural recordings in mice to determine (1) how hearing loss impacts sleep; (2) how normal-hearing mice analyze the sound environment while sleeping; and (3) how
sound can be used as an intervention to alter sleep architecture and/or augment restorative brain activity during sleep.
Undergraduate researchers will assist in analyzing video data of mice to determine whether and how mouse behavior changes when hearing sound in sleep. This analysis will be performed using a toolkit based on deep learning to extract behavioral motifs like scanning the environment, escaping or freezing. Behavioral analysis will be combined with analysis of neural activity to determine how neurons extract relevant information from sound during sleep to guide subsequent waking behavior.
The ideal candidate would have experience in computer science or related fields, with an interest in applying machine learning techniques to neuroscience questions.
Mentor: Dr. Anna Chambers, Instructor in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, HMS.
Skills required: Prior programming experience in Python required. Experience in MATLAB or LabView, and/or animal behavior a plus. Students with a long-term interest in applying machine learning techniques to neuroscience and behavior research are encouraged to apply.
Project location: Mass Eye & Ear Main campus, 243 Charles St, Boston 02114. Eaton Peabody Laboratories, 4 th floor.
Time commitment: At least 8-10 hours per week, spring 2024. Option to continue in summer and/or fall 2024, apply for funding and conduct thesis research if interested.
Funding: This is not a funded position, but I would be willing to sponsor a student who would like to apply for Harvard College Research Program funding.
Contact: If interested, please send your resume to anna_chambers2@meei.harvard.edu
Undergraduate Research Opportunity, Small molecule screening in a zebrafish model of neuromuscular disease, Gupta Lab, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Posted December 13, 2023.
Principal Investigator: Vandana Gupta
Brigham and Women's Hospital
guptalab.bwh.harvard.edu
About this opportunity: Our laboratory research is focused on neuromuscular genetics and therapeutics. We have several project opportunities to understand the function of novel genes in skeletal muscle development and small molecule screening to develop therapies for skeletal muscle disorders.
Primary Location: Longwood campus
In-person/remote: This position involves primarily in-person work.
Funded? This position is not funded, but I would be willing to sponsor a student who would like to apply for Harvard College Research Program funding.
Time commitment: Approximately 6-10 hours/week
Requirements: No prior experience required
If interested, please contact: If interested, please contact: vagupta@bwh.harvard.edu
About this opportunity: Join the sustainability team in the Church lab developing synthetic biology tools for climate change. Projects include genome engineering of photosynthetic bacteria for biomanufacturing, developing enzyme-based carbon capture systems, and building closed ecological life-support systems.
Primary Location: Wyss Institute and Harvard Medical School
PI: George Church
In-person/remote: This position involves primarily in-person work.
Funding: Interested students will need to apply for Harvard College Research Program funding or research for credit (https://uraf.harvard.edu/uraf-opportunities/hcrp)
Time commitment: 15-20h/wk, but negotiable
Requirements: Some experience with molecular biology and/or bioinformatics is encouraged, Priority is given to students who aim to commit to long-term research and perform their thesis research in the lab.
Mentorship: Regular meetings with PI George Church, direct supervision by post doc ZIjay Tang
If interested, please contact: Dr. Zijay Tang | zijay@wyss.harvard.edu
Undergraduate Research Opportunity, Faja Lab, Labs of Cognitive Neuroscience, Boston Children's Hospital, Posted December 7, 2023.
The Faja Lab within the Labs of Cognitive Neuroscience at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School currently offers a volunteer research internship opportunity for undergraduate students to obtain specialized research skills with children on the autism spectrum.
Students will have the opportunity to contribute research projects that examine the individual differences observed in people on the autism spectrum, evaluate potential physiological and behavioral measures of treatment response, and develop and test novel interventions for people on the autism spectrum. Examples of current NIH-funded projects in the lab include:
(1) Evaluating a set of electrophysiological and eye-tracking measures of social change in school-aged children diagnosed with ASD.
(2) Using electrophysiological and behavioral measures to investigate the early cognitive development of toddlers and preschoolers.
(3) Examining social skills that support the intimate relationships of adults on the autism spectrum.
Undergraduate students will be involved in several aspects of these projects, including, but not limited to data entry and scoring, literature reviews, and recruitment. Students will also have the opportunity to observe and assist with study visits. We encourage our students to deepen their knowledge and research skills by working in depth on a project related to their interests, which may include behavioral coding or electrophysiological processing. As a valued part of this vibrant environment, students will also get to enjoy a variety of professional development opportunities and lectures in addition to experience gained working within the lab.
The Faja Lab is part of a larger research network in the Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience that includes a multidisciplinary team of researchers with expertise in neuroscience, psychology, and education. We are working to expand our knowledge of child development and developmental disorders in collaboration with clinical experts in fields such as developmental pediatrics and child neurology. Through this comprehensive approach, we aim to drive science forward as rapidly as possible; allowing us to translate what we learn into earlier identification, improved therapies, and better outcomes for children and families affected by developmental disorders.
Requirements
Eligible students must be currently affiliated with an academic program in the Boston area and are expected to commit a minimum of 8-10 hours per week in-person at our lab for two semesters. Students may receive course credit or pursue external funding for financial compensation. Summer positions require 12-20 hours per week, and full-time hours are available for students with external funding.
For further information about the position please contact FajaLab@childrens.harvard.edu.
To submit application materials to labs across the Division of Developmental Medicine, please complete the Research Position Interest Form at the following link: https://bit.ly/BCH-LCN-DDM
Multiple projects for AI/ML research scientist intern in biotech, Flagship Pioneering, Cambridge, MA, Posted October 12, 2023.
Contact information: Olivia Viessmann
Email: oviessmann@flagshippioneering.com
Website: https://www.flagshippioneering.com/
Project description and duties: Our AI Research Scientist Interns will work on fundamental problems in machine learning and their application to biological problems. They will work closely with an interdisciplinary team of ML scientists to design and implement novel ML tools with biological impact and evaluate their strengths and limitations. We offer projects in ML science and engineering. Both -- undergraduates and postgraduates are welcome to apply.
More details and a link to the application can be found here https://boards.greenhouse.io/flagshippioneeringinc/jobs/6951042002?gh_ji...
Time commitment: 15-20h/wk, but negotiable
Funding? Yes, this is a paid position.
Primary Location: Cambridge, MA (in-person)
Requirements: fluency in Python and standard ML tools and packages
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: Students in CS, machine learning, physics and computational sciences would make a good fit. Prospective applicants should be interested in machine learning research and engineering and motivated to get hands on with implementation.
Please use the link in the project description to apply or email Olivia any questions you might have.
Undergraduate Research Opportunity, Regulation of Puberty, Reproduction and Fertility, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Posted September 8, 2023.
Available: 09/01/23, Expires: 09/30/24
About this project: Elucidate the molecular and biological underpinnings of reproductive disorders including central precocious puberty, hypothalamic amenorrhea, polycystic ovarian syndrome and infertility using clinical and laboratory observations in humans, investigations in mouse models, and in vitro studies including human pluripotent stem cells and other cell models. Basic laboratory skills and an interest in
endocrinology are helpful.
PI: Ursula Kaiser, M.D.
Project location: Longwood Medical Area, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Our approaches include studies of:
1. Hypothalamic, pituitary and human inducible pluripotent stem cell models and in vitro studies
2. In vivo mouse models of human reproductive disorders
3. Patients with clinical neuroendocrine and reproductive endocrine disorders.
Potential Student Roles:
1. Assist with reproductive phenotyping of genetically modified mouse models (e.g., pubertal markers, estrous cyclicity).
2. Assist with human genetic studies, including review of human subject clinical data to correlate genetic findings with clinical phenotypes, as well as DNA sequencing and sequence analysis, including analyses of exome and genome sequence data.
3. Contribute to laboratory studies using human inducible pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived hypothalamic neurons and other cell models examining synapatic plasticity and neuronal development.
4. Contribute to molecular studies to understand the mechanisms by which genetic mutations regulate the timing of puberty and the control of reproductive function.
If interested, please contact Dr. Ursula Kaiser, ukaiser@bwh.harvard.edu
Research area: Endocrinology
Keywords: Neuroendocrinology, Fertility, Puberty, GnRH
Undergraduate Research Opportunity, Neurobiology of reproductive function and behavior, Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Posted September 8, 2023.
Contact information: Victor M Navarro. Medicine (Endocrinology), Brigham and Women's Hospital
Email: vnavarro@bwh.harvard.edu
Lab website: http://navarrolab.bwh.harvard.edu
Project description and duties: Our lab focuses on the characterization of the central factors that regulate reproduction and metabolism including, but not limited to, Kiss1 neurons using a variety of genetic mouse models and viral delivery approaches. The student will be involved in the study of the neuronal mechanisms that regulate reproductive axis, social behavior, and metabolism along with the neuronal circuitry that links these functions. He or she will be involved in the development and maintenance of mouse colonies, performing anatomical studies, determination of gene and protein expression in the brain (PCR, in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, etc) and stereotaxic injections of viral constructs to modify the expression of targeted genes. In addition, he/she will also be involved in the characterization of a number of biological parameters that define reproductive and metabolic functions (e.g. fertility assessments, daily monitoring of puberty onset, body weight, behavioral tests, etc). The student will be expected to work in collaboration with other members of the lab but in an independent manner. He/she will be encouraged to present their work at local and regional meetings, analyze their data and prepare them for publication
Skills required: Passion, dedication, attention to details and organization, commitment and ability to work with live mice. Prior research experience is a plus but not required. Some coursework in neuroscience and molecular biology would be helpful. This position is in person.
Learning outcomes: The student that joins our lab is expected to acquire knowledge of neuroanatomy and physiology of the neuronal networks that govern the endocrine system. He or She will gain experience in the handling of mice and maintenance of animal colonies as well as in the planning and performing of experimental protocols, analysis and interpretation of results and presentation of the data in lab meetings and conferences.
Time commitment: Negotiable
Mentoring: The student will be mentored by myself and Samuel Zdon, a member in the lab. Weekly meetings will be
held.
Funding? This is not a funded position, but I would be willing to sponsor a student who would like to apply for Harvard College Research Program funding.
If interested, please send your resume to vnavarro@bwh.harvard.edu
Multiple Undergraduate Research Opportunities: Bio-Inspired Solutions to Climate Change
Principal Investigators: Naomi Pierce (OEB), Joanna Aizenberg (SEAS), and Jonathan Grinham (GSD)
Positions: Undergraduate Research Assistant
Project Description: We have recently launched a highly interdisciplinary umbrella project, which converges research across biology (organism studies, evolution, phylogeny), materials design (creating new bio-inspired materials), and design engineering (sustainable architecture, scalable manufacturing) to solve challenges in climate change. We are excited to offer multiple work-study positions for students with different interests and backgrounds. You can join us on the biology side - working with the diverse and beautiful museum collection of butterflies and moths to collect scales and study their structures and properties. For this role, we are especially seeking students who are organized, detail-oriented, and good with their hands (handling small specimens and tools). On the materials side, help us to study and develop novel functional materials that have potential applications in light and thermal management, from improving light capture in solar cells to sustainably cooling buildings and enhancing the efficiency of air conditioners. Design Engineering entails prototyping and implementing the functional materials in real-world solutions. We are seeking students who are creative, enthusiastic, and self-driven. For the materials project, a background in materials or synthesis is desirable but not mandatory. All of the roles will involve hands-on experience and an exciting opportunity to collaborate across disciplines and broaden your knowledge. Opportunities are available for dedicated and detail-oriented students who wish to develop their own projects within this broader framework.
Key Responsibilities:
Biology Project:
- Assist in the collection and analysis of butterfly wing scale patches.
- Conduct scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy to analyze butterfly wing scale structures.
Materials Design:
- Contribute to the development of novel functional materials inspired by natural structures.
- Use a variety of materials characterization techniques to study the materials properties, including scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, thermal imaging, mechanical properties measurements, and more.
- Together with the Design Engineering team, engage in research aimed at translating these findings into actionable products with relevance to addressing climate challenges.
Design Engineering:
- Together with the Materials team, engage in research aimed at translating these findings into actionable products with relevance to addressing climate challenges.
- Perform techno-economic analyses related to energy and cost savings potential.
Duration: Fall 2023 - Spring 2024, but can be extended if the student would like to develop a thesis project or simply continue the research
Primary Location:
Museum Collections of the Natural History Museum, Cambridge, MA (Biology Project)
Science and Engineering Complex (Materials Design and Design Engineering Projects)
Funding: We encourage students to apply for work study or Harvard College Research Funding. Though currently unavailable, we are seeking out funding in parallel to support talented students.
If interested, please submit your resume and a brief statement of interest to ashneidm@g.harvard.edu and rchilders@g.harvard.edu
Join us in exploring the potential of butterfly wing scales and their applications in creating a more sustainable world.
Research Opportunity, Multiple projects on use of CRISPR base editing to understand complex genetic disease, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Posted August 26, 2023.
Richard Sherwood, rsherwood@bwh.harvard.edu
Brigham and Women's Dept of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
https://sherwoodlab.bwh.harvard.edu/
About this opportunity: Our lab develops and uses state-of-the-art CRISPR tools including base editors to model and understand complex genetic disease. Undergraduate projects can be experimental or computational in nature and will immerse students in how to employ CRISPR genome editing to understand and treat genetic disease.
Primary location: Longwood campus
In-person/remote: This position involves primarily in-person work.
Funded? This is not funded, but I would be willing to sponsor a student who would like to apply for Harvard College Research Program funding.
Time commitment: 10+ hrs/week
Requirements: biology or computer science background
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: Students interested in an immersive research experience in a cutting-edge CRISPR genome editing lab
If interested, please contact: Richard Sherwood, rsherwood@bwh.harvard.edu
Research Opportunity, Medicinal Plant Genomics Project, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard Herbaria, Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Posted August 25, 2023.
Charles Davis, cdavis@oeb.harvard.edu
Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard Herbaria, Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences
https://davislab.oeb.harvard.edu/
About this opportunity: The Davis Lab is seeking an enthusiastic research assistant to join our team who will help us gather and process the specimen and genomic data of over 1500 medicinal plant species. We are conducting a high-throughput data collection effort to expand our knowledge of medicinal plant species represented in the Harvard University Herbaria (HUH). Depending on the applicant and their interests, this project will involve: finding and retrieving herbarium specimens from the collections, assisting in removing and processing leaf material from herbarium specimens for DNA extractions, assisting in performing DNA extractions on herbarium sheet material, and keeping organized records of sampled specimens and DNA extractions. Experience and interest in plant evolutionary biology, genomics, herbarium collections, and ethnobotany is highly encouraged. Prior experience in these techniques is not expected or required! Additionally, undergrads in the lab have been very successful at securing funding from HCRP or PRISE and will receive guidance on the application process. If you are interested in joining us, please reach out to Peter Flynn (pflynn@fas.harvard.edu) with your CV and a short description of your interests and when you’d like to start/your time constraints.
Primary Location: Cambridge campus
In-person/remote: This position involves primarily in-person work.
Funded? Yes, this is a paid position, and I would also be willing to sponsor a student who would like to apply for Harvard College Research Program funding.
Time commitment: negotiable
Requirements: no prior experience required
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: Interest in plant evolutionary biology, ethnobotany, medicinal plants, plant genomics, DNA extraction, museum specimens, and database management would all make a prospective student a good fit! Someone interested learning skills in scientific research more generally would also be a good match.
If interested, please contact: Peter Flynn, pflynn@fas.harvard.edu
Research Opportunity, Multiple Projects involving Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Brain Vascular Physiology in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease, Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Meher Juttukonda, mjuttukonda@mgh.harvard.edu
Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
https://casl.martinos.org/
About this opportunity: The Cerebrovascular Aging and Spin Labeling (CASL) Laboratory is part of the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Our research involves the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approaches for studying vascular physiology in the human brain. Research projects available include those investigating how blood flow (i.e., hemodynamics) and oxygen availability to the brain are affected by aging and by risk factors for vascular disease and Alzheimer's disease.
Primary Location: Charlestown
In-person/remote: This position is a hybrid position, and arrangements can be made between researcher and student.
Funded? This is not a funded position, but I would be willing to sponsor a student who would like to apply for Harvard College Research Program funding.
Time commitment: negotiable
Requirements: no prior experience required
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: We are a small group that has active collaborations with several other research labs and clinicians. I meet with all lab members, including students, at least once a week individually and also during our weekly lab meetings. Our lab environment would be a good fit for students wishing to gain mentored experience in interdisciplinary research. Our lab routinely acquires and analyzes quantitative MRI data in human participants to ask/answer clinically-relevant questions in various diseases. These projects have the option to focus on various elements (i.e., data acquisition vs. analysis, computational vs. clinical) based on student interest.
If interested, please contact: Meher Juttukonda (mjuttukonda@mgh.harvard.edu)
Research Opportunity, Mechanical Forces in Brain Cancer, Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, MGH, Harvard Medical School, Posted August 25, 2023.
Rakesh Jain, PhD, rjain@mgh.harvard.edu
Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, MGH and Harvard Medical School
http://steelelabs.mgh.harvard.edu
About this opportunity: The bilateral interaction between cancer cells and their local microenvironment is a crucial step in tumorigenesis. Depending on the context, this crosstalk can promote or hinder tumor growth, local immunity, and therapeutic efficacy. In this project, we distinguish the mechanical forces exerted by growing tumors from their biochemical and molecular counterparts and study their impact inside the brain. This investigation is performed using multiple in vivo mouse models and in vitro assays featuring different cell types, and is complemented by various computational and histology approaches. The incoming student(s) will participate in many of these experiments under close supervision, and will eventually perform their own experiments when ready.
Primary Location: Charlestown, MGH main campus
In-person/remote: This position involves primarily in-person work.
Funded? This is not a funded opportunity, but I would be willing to sponsor a student who would like to apply for Harvard College Research Program funding.
Time commitment: Negotiable
Requirements: Prior research experience preferred, but not required
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: This opportunity is an ideal fit for students looking to develop their technical research skills in neuroscience and immunology over the upcoming school year(s) and summer(s). A serious and long-term commitment will not only propel the involved students into graduate or medical school, but will also potentially reward them with future support and co-authorships on multiple publications.
Additional notes: Our lab is a highly supportive, collaborative and multi-disciplinary group at the forefront of cancer biology. We use highly innovative models to study the tumor microenvironment and develop treatments with the goal of translating our findings to the clinic to help patients.
If interested, please contact: Marc Charabati, PhD, mcharabati@mgh.harvard.edu
Research Opportunity, Novel Therapeutic Approaches for Cardiovascular Disease, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Posted August 25, 2023.
Guillermo Garcia-Cardena, guillermo_garcia-cardena@hms.harvard.edu
Harvard Medical School
https://garcia-cardena.bwh.harvard.edu
About this opportunity: Our laboratory has multiple projects available for dissecting and probing signaling pathways critically important for the function of blood vessels to discover novel therapeutics for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. We use cell and molecular biology, genomics and bioinformatics to solve a variety of problems. Projects range from processing data generated by genome-wide CRISPR and small molecule screens to generating perfused cardiac organoids using induced pluripotent stem cells.
Primary Location: Longwood campus
In-person/remote: This position involves primarily in-person work.
Funded? This position is not funded, but I would be willing to sponsor a student who would like to apply for Harvard College Research Program funding.
Time commitment: Negotiable
Requirements: No prior experience required
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: Students interesting in learning about molecular medicine and drug discovery and using their own set of skills to solve important biological and medical problems
If interested, please contact: Dr. Garcia-Cardena | guillermo_garcia-cardena@hms.harvard.edu
Research Opportunity, Hollenhorst Lab, Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Posted August 25, 2023.
Marie Hollenhorst, mhollenhorst@bwh.harvard.edu
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology
https://hollenhorst.bwh.harvard.edu/
About this opportunity: Position Description
The Hollenhorst Lab applies innovative chemical and biochemical strategies to study clinically relevant questions regarding the proteins that regulate bleeding and clotting. The goal is to further our understanding of the basic biochemistry of hemostasis and thrombosis with an eye towards questions directly relevant to the care of patients.
We are looking for a motivated undergraduate who is eager to learn biochemical laboratory techniques and contribute to projects that have direct relevance for human health. This is a fantastic opportunity to deepen your knowledge of chemical biology, biochemistry, and medicine. The principal investigator will provide direct mentorship, clinical shadowing opportunities, and long-term career advice. The student would benefit from the opportunity to learn from scientists in the lab who are enthusiastic about teaching and mentoring.
The position is ideal for students who are contemplating careers in science and medicine, especially who want to determine if they might want to pursue a PhD and/or MD. This position would be well-suited for students enrolled in or considering a concentration in Chemical and Physical Biology, Chemistry, Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology, and/or Molecular and Cellular Biology.
Research Environment
The Hollenhorst laboratory is located in the Harvard Institutes of Medicine building, 4 Blackfan Circle, in the center of the Longwood Medical Area. Our primary affiliations are the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Division of Hematology and Harvard Medical School. The laboratory works closely with the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT and is a member of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and the Harvard Chemical Biology PhD Program. These institutions and programs house scientific and clinical experts in a wide variety of areas, enabling interactions with a myriad of collaborators and communities. We have access to state-of-the-art core facilities for glycomics, proteomics, flow cytometry, etc. These rich resources allow laboratory members to thrive in a supportive and well-equipped environment.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
• Perform routine and non-routine experiments, which are moderate to complex, with under the mentorship of the PI and laboratory members. These include western blot, immunoprecipitation, protein purification by liquid chromatography, flow cytometry, and preparation of samples for mass spectrometry analysis. (Prior training in these techniques is NOT required.)
• Process platelets and plasma samples from donors and patients.
• Maintain a detailed electronic laboratory notebook to reproduce experiments precisely.
• Prepare laboratory reagents and chemicals, organize storage. Meticulously maintain and update databases of laboratory supplies and storage. Order new supplies on time to maintain inventory.
Primary Location: Longwood campus
In-person/remote: This position involves primarily in-person work.
Funded? This position is not funded, but I would be willing to sponsor a student who would like to apply for Harvard College Research Program funding.
Time commitment: negotiable
Requirements: no prior research experience is required
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: We are looking for a motivated undergraduate who is eager to learn biochemical laboratory techniques and contribute to projects that have direct relevance for human health. This is a fantastic opportunity to deepen your knowledge of chemical biology, biochemistry, and medicine. The principal investigator will provide direct mentorship, clinical shadowing opportunities, and long-term career advice. The student would benefit from the opportunity to learn from scientists in the lab who are enthusiastic about teaching and mentoring. The position is ideal for students who are contemplating careers in science and medicine, especially who want to determine if they might want to pursue a PhD and/or MD. This position would be well-suited for students enrolled in or considering a concentration in Chemical and Physical Biology, Chemistry, Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology, and/or Molecular and Cellular Biology.
If interested, please contact: Letice Arthur, Larthur5@bwh.harvard.edu
Research Opportunity, Functional genetics of blood coagulation, Harvard-MIT Division of Health, Sciences, and Technology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Posted August 23, 2023.
Sol Schulman, sschulm1@bidmc.harvard.edu
Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess and Harvard Medical School, Harvard-MIT Division of Health, Sciences, and Technology
https://hemostasis.bidmc.org/people/sol-schulman-md-phd/
About this opportunity: Tissue factor (TF) binds blood coagulation factor VII/VIIa to initiate blood coagulation in humans. Inappropriate TF procoagulant activity underlies substantial human suffering, including that due to myocardial infarction, venous thromboembolism, cancer-associated thrombosis, stroke, and COVID-19-associated coagulopathy. TF expression and activity must therefore be carefully regulated in vascular tissues to enable hemostasis following injury but prevent pathologic thrombosis. Despite decades of close investigation, the mechanisms by which TF expression and procoagulant activity are regulated on the vascular cell surface remain incompletely understood. We combine functional genomics, human and rodent genetics, cell biology, and protein biochemistry to dissect the TF-dependent initiation of blood coagulation. Because the contribution of cellular TF is not captured by clinical coagulation testing, these critical modifiers of human bleeding and thrombotic risk remain undetected in human populations.
Primary Location: Longwood campus
In-person/remote: This position involves primarily in-person work.
Funded? This position is not funded, but I would be willing to sponsor a student who would like to apply for Harvard College Research Program funding.
Time commitment: Negotiable. Generally 6-10 hours for first-years and sophomores, 10+ hours for juniors, and 15-20 hours per week for seniors doing a thesis is typical.
Requirements: No prior experience is required.
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: My research group is small and collaborative. I take a hands on approach with trainees and generally interact with everyone on my team informally most days and more formally weekly. The lab is an excellent fit for a student contemplating a career as a physician-scientist. The lab is well suited for a motivated individual who seeks to integrate both wet lab and quantitative approaches to solve basic but clinically important research questions in hematology. I take my mentorship responsibilities seriously and expect that students take their research responsibilities seriously as well.
If interested, please contact: Sol Schulman, sschulm1@bidmc.harvard.edu
Research Project, Multiple projects on Artificial Intelligence and Computational Neuroscience. Kreiman Lab, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Posted August 23, 2023.
Gabriel Kreiman, gabriel.kreiman@tch.harvard.edu
Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
https://klab.tch.harvard.edu/
About this opportunity: The Kreiman lab combines studies of neural circuits, behavior, and theoretical models to build better Artificial Intelligence algorithms and to further our understanding of computations in the brain. We have multiple open projects for students interested in computer science, physics, math, and neuroscience. Depending on your interests, you will learn about experimental design, investigating neural circuits in the brain, and developing state-of-the-art AI algorithms. Projects focus on understanding language, memory, and vision.
Primary Location: Longwood campus
In-person/remote: This position is a hybrid position, and arrangements can be made between researcher and student.
Funded? This position is not funded, but I would be willing to sponsor a student who would like to apply for Harvard College Research Program funding.
Time commitment: 10+ hrs/week (negotiable)
Requirements: Coding experience is recommended and desirable.
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: Our lab is a good match if you are interested in the intersection of AI and brain science.
If interested, please contact: Gabriel Kreiman, gkreiman@gmail.com
Research Opportunity, Multiple Projects on Developing Computer Vision and Deep Learning Methods for Image-guided Medical Interventions, Surgical Planning Lab, Radiology/Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Nazim Haouchine, nhaouchine@bwh.harvard.edu
Harvard Medical School - Brigham and Women's Hospital - Radiology/Neurosurgery Dept.
Surgical Planning Lab
About this opportunity: The Surgical Planning Laboratory (SPL) is a computer science oriented laboratory in the Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School. The SPL is looking for motivated students to develop new computer vision and deep learning methods to solve surgical vision problems. Surgical Vision consists of the computational processing and understanding of medical image in the operating room. These images are often acquired by cameras or optical sensors and require image-based enhancement. These enhancements can take the form of real-time 3D tracking of organs, 3D reconstruction from multiple views, feature-based matching or Augmented Reality. During our internships, students often start by getting familiar with medical images, then by testing existing techniques before identifying a gap and working a new algorithm/method to improve that technique. The students will be working with computer scientists, expert in medical imaging, computer vision and deep learning at the SPL, and surgeons from the department of Radiology and Neurosurgery.
Primary Location: Longwood campus, MGB Headquarter at Assembly Row (Somerville)
In-person/remote: This position is a hybrid position, and arrangements can be made between researcher and student.
Funded? This is not a funded position.
Time commitment: 15-20 hours per week
Requirements: no prior experience required
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: Motivated. Interested in deep learning and artificial intelligence. Hands-on experience with programming (python/C++). Interested in medical applications of computer vision and image processing.
Additional notes: You can learn more about the SPL here: https://spl.harvard.edu/ and learn more about my projects here: https://haouchine.com
If interested, please contact: Nazim Haouchine, nhaouchine@bwh.harvard.edu
Multiple projects evaluating the effects of brain injuries in women subjected to intimate partner violence. We use neuroimaging, blood biomarkers, neuropsyhcological measures and interviews in this work that has been featured internationally.
Principal Investigator: Eve Valera
Harvard Medical School/Psychiatry MGH
https://valera.martinos.org
About this opportunity: Overall, interns have the opportunity to do as little or as much as they would like depending on the time they want to devote to the lab. Some have simply sat in on lab meetings and others have developed their own projects that have resulted in publications in high level journals. Interns may volunteer to run subjects remotely or in person or do theses here.
Primary Location: Charlestown, much/most work can be done remotely
In-person/remote: This position is a hybrid position, and arrangements can be made between researcher and student.
Funded? This is not a funded position, but I would be willing to sponsor a student who would like to apply for Harvard College Research Program funding.
Time commitment: Negotiable
Requirements: No prior experience required just an interest and passion for this work.
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: Either someone who is interested in this topic of brain injuries in partner violence (or related subjects) or people interested in being active in conducting a range of research methodologies. It will be most profitable for students are interested and self motivated.
Additional notes: We are a great group doing amazing work for women who desperately need it! :)
If interested, please contact: Eve Valera, eve_valera@hms.harvard.edu
Multiple projects on genomics and functional genetics of genitourinary cancer
Principal Investigator: Srinivas Viswanathan, srinivas.viswanathan@dfci.harvard.edu
Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
viswanathanlab.dana-farber.org
About this opportunity: The Viswanathan lab uses cutting-edge genomic and genome-scale functional genetic technologies to dissect the molecular underpinnings and vulnerabilities of cancer, with a focus on genitourinary cancers (particularly cancers of the prostate and kidney). A range of exciting undergraduate research opportunities are available in either a wet-lab or dry-lab setting. Potential areas of research include the following:
1. Use of genome-scale functional genetic (CRISPR) screening, biochemistry, and proteomics to discover new therapeutic targets in castration-resistant prostate cancer.
2. Genetic and drug-screening of kidney cancer models in order to identify new therapies for rare and aggressive subtypes of kidney cancer.
3. Molecular biology and biochemistry studies to understand the basic mechanisms of tumorigenesis in genitourinary cancers.
4. Analysis of whole genome and transcriptome sequencing data from patients with prostate and kidney cancers, including the analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing data.
Primary Location: Longwood campus
In-person/remote: This position is a hybrid position, and arrangements can be made between researcher and student.
Funded? This is not a funded position, but I would be willing to sponsor a student who would like to apply for Harvard College Research Program funding.
Time commitment: 10-20h per week; negotiable
Requirements: For those interested in wet lab projects, prior experience or exposure to a laboratory environment is preferred. For those interested in dry lab projects, facility or working familiarity with R, python, and Unix is preferred.
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: The lab would be an excellent fit for a students highly motivated to pursue a career in biomedical research, with future plans to matriculate in a PhD, MD, or MD/PhD program
Additional notes: The student will receive direct mentorship from postdoctoral fellows and/or scientists in the laboratory as well as through regular interactions with the PI.
If interested, please contact: Please submit a brief statement of interest and your CV to Dr. Viswanathan at Srinivas.viswanathan@dfci.harvard.edu
Understanding mechanism of aging
Principal Investigator: Yi Zhang, yzhang@genetics.med.harvard.edu
Genetics and PCMM
https://www.zhanglab.tch.harvard.edu/
About this opportunity: Maintaining the normal function of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is critical for body function. We found that HSCs are increased in heterogeneity during aging and dysfunction in subpopulation of HSCs in old prevents the function of the normal HSCs in old. We are developing ways to remove the non-functional HSCs to achieve rejuvenation.
Primary Location: Longwood campus
In-person/remote: This position involves primarily in-person work.
Funded? This is not a funded position, but I would be willing to sponsor a student who would like to apply for Harvard College Research Program funding.
Time commitment: negotiable
Requirements: prior experience is preferred but not required
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: who are interested in a research career
Additional notes: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=7UjSqHEAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
If interested, please contact: yzhang@genetics.med.harvard.edu
Multiple projects on medical image segmentation and brain connectivity analysis
Principal Investigator: Iman Aganj
Radiology, HMS, MGH (Martinos Center)
https://iman.mgh.harvard.edu
About this opportunity: Medical image segmentation: We'd like to use computational analysis to segment brain structures, such as the locus coeruleus, from available T1/T2/diffusion MRI images.
Brain connectivity analysis: We'd like to find relationships between structural and functional connectivity of the human brain and neurodegenerative disease.
Code optimization: We'd like to optimize existing code so they run faster on CPU and GPU.
Primary Location: Charlestown
In-person/remote: This position is a hybrid position, and arrangements can be made between researcher and student.
Funded? This is not a funded position, but I would be willing to sponsor a student who would like to apply for Harvard College Research Program funding.
Time commitment: negotiable
Requirements: Coding skills (Matlab, Python, etc.)
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: Best for those interested in biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, or computer science.
Additional notes: You will be a part of the Laboratory for Computational Neuroimaging (https://lcn.martinos.org)
If interested, please contact: Iman Aganj, iaganj@mgh.harvard.edu
Multiple projects on AI vision assistance technology for visually impaired
Principal Investigator: Gang Luo
Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School
https://vrt.partners.org/
About this opportunity: Out lab has been developing AI powered vision assistance technology for the blind and visually impaired people. Our work has resulted in several mobile apps released to the public, and received more than one millision downloads. Applicants who are interested in deep learning, computer vision, generative neural network, mobile app development (iOS and Android), vision science, optometry, ophthalmology are welcome to apply for internship position in our lab.
Primary Location: Boston
In-person/remote: This position involves primarily in-person work.
Funded? This is not a funded position, but I would be willing to sponsor a student who would like to apply for Harvard College Research Program funding.
Time commitment: 10-20h/week
Requirements: some experience in programming, or optometry, ophthalmology
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: The students will have opportunities in technology development as well as interacting with visually impaired end users, learning how to develop practically useful technologies.
If interested, please contact: Gang Luo, gang_luo@meei.harvard.edu
Multiple projects on "Exploring Adipose Tissue Dynamics: Unraveling Energy Balance and Pathogenic Associations"
Principal Investigator: Yu-Hua Tseng
Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School
https://yhtsenglab.org/
About this opportunity: Nestled within the vibrant interactions of scientific exploration, our lab is a group of creativity and collaboration. Comprising a dynamic cohort of researchers, we foster an environment where ingenuity flourishes, and collective efforts thrive. Our research endeavors pivot around a central focus: the fundamental mechanisms that govern energy balance and its intricate web of pathogenic associations, encompassing the realms of obesity and diabetes. At the core of our pursuits focuses on the adipose tissue, both its genesis and functioning. This captivating journey of discovery is embarked upon through a multidimensional lens, incorporating a broad array of in vitro and in vivo technologies -- from the granular vistas of cellular and molecular analyses to the captivating narrative woven by transgenic mouse models. Our toolkits include molecular cloning, Crispr-based gene modification, in vivo lineage tracing, single-cell studies, metabolic phenotyping, bioinformatics analyses, and others. We are welcoming curious, energetic, and motivated students who are eager to be involved in basic science and translational research and explore the fantastic adipose biology. We also invite students with computational or data science backgrounds to explore multi-omics data using novel bioinformatics tools. The laboratory training emphasizes precision and accuracy, attention to detail, carefully following protocols, and documenting the experimental procedures and results. We aim to provide a fertile ground for developing critical thinking, technical skills, and a deeper understanding for pursuing a career in life science, healthcare or biomedical innovation.
Primary Location: Longwood campus
In-person/remote: This position is a hybrid position, and arrangements can be made between researcher and student.
Funded? This is not a funded position, but I would be willing to sponsor a student who would like to apply for Harvard College Research Program funding.
Time commitment: 10+ h/wk (negotiable)
Requirements: No prior experience required
Who this project might be a good fit for, in terms of interests and/or goals: Our lab/project/research group is an ideal fit for curious and motivated individuals who possess a passion for delving into the intricacies of biological mechanisms. We also welcome students with computational or data science backgrounds to explore new aspects of biology and medicine using big data.
If interested, please contact: Dr. Yu-Hua Tseng, yu-hua.tseng@joslin.harvard.edu
Harvard Radcliffe Institute, Multidisciplinary Research Opportunity, Deadline to Apply: July 24, 2023
The Harvard Radcliffe Institute is seeking applications from Harvard College undergraduates to work on fellows’ research. We pay Harvard College students $18/hr to work approximately 6-10 hours a week doing research and brainstorming. Some projects relevant to science are:
-
Intersectionality of Gender and Autism
Fellow Ruth Grossman
Subject areas: Social Communication/Neurodiversity/Intersectionality -
Olfactory Exploration Through Ultrasonic Sieving: Does it Exist?
Fellow Eduardo Mercado
Subject areas: Animal Behavior/Biology/Ecology/Psychology
Interested students should go to our application portal to apply.
July 20, 2023
Faja Lab Internship, Labs of Cognitive Neuroscience, Boston Children's Hospital, Posted July 20, 2023
The Faja Lab within the Labs of Cognitive Neuroscience at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School currently offers a volunteer research internship opportunity for undergraduate students to obtain specialized research skills with children on the autism spectrum.
Students will have the opportunity to contribute research projects that examine the individual differences observed in people on the autism spectrum, evaluate potential physiological and behavioral measures of treatment response, and develop and test novel interventions for people on the autism spectrum. Examples of current NIH-funded projects in the lab include: (1) Evaluating a set of electrophysiological and eye-tracking measures of social change in school-aged children diagnosed with ASD. (2) Using electrophysiological and behavioral measures to investigate the early cognitive development of toddlers and preschoolers. (3) Examining social skills that support the intimate relationships of adults on the autism spectrum.
Undergraduate students will be involved in several aspects of these projects, including, but not limited to data entry and scoring, literature reviews, and recruitment. Students will also have the opportunity to observe and assist with study visits. We encourage our students to deepen their knowledge and research skills by working in depth on a project related to their interests, which may include behavioral coding or electrophysiological processing. As a valued part of this vibrant environment, students will also get to enjoy a variety of professional development opportunities and lectures in addition to experience gained working within the lab.
The Faja Lab is part of a larger research network in the Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience that includes a multidisciplinary team of researchers with expertise in neuroscience, psychology, and education. We are working to expand our knowledge of child development and developmental disorders in collaboration with clinical experts in fields such as developmental pediatrics and child neurology. Through this comprehensive approach, we aim to drive science forward as rapidly as possible; allowing us to translate what we learn into earlier identification, improved therapies, and better outcomes for children and families affected by developmental disorders.
Requirements
Eligible students must be currently affiliated with an academic program in the Boston area and are expected to commit a minimum of 8-10 hours per week in-person at our lab for two semesters. Students may receive course credit or pursue external funding for financial compensation. Summer positions require 12-20 hours per week, and full-time hours are available for students with external funding. For further information about the position please contact FajaLab@childrens.harvard.edu.
To submit application materials to labs across the Division of Developmental Medicine, please complete the Research Position Interest Form at the following link: https://bit.ly/BCH-LCN-DDM
March 29, 2023
Research Opportunity in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Srinivasan Lab, Posted March 29, 2023.
Vibrotactile actuators for motor learning and rehabilitation
Concentrations: Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering
Description: Wearable haptic interfaces can transmit tactile information using sensations such as vibration, touch, and force feedback. Vibrotactile actuation can also be used to modulate mechanoreceptors in muscles. Wearable haptic interfaces are promising for applications in robotics, athletics, rehabilitation, biofeedback-based medical devices and much more. This project will focus on the development of a low-profile wearable interface with on-board processing and actuation to help accelerate motor learning of complex tasks. Specifically, we will study its utility in learning dance movements using motion capture systems and neural reflex analyses.
Skills: Mechanical engineering, electronics, signal processing, programming, fabrication, interest in dance or rehabilitation applications
Prior experience in embedded electronics, circuits, signal processing, wearables is preferred, but not required.
Hourly commitment required: 8-10h per week.
If interested, please email: Shriya Srinivasan <shriya_srinivasan@fas.harvard.edu>
March 22, 2023
Research Opportunity in Computational Neuroscience, Jenks Vestibular Lab, Mass Eye and Ear, Posted March 22, 2023.
The Jenks Vestibular Lab at Mass Eye and Ear seeks a biomedical engineering/bioengineering undergraduate student interested in computational neuroscience. In particular, the lab has projects focused on developing computational and mathematical models that study the effects of neural noise on different vestibular behaviors. The vestibular system, often called the sixth sense, is vital for relaying motion cues to the brain. These motion cues, being rotational velocities and linear accelerations, are essential for spatial orientation, postural control, and perception of gravity. However, like all the other sensory systems, vestibular cues to the brain are corrupted by neural noise, which has behavioral consequences. For example, neural noise has a role in postural sway, dizziness, disorientation, and vestibular disorders such as vestibular migraine and vertigo.
This research role provides challenging learning opportunities and close mentorship from Dr. Faisal Karmali, an expert in computational neuroscience specializing in the vestibular system. Highly self-motivated students eager to improve their computational skillset are encouraged to apply.
If interested, please email Kassia Love at klove2@meei.harvard.edu.
Undergraduate Research Opportunity, Kravitz Lab, Massachusetts General Hospital, Posted March 16, 2023.
PI name: Edward A. Kravitz, PhD, George Packer Berry Professor of Neurobiology, Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School
http://www.hms.harvard.edu/bss/neuro/kravitz/
Description of the project and duties:
Aggression in the Fruit Fly Fight Club
Our laboratory studies aggression using a fruit fly model system. The studies link quantitative behavioral experiments with powerful genetic methods in explorations of how higher-level aggression is generated in the nervous system. Recently we have started optogenetic methods as well. We are interested in having 1-2 undergraduate students work with us part time (possibly for academic credit) during the academic year and full time during summers. While we are mainly interested in students looking for a senior honors thesis project, we will consider all applications. References: 1. Review: Fernández MP and Kravitz EA. (2015) Aggression in Drosophila. Behav Neurosci. (2015)129:549-563. 2. Article: Alekseyenko OV (2019) Serotonergic Modulation of Aggression in Drosophila Involves GABAergic and Cholinergic Opposing Pathways. Curr Biol. 29:2145-2156. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.05.070. PMID: 31231050
Skills required.
We prefer students who have had introductory Neurobiology and Genetics courses. Laboratory experience is helpful but not required
Learning outcome: Hopefully an honors thesis in a concentration field. Detailed understanding of state of the art genetic methods applied to the understanding of an important biological problem.
Number of hours students are expected to work, length of the project: These are negotiable during the academic year. Hopefully full time during summers. Sophomores and Juniors are encouraged to apply and the ultimate goal will be an honors thesis in a specialty area.
Mentoring:
Student will be trained and working under close supervision of a post-doctoral fellow at start. Then student will carry out project on his/her own with guidance and input from a Post-Doc and lab head. There are weekly laboratory meetings that all laboratory members attend during which ongoing research of lab members are presented.
Does laboratory provide any funds to pay student’s stipend? Students are encouraged to apply for various Harvard Funds for salary during summers—The laboratory will cover full summer stipends that are not covered by Harvard summer research awards. During Academic year, students are encouraged to take concentration Research Classes for academic credit.
What information do students need to submit and contact information for submitting this information: Email resume (cv) to Dr. Rachel Monyak (Rachel_Monyak@hms.harvard.edu) with a copy to Ed Kravitz (Edward_kravitz@hms.harvard.edu) with contact names for recommendation letters.
March 2, 2023
Summer Research Opportunity, Wyant Lab, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Posted March 2, 2023.
Mechanistic studies of muscle hypertrophy and atrophy
Principal Investigator: Gregory Wyant, PhD
Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School
The laboratory is dedicated to pursuing a cellular and molecular understanding of how physiological cues, such as oxygen, nutrients, mechanical, or electrical signals regulate tissue physiology and function, with special reference to heart and skeletal muscle. We have a deep interest in understanding the pathophysiological consequences of disruption of any of these signals, such as in the setting of ischemic injury, starvation, or denervation, and development of novel therapeutic approaches. We are particularly interested in organelle metabolism in relation to these tissues and the development of novel tools to isolate and study compartmentalized metabolism in the in vivo context.
In-Person Summer Research Opportunity, Dr. Ksenia Kastanenka, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Posted March 2, 2023.
A paid summer research position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Ksenia Kastanenka at Massachusetts General Hospital an affiliate of Harvard Medical School. The laboratory is part of a larger multi-disciplinary group, the scientific effort of which is geared toward understanding the etiology and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The laboratory is focused on studying circuit disruptions during the disease progression and understanding mechanisms of action of therapeutics aimed at reversing the disease. To that end state-of-the-art technology, such as in vivo imaging with multiphoton microscopy, is used to monitor circuit dynamics. Additionally, optogenetics is used to modulate circuit activity. For more information, visit https://www.massgeneral.org/neurology/research/researchlab.aspx?id=1803
Desired qualifications:
We seek a self-motivated individual currently matriculated in a Bachelor’s of Science program (3rd or 4thyear), with some experience in Neuroscience or related biomedical discipline with a strong intellectual commitment to understanding mechanisms of disease using mouse models and an enthusiasm for multidisciplinary research. Evidence of scientific knowledge is required evidenced by attending science classes. Good inter-personal and communication skills are a must.
To apply, please email your CV and a cover letter summarizing your education and experience, along with the contact information of three references to kkastanenka@mgh.harvard.edu addressed to Dr. Ksenia Kastanenka.
February 1, 2023
Remote Undergraduate Research Opportunity: Using Artificial Intelligence in Thoracic Surgery at MGH/HMS
Contact information: Dr. Lana Schumacher, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital.LSCHUMACHER2@mgh.harvard.edu
Arian Mansur, Harvard Medical School Student, arianmansur@hms.harvard.edu
Project description and duties: Our program is an opportunity to work with physicians and medical students on cutting-edge clinical surgical research in artificial intelligence. Our team is developing artificial intelligence models to improve the operations in our department to reduce complication rates and improve surgical education.
Responsibilities include:
• Learning the steps of thoracic surgery procedures (e.g., right lower lobectomy) and medical anatomy.
• Generating annotated/labeled datasets of thoracic surgery procedures.
• (Optional) Working with our engineers to develop AI models to analyze the labeled datasets.
• The candidate will also gain the possibility for co-authorship on publications.
Skills required:
• Commitment to research and learning.
• Meticulous, hard-working, and goal-oriented
• Experience with Video-editing (Adobe, Wondershare, etc.) or AI/ML knowledge are a plus but not required.
Number of hours: The project will require at least 8-10 hours/week of commitment.
Mentoring: Dr. Lana Schumacher is a thoracic surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital. Arian Mansur is a second-year medical student at Harvard Medical School student who graduated from Harvard College in 2021. There will be ample of opportunity for pre-med mentorship
Student stipend: This is a volunteer position. The Laboratory may supply stipends for students who could commit a minimum of 6 months for 15+ hours/week. Students are also encouraged to apply to the HCRP and other fellowships (https://lifesciences.fas.harvard.edu/research-opportunities)
Application information: Please e-mail your resume/CV along with a cover letter including a brief outline of your interests, goals, and anticipated time availability to Dr. Lana Schumacher at LSCHUMACHER2@mgh.harvard.edu and Arian Mansur arianmansur@hms.harvard.edu.
Undergraduate research opportunity, Dr. Alan Beggs Lab, Boston Children’s Hospital/ Harvard Medical School
Alan Beggs, Department of Genetics, contact Dr. Pamela Barraza, email: pamela.barraza-flores@childrens.harvard.edu, Center for Life Sciences, https://www.childrenshospital.org/research/labs/beggs-laboratory
We focus on the discovery and description of genes that cause congenital myopathies. The main project you would be involved with is in describing the mitochondrial involvement in SEPN1-related myopathy. We need help handling zebrafish experiments as well as other molecular biology experiments in the lab. Basic lab skills such as pipetting are preferred but not required. You will learn how to keep zebrafish husbandry and perform functional studies, as well as basic molecular biology such as RTqPCR, Western Blot and DNA sequencing. You will also be involved in the experimental design and data analysis. You will be able to take this project and present it at conferences or presentations assigned to you.
We hope to find someone that can commit to work between 20-40 hours during the summer, this is a wide range of hours, meaning we are willing to negotiate this part. You will be directly mentored by a postdoc who will guide you throughout the job. If you are interested, please send your CV along with a statement with your reason for wanting to join our group and your future plans regarding research.
January 31, 2023
Undergraduate Research Opportunity, Walsh Lab, Boston Children's Hospital
Contact information: Norma Hylton, MD-PhD student in the laboratory of Christopher Walsh at Boston Children’s Hospital, https://walshlab.org/
Project description and duties: We are looking for an undergraduate student to work on a specific, independent, project studying genetic variants in Pannexin-1 (PANX1) associated with malformations of cortical development. This project builds on prior work in the Walsh lab to understand the genetic landscape of cortical malformations. This research will primarily use tissue culture, western blotting, and imaging techniques. An ideal candidate would be an undergraduate who is interested in potentially working in the lab for multiple years as part of a senior thesis and is considering PhD or MD/PhD programs in the future.
Skills required: No previous research experience is required, though previous laboratory experience is a plus; should have some background in science courses (intro biology and intro biology laboratory). We will teach you all the skills you need.
Learning outcomes: Research skills including study design, data analysis, experimental approaches, scientific presentation and writing with the opportunity for co-authorship on a manuscript
Time commitment: Flexible, roughly 10-12 hrs/week, with possible opportunity for full-time research work during summer if interested
Mentoring: Will be mentored by an MD-PhD student on a day-to-day basis, with occasional meetings with PI and the opportunity to present and receive feedback in lab meetings.
Student stipend: This is a volunteer position. Undergrads are encouraged to apply for funding through programs like the Harvard College Research Program (HCRP).
Application information: Interested candidates should email a CV and transcript (can be unofficial) to Norma Hylton, norma_hylton@hms.harvard.edu
Undergraduate Research Opportunity, Hoekstra Lab, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences
The Hoekstra Lab is looking for an undergraduate research assistant to work on a project examining the neural basis of the evolution of skilled movement. We are comparing dexterous deer mice from forests that are good at climbing to non-dexterous mice from prairies that are poor climbers to uncover the neural and behavioral basis of this difference in skill. This work is generally relevant to how the nervous system generates skilled movement, which can go awry in disorders like ALS and Parkinson’s. Depending on the applicant and their interests, this project will involve: behavioral experiments, automated machine-learning-based analysis of behavioral data, wet lab work, such as immunostaining and imaging. Prior experience in these techniques is not expected! Undergrads in the lab have been very successful at winning funding from HCRP, the MCZ, or PRISE and will receive guidance on the application process. If you are interested in joining us, please reach out to Kelsey Tyssowski (tyssowski@g.harvard.edu) with your CV and a short description of your interests and when you’d like to start/your time constraints.
January 18, 2023
Remote/In-person Undergraduate Research Opportunity, MJ Lab, Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital
Contact information: Dr. Jalali, https://mj-lab.mgh.harvard.edu
Project description and duties: MJ Lab develops and uses simulation models and data science methods to understand complex public health issues and inform decision and policy making. The lab invites undergraduate students for research opportunities all year round—underrepresented minorities are especially encouraged to apply.
The candidates are expected to assist the research team with literature searches, data analyses, and writing the results. There are several ongoing analytical and modeling projects at the lab; two major areas of research are the development of population-level simulation models to inform drug policies and COVID-19 policies.
Skills required: Excellent writing and communication skills are required. Priority goes to motivated and organized individuals committed to doing impactful population health research with great attention to detail. Experience in data analysis, programming, mathematical modeling, machine learning, or text mining is not required but preferred.
Learning outcomes: Students will gain experience in the review and assimilation of literature, data analysis and visualization, and composition of presentations and presentation of the results. Students are often involved in more than one project to provide them with the opportunity to explore different areas of research.
Number of hours: Flexible. Students work from 6 to 15 hours per week, depending on their availability. More hours are expected during the summer.
Mentoring: Students will work in a collaborative, productive, and friendly research team, working closely with research
associates and postdoc researchers. All project teams meet regularly with the PI and discuss the research. The PI is passionate about meeting with students to advise them about the preparation of graduate school applications and career development.
Student stipend: One paid and three unpaid positions are available. Students are welcome to take credits for research in their programs. The PI will support students in applying for undergraduate research fellowships such as HCRP.
Application information: Candidates should send their CV to Dr. Jalali (msjalali@mgh.harvard.edu). Please put “Undergraduate Research Opportunity” in the subject, provide your availability over the spring and summer semesters, and feel free to ask any questions.
Undergraduate research opportunity for Spring and Summer 2023, van Veluw lab, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School
PI: Susanne van Veluw, PhD
https://www.massgeneral.org/neurology/research/van-veluw-lab-neuroimaging
Overview: Our lab is interested in the crosslinks between cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) and dementia. We use a combination of advanced neuroimaging techniques in human brain tissue and animal models to unravel the histopathological underpinnings of neuroimaging markers of SVD and to get at the pathophysiological mechanisms involved. Our research focuses on cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). Sporadic CAA is one of the two most common forms of SVD affecting the brains of older individuals. CAA is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid β in the walls of leptomeningeal and cortical blood vessels, and frequently co-occurs with parenchymal amyloid β deposits in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. We are a young and dynamic lab and offer an undergraduate student the opportunity to contribute to a project that focuses on the crucial crosslinks between cerebral small vessel disease and Alzheimer’s disease pathology in the medial temporal lobe, a brain region which is involved in memory and where Alzheimer’s pathology develops in early stages of the disease.
Skills required: We do not require specific skills. However, motivation, reliability and organization are a must! Computational skills, such as basic coding and some experience with processing of neuroimaging data, are a plus.
Learning outcomes: The student can learn a variety of cutting-edge methods, which will be applied to the project, such as the acquisition and postprocessing of ex vivo ultra-high-resolution MRI, hands-on histopathology, and deep-learning based analysis of histopathological hallmarks of the disease. Over time, the student will have the opportunity to present the work at lab meetings and to contribute to the preparation of manuscripts.
Time requirement: The earliest the student can start working with us, the better. The number of hours of work and in-person presence are negotiable.
Student stipend: This will be a volunteer position.
Mentorship: The student will be closely mentored by a postdoctoral fellow in the lab, and will
moreover benefit of meetings with the PI.
If interested, please submit a brief statement and your CV to Dr. Valentina Perosa
at vperosa@mgh.harvard.edu.
January 5, 2023
Undergraduate research opportunity, George Church Lab, Harvard Medical School
PI: George Church, PhD
https://arep.med.harvard.edu/gmc/
https://arep.med.harvard.edu
Overview: The Church lab has pioneered development of technologies for genome sequencing, DNA assembly, genome editing, writing, and recoding, machine learning for protein engineering, tissue reprogramming, organoids, gene therapy, aging reversal, xeno-transplantation, and in situ 3D DNA/RNA/protein imaging. We are interested in designing new-to-nature biological systems that can have real-world applications, and which expand our understanding of natural biological systems.
A few exciting undergraduate research opportunities are currently available for the spring and summer. Students will have the opportunity to contribute to research projects such as:
- Development of high-throughput autonomous robotic experiments to test many iterations of biological system designs
- Expanding the number of open codons to be used to translate proteins with chemistries beyond what is available in nature
- Development of new genome editing and directed evolution methods
- Engineering of enzymes containing multiple instances of nonstandard amino acids
Skills required: students with prior laboratory experience are encouraged to apply. Students will have the opportunity to work with senior scientists in the lab and be trained for lab techniques.
Learning outcomes: The student will develop a broad set of research skills. This is an opportunity to learn advanced techniques at the bench and also develop experience in developing novel research directions. Over time, the student will develop increased independence in understanding of subject matter related to their project, experimental design, and data analysis. The student will have opportunities to present data in both individual meetings and group settings.
Number of hours students are expected to work and length of the research experience will depend on project of interest, and is negotiable.
Mentorship: The student will receive mentorship from a postdoctoral fellow in the lab, and meetings with PI.
Students are encouraged to apply to the HCRP and/or register for research course credit.
If interested, please submit a brief statement of interest and your CV to Dr. Felix Radford at felix_radford@hms.harvard.edu
December 13, 2022
Undergraduate research opportunity, Viswanathan Lab, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute / Harvard Medical School
PI: Srinivas Viswanathan, MD, PhD
Department: Medical Oncology
Srinivas.viswanathan@dfci.harvard.edu
viswanathanlab.dana-farber.org
The Viswanathan lab uses cutting-edge genomic and genome-scale functional genetic technologies to dissect the molecular underpinnings and vulnerabilities of cancer, with a focus on genitourinary cancers (particularly cancers of the prostate and kidney). A range of exciting undergraduate research opportunities are available in either a wet-lab or dry-lab setting. Potential areas of research include the following:
- Use of genome-scale functional genetic (CRISPR) screening, biochemistry, and proteomics to discover new therapeutic targets in castration-resistant prostate cancer.
- Genetic and drug-screening of kidney cancer models in order to identify new therapies for rare and aggressive subtypes of kidney cancer.
- Molecular biology and biochemistry studies to understand the basic mechanisms of tumorigenesis in genitourinary cancers.
- Analysis of whole genome and transcriptome sequencing data from patients with prostate and kidney cancers, including the analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing data.
A list of published manuscripts on related work can be found at the following link: https://viswanathanlab.dana-farber.org/publications.html
Skills required.
For those interested in wet lab projects, prior experience or exposure to a laboratory environment is preferred.
For those interested in dry lab projects, facility or working familiarity with R, python, and Unix is preferred.
Learning outcomes:
The student will develop a broad array of research skills. Over time, the student will develop graded technical and conceptual independence related to the project, with the ability to contribute to study design, data acquisition, and data analysis. The student will have opportunities to present data in both individual meetings and group settings.
Number of hours students are expected to work and length of the project is negotiable
The student will receive mentorship from postdoctoral fellows in the laboratory as well as through regular meetings with the PI.
Students are encouraged to apply to the HCRP and/or register for research course credit.
If interested, please submit a brief statement of interest and your CV to Dr. Viswanathan at Srinivas.viswanathan@dfci.harvard.edu
November 15, 2022
Undergraduate Internship, Arnett Lab, Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Boston Children's Hospital
Overview
The Boston Children's Hospital Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience (LCN) are dedicated to furthering our understanding of brain and cognitive development in typically developing infants and children, as well as children diagnosed with or at risk for various developmental disorders. In gaining a better understanding of these processes, our goal is to contribute to the healthy growth and development of our children.
Dr. Arnett and her research team aim to improve precision medicine care for children and families affected by neurodevelopmental disorders. Dr. Arnett’s laboratory investigates brain behavior associations leading to atypical neurodevelopment among children. Research initiatives have included investigations of neurocognitive and genetic etiologies of ADHD, learning disorders and autism; as well as single gene disorders associated with autism and intellectual disability. For more information on the Arnett Lab, please visit: https://www.childrenshospital.org/research/labs/arnett-lab-research
Arnett Lab Practicum Goals
1. To expose trainees to clinically-oriented research in academic health centers. 2. To provide trainees with supervised experience in data collection from children and families receiving clinical care at Boston Children’s Hospital.
3. To provide trainees with experience with data entry/management.
Research Activities
Responsibilities will include performing literature reviews, consenting potentially-interested research participants, supporting data collection, entering and managing data, and assisting with dissemination of research findings (e.g., contributing to peer-reviewed publications). Interns will also participate in weekly lab meetings, monthly journal club meetings, and other professional development seminars (optional). The number and variety of research opportunities at the Arnett Lab makes it possible to adapt the intern’s experience to his or her learning needs and professional goals.
Requirements
The intern must be able to commit to a full year. During the school year, 10 hours/week are expected. During the summer months, a minimum of 15 hours/week are expected.
Application Procedures
To apply, please send the following materials to Virginia Peisch, PhD
(virginia.peisch@childrens.harvard.edu):
1. Cover letter
2. CV
November 14, 2022
Community Residence Counselors, The Pavilion at McLean Hospital
Immediate job openings at McLean Hospital, Belmont Massachusetts. The Pavilion at McLean Hospital has immediate openings for Community Residence Counselors on day/evening and weekend shifts, part-time positions available. The Pavilion is a small, specialty, psychiatric residential program. Patients from across the United States and from around the World come to the Pavilion for a 14-day diagnostic evaluation. Community Residence Counselors have hands on experience and work closely with the nursing staff and members of a multi-disciplinary team of psychiatrists, social workers, and psychologists. The patient population is men and women ages 18 and older. Competitive salary and benefits, prior experience not required. Wonderful opportunity for students who might be considering careers in medicine, psychology, or social work. For more information, please contact Hope Kelly at hkelly4@partners.org
Undergraduate Research Opportunity for spring and summer of 2023, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School
Contact information: Mohammad Rashidian, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Assistant Professor of Radiology, Harvard Medical School
Project description and duties: Developing novel cancer therapeutics
Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, however, a significant fraction of patients fail to respond to therapy and may suffer serious side effects. Our lab studies cancer immunology using expertise in chemical biology, molecular biology, and immunology. We are focused on understanding the underlying mechanisms of how the tumor microenvironment is shaped and continuously changed in response to cancer immunotherapies. We aim to develop new and improved diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic tools to detect, diagnose, characterize, treat, and prevent cancer.
Our research aims are: (1) to investigate changes in the tumor microenvironment (TME) in response to treatment; (2) to explore how to reshape the TME to a more pronounced anti-tumor status and develop tools to realize this possibility; and (3) to develop precision therapeutics for cancer. In the long term, our goals are to help better understand the dynamics of immune responses, and to investigate what is behind the heterogeneous response to cancer immunotherapy. These are essential for developing more effective therapies, more effective methods for early detection of cancer, and new prognostic modalities.
Skills required: students with basic biology lab skillsets are encouraged to apply. Students will have the opportunity to work with senior scientists in the lab and be trained for lab techniques.
Learning outcomes: research skills such as study design, data analysis methods, presentations, and scientific writing, as well as lab skillsets such as cell culture, protein engineering, protein expression and purification, ELISA analysis, SDS-PAGE, mass-spec, and western blot analyses, protein labeling, and working with instruments such as FPLC, LC-MS, microscopy and flow cytometry.
Mentoring: senior graduate students and postdocs in the lab will be mentoring students. The PI will have regular monthly meetings with students as well.
Student stipend: positions are volunteer positions, however the PI will work with students to apply for available fellowship programs (HCRP, PRISE, etc.).
Application information: motivated students should contact Dr. Rashidian at mohammad_rashidian@dfci.harvard.edu
November 9, 2022
The Faja Lab Internship Opportunity, Boston Children's Hospital
The Faja Lab within the Labs of Cognitive Neuroscience at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School currently offers a volunteer research internship opportunity for undergraduate students to obtain specialized research skills with children on the autism spectrum.
Students will have the opportunity to contribute research projects that examine the individual differences observed in people on the autism spectrum, evaluate potential physiological and behavioral measures of treatment response, and develop and test novel interventions for people on the autism spectrum. Examples of current NIH-funded projects in the lab include: (1) Evaluating a set of electrophysiological and eye-tracking measures of social change in school-aged children diagnosed with ASD. (2) Using electrophysiological and behavioral measures to investigate the early cognitive development of toddlers and preschoolers. (3) Examining social skills that support the intimate relationships of adults on the autism spectrum.
Undergraduate students will be involved in several aspects of these projects, including, but not limited to data entry and scoring, literature reviews, and recruitment. Students will also have the opportunity to observe and assist with study visits. We encourage our students to deepen their knowledge and research skills by working in depth on a project related to their interests, which may include behavioral coding or electrophysiological processing. As a valued part of this vibrant environment, students will also get to enjoy a variety of professional development opportunities and lectures in addition to experience gained working within the lab.
The Faja Lab is part of a larger research network in the Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience that includes a multidisciplinary team of researchers with expertise in neuroscience, psychology, and education. We are working to expand our knowledge of child development and developmental disorders in collaboration with clinical experts in fields such as developmental pediatrics and child
neurology. Through this comprehensive approach, we aim to drive science forward as rapidly as possible; allowing us to translate what we learn into earlier identification, improved therapies, and better outcomes for children and families affected by developmental disorders.
Requirements
Eligible students must be currently affiliated with an academic program in the Boston area and are expected to commit a minimum of 8-10 hours per week in-person at our lab for two semesters. Students may receive course credit or pursue external funding for financial compensation. For further information about the position please contact FajaLab@childrens.harvard.edu.
To apply, please submit a CV/resume to:
bit.ly/LCN-Application
Student Research Assistant, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine
Luke Messac, MD, PhD, in the Brigham and Women's Department of Emergency Medicine, is seeking an undergraduate research assistant for a paid position. There are a number of projects that this undergraduate could be involved in, depending on timing and the student's interests. Current and prospective projects include:
- Using machine learning and mobile ECG to an develop early warning score in an emergency department in Malawi.
- Assessing whether bedside ultrasound can reliably detect schistosomiasis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension in eastern Sierra Leone
- Using machine learning and retrospective data to attempt to differentiate acute ischemic stroke from acute hemorrhagic stroke in settings where advanced imaging is not available.
- Analyzing a novel national dataset of hospital financial aid policies to prepare a manuscript on the landscape of charity care eligibility in the United States
- Aiding in edits and publicity on a book on the history of medical debt in the United States.
The research assistant will assist with writing grant proposals, collecting and analyzing data, preparing research manuscripts, managing international collaborations, and drafting pieces for popular press outlets.
Applicant requirements:
- Interest in research using both historical and quantitative methods to answer urgent questions in global emergency care and health policy
- Ability to work with diverse teams in multiple locales
- Facility with or interest in learning new skills (e.g. archival research, R programming language, clinical research) relevant to projects
- Reliability, attention to detail and careful written work
Compensation:
- Pay will be $15/hour, up to a maximum of 200 hours.
Interested students should submit a resume and a paragraph describing their interest to Dr. Luke Messac at lmessac@bwh.harvard.edu.
October 31, 2022
Undergraduate Research in Computational Genomics, Walsh lab, BCH
Contact information: Alisa Mo, MD, PhD, Department of Genetics and Genomics, alisa.mo@childrens.harvard.edu, Center for Life Sciences, 3 Blackfan Circle, https://walshlab.org/
Project description and duties: We are looking for an undergraduate student interested in studying the human genetics of autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders. This project builds on prior work in the Walsh lab examining somatic mutations in brain disorders (see https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33432195/ and https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.02.23.481681v1.full). This research will primarily use computational techniques. An ideal candidate would be a sophomore or junior with a strong computational background.
Skills required: Familiarity with programming languages (preferably Python) and statistics. No prior research experience is required. A basic understanding of genetics is preferred.
Learning outcomes: Research skills including study design, data analysis, experimental and computational approaches, scientific presentation and writing
Time commitment: Flexible
Mentoring: Will be mentored by postdoctoral researcher on day-to-day basis, with occasional meetings with PI and the opportunity to present and receive feedback in lab meetings.
Student stipend: This is a volunteer position. Undergrads are encouraged to apply for funding through the Harvard College Research Program (HCRP).
Application information: Interested candidates should email a CV to alisa.mo@childrens.harvard.edu
October 19, 2022
- High school graduate with college credits required
- Active/enrolled college undergraduate required.
- Prefer individuals with science or patient-care background OR interest in science, research and administration
- Highly organized with the ability to take the initiative and manage smaller projects independently.
-
Skills:
- Ability to work independently on projects
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Strong organizational skills
- Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office. Advanced skills preferred
- Ability to multi-task on a daily basis
October 18, 2022
Position title: In-Person Undergraduate Research Opportunity, Dr. Wayne Marasco Lab, DFCI
Contact information: PI: Wayne Marasco. Contact: Matthew Chang, matthewr_chang@dfci.harvard.edu.
The lab is located in the Longwood area in DFCI’s Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology (https://marascolab.dana-farber.org/).
Project description and duties: We have a number of available projects focused on developing novel CAR T cells and checkpoint modulating antibodies for various indications. Additionally, our lab is working on identifying broadly neutralizing influenza and coronavirus antibodies and characterizing the immune response from vaccinated and infected individuals. Students will be responsible for executing experiments and analyzing the results, as well as assisting other lab members to broaden their research experience.
Skills required: No prior research experience is required. Students are expected to commit to the agreed upon schedule, be well organized, have good time management skills, pay careful attention to experimental details, and have excellent communication skills. Students should also have a desire to learn and be self-motivated to carry out their projects. Completion of a general biology course is a plus.
Learning outcomes: Students in the Marasco Lab will gain hands on experience in antibody and/or CAR-T discovery, characterization, and engineering and will have a unique opportunity to contribute to projects headed towards clinical development. They will also have an opportunity to improve their research skills (experimental design and execution, data analysis) and are expected to provide updates and present during group meetings.
Number of hours students are expected to work, length of the project: Time commitments are negotiable, however we recommend 10-20 hrs/week for the academic semester and 40 hrs/week during the summer.
Mentoring: Students will work directly with a postdoc or scientist in our lab and other lab members are available for support as needed. Additional mentorship will be provided by Dr. Marasco. Students are expected to attend and present during group meetings (as their schedule allows).
Student stipend: The Marasco Lab is not able to provide stipends to students, however we are happy to support applications to available undergraduate research fellowships.
Application information: Interested students should submit a resume and a brief paragraph describing their interest in the lab to Matthew Chang (matthewr_chang@dfci.harvard.edu).
September 22, 2022
Metabolism, Harvard Chan School of Public Health, Kory Lab, Posted Sept 22, 2022
Contact information: Nora Kory, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Department of Molecular Metabolism. Email: nkory@hsph.harvard.edu, 655 Huntington Ave, Boston MA 02115
Project description and duties:
The Kory lab in the Department of Molecular Metabolism at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health focuses on mitochondria, critical organelles in metabolism that generate both energy and precursors for biosynthesis. Beyond their metabolic roles, mitochondria are being recognized as important signaling hubs and mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the hallmarks of aging and age-associated diseases including neurodegeneration, cancer, and diabetes. For mitochondria to function properly metabolites must be efficiently exchanged with the rest of the cell in a regulated manner. While metabolites can diffuse through pores in the outer membrane, the inner mitochondrial membrane is impermeable to most metabolites and separates two chemically contrasting environments. We want to understand how mitochondria achieve efficient metabolite exchange and at the same time maintain the unique chemical environment of the mitochondrial matrix.
Our goal is to use mitochondrial transport proteins as tools to interrogate metabolic and signaling pathways to understand how mitochondria perform their multifaceted functions.
Current projects address:
• How is mitochondrial metabolite flux adjusted to proliferative demand and cell function?
• What role does the mitochondrial NAD pool play in the development of aging and age-associated disease?
• How are metabolic processes inside mitochondria, such as TCA cycle, electron transport chain and one-carbon metabolism coordinated with cytosolic metabolism?
• What are the roles of mitochondrial metabolites in metabolic signaling, quality control, communication and regulation of physiology?
• How can dietary modifications be harnessed to improve mitochondrial health in aging?
The student will be working closely with Dr. Kory, postdoctoral fellows and research scientists and in the lab to conduct experiments, prepare reagents, discuss research and analyze and present data.
Skills required: Students with basic biology lab experience motivated to contribute to cutting edge research relevant to human health are encouraged to apply.
Learning outcomes: This position offers a stimulating environment to work closely with an international group of scientists with backgrounds from biochemistry to neuroscience.
Students will learn research skills such as study design, data analysis methods, presentations, and scientific writing, as well as lab skillsets such as cell culture, CRISPR techniques, molecular cloning, protein expression and purification, running SDS-PAGE, mass-spec, and western blot analyses, mouse experiments and working with instruments such as FPLC, LC-MS, microscopy and flow cytometry. The candidate will also gain the possibility for co-authorship on publications.
Number of hours: We require a minimum time commitment of 18 hours per week and enrollment in relevant FAS courses. Priority is given to students who aim to commit to long-term research and perform their thesis research in the lab.
Mentoring: Students will be mentored by Dr. Kory, a postdoctoral fellow and research Scientist in the group. Students can also attend weekly group meetings / talks and can connect with other members of the group. Students will also get regular feedback from Professor Kory and have the opportunity to participate in department events, such as research seminars, retreats and social events.
Student stipend: Students may receive academic credit or a stipend. Students interested in receiving academic credit should reach out to their concentration department or Director of Undergraduate Study for information about registering for the course. Students can receive funding through programs like the Harvard College Research Program (HCRP).
Application information: Please email your resume to Dr. Nora Kory at nkory@hsph.harvard.edu.
Neuroscience research, Orefice Lab at MGH, Posted Sept 22, 2022
The Orefice Lab, located at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), is seeking 2 undergraduate research assistants to participate in ongoing projects exploring somatosensory and viscerosensory neural circuits. Students from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply to this position.
Each student would work with a graduate student or postdoc in the lab. Project A aims to understand how the gut microbiome influences the development of sensory neurons in the gastrointestinal tract. Project B investigates the neural mechanisms underlying altered taste, texture, and feeding behaviors in mouse models for autism spectrum disorder. Students working on these projects would have the opportunity to perform mouse behavior, mouse husbandry, tissue processing, histology, and imaging, as well as various data analysis methods. Prior experience with rodent models is a plus, but is not required.
This position will begin ASAP. Interested students should be willing to commute to MGH (185 Cambridge St, Boston) and to commit to a minimum of 10 hours a week in the lab during the school year. The position is paid hourly. Ideal applicants will be willing to make a long-term commitment to this project (a year or more), provided that the lab is a good fit for the student.
If interested in Project A, please send your CV to Lyuba Bolkhovitinov at lbolkhovitinov@g.harvard.edu.
If interested in Project B, please send your CV to Yao Zhou at yzhou51@mgh.harvard.edu.
If interested in both projects, you may email both individuals. In your email please specify:
- your research interests and why you are interested in joining our laboratory
- why you are interested in Project A and/or B
- your previous research laboratory experience, if any
- current year, major, and courses you may be taking
- the approximate days and times you may be able to work in the lab (e.g., Monday mornings from 8-12pm; Friday afternoons from 12-5pm)
- career or post-graduate plans (if known)
Student training will be tailored to the applicant’s skill set and interests, with the aim of nurturing independence and scientific proficiency. In addition to developing technical lab skills, the student will have the opportunity to enhance their scientific knowledge by participating in lab meetings, journal clubs, and seminars as schedules allow. We are committed to providing a mentorship-focused research environment that will help prepare students for future careers in medicine and biomedical research. Students showing strong dedication may have the opportunity to perform an independent research project. Students who contribute significantly to a research project may be included as co-authors on publications resulting from the project.
The Orefice Lab is committed to building and sustaining an equitable and inclusive laboratory environment, where diversity is celebrated and valued. We believe diversity benefits and enriches the development of our science. We support an environment where lab members of different backgrounds and experiences, including socio-economic origins, nationalities, immigration statuses, races, religions, gender identities or expressions, sexual orientations, genetics, disabilities, ages, and veteran statuses, feel a sense of belonging.
For further questions, please contact lbolkhovitinov@g.harvard.edu and yzhou51@mgh.harvard.edu. For more information on the lab, visit https://www.oreficelab.org/.
September 2, 2022
Research Opportunities for Undergraduates in the Ramanathan Lab
We have been working on human development using human embryonic stem cells. The goal is to recapitulate the morphogenesis of tissues during human development, and use such robust systems to both understand the underlying mechanisms and disease focusing on the central nervous system. The lab has a team of biologists, bioengineers, physicists and applied mathematicians. Part of the lab also works on computational approaches to make inferences from large data sets in order to guide our experiments.
We are looking to recruit and work with undergraduate students in the lab again, now that we are done with COVID! Students in the past have started in our lab their junior year and continued to work on their thesis. All of them have gone on to MD PhD, MD and PhD programs at the best of places.
The most recent papers and sample papers from the lab can be found by following the links below
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.05.10.491358v1
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.05.10.491359v1
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30573831/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30573831/
https://www.cell.com/fulltext/S0092-8674(11)00543-5
Please contact PI Sharad Ramanathan if interested: sharad@cgr.harvard.edu
Remote Undergraduate Research Opportunities in Computational and Systems Biology at Zomorrodi Lab (MGH/HMS)
Contact information:
Ali R. Zomorrodi
Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center
Massachusetts General Hospital for Children
44 Fruit St, Boston, MA 02114
E-mail: azomorrodi@mgh.harvard.edu
Project description and duties:
Zomorrodi lab integrates biological networks, mathematical/statistical/physical models and engineering tools to develop computational mechanistic models of the microbiome and the host. These models are used to advance our understanding of disease pathogenesis and to streamline the design of personalized treatments.
We are recruiting undergraduate researchers to work on a projects
- Integrate metabolic and genetic networks for immune cells
The goal of this project is to construct integrated biological network models for immune cells. More specifically, in this project we will integrate genome-scale computational models of metabolism with gene expression models for macrophages (an important innate immune cell type).
Skills required: Familiarity with a programming language (preferably Python).
- Develop machine learning tools to analyze longitudinal microbiome data
The goal of this project is to develop new machine learning methods that use longitudinal microbiome data to predict disease progression or onset.
Skills required: Familiarity or prior experience in machine learning. Familiarity with a programming language (preferably Python or R).
- Develop statistical tools to analyze longitudinal multi-omics data.
The goal of this project is to develop efficient statistical analysis approaches for the integrated analysis of longitudinal multi-omics data from the human host and microbiome.
Skills required: Background in statistical hypothesis testing and generalized linear models, bility to program in R or Python. This project is rather suitable for stat/biostat majors.
Learning outcomes:
Students will learn how computational simulations and biological network models can be used to address translational problems. More broadly, students gain experience in essential research skills including data analysis, interpretation of results, presentations, and scientific writing.
Time commitment:
Negotiable. The PI is flexible to accommodate students’ schedules or other time demands although students who plan to stay in the lab for longer time periods (two semesters or so) are preferred. These projects can be extended further upon mutual interest.
Mentoring:
Students will be directly mentored by Dr. Zomorrodi and have the opportunity to (remotely) interact with other lab members and attend group meetings. Mentorship Zoom meetings are held once a week on a regular basis.
Student stipend:
These are volunteer research positions. Students are encouraged to apply for undergraduate research fellowships such as HCRP or to register for a research course credit.
Application information:
Interested candidates should email a CV to Dr. Zomorrodi at azomorrodi@mgh.harvard.edu and briefly explain what their interests are. Please use “Remote Undergraduate Research Opportunities” as the subject of your email.
Full-time (30 hrs/week) Funded Research Opportunity, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School
Contact information: Mohammad Rashidian, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Assistant Professor of Radiology, Harvard Medical School
Project description and duties: Developing novel methods to treat cancer
Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, however, a significant fraction of patients fail to respond to therapy and may suffer serious side effects. Our lab studies cancer immunology using expertise in chemical biology, molecular biology, and immunology. We are focused on understanding the underlying mechanisms of how the tumor microenvironment is shaped and continuously changed in response to cancer immunotherapies. We aim to develop new and improved diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic tools to detect, diagnose, characterize, treat, and prevent cancer.
Our research aims are: (1) to develop methods for non-invasive monitoring of immune responses; (2) to investigate changes in the tumor microenvironment (TME) in response to treatment; (3) to explore how to reshape the TME to a more pronounced anti-tumor status and develop tools to realize this possibility; and (4) to develop precision therapeutics for cancer. In the long term, our goals are to help better understand the dynamics of immune responses, and to investigate what is behind the heterogeneous response to cancer immunotherapy. These are essential for developing more effective therapies, more effective methods for early detection of cancer, and new prognostic modalities.
Student stipend: This is a funded position and requires ~30-40 hours of commitment per week, ideal for students who are wrapping up their studies or would like to spend a year working in a lab before applying for graduate studies or MD programs.
Skills required: students with biology lab skillsets are encouraged to apply. Prior experience with mice models is a plus as the job requires working with animal models.
Learning outcomes: research skills such as study design, data analysis methods, presentations, and scientific writing, as well as lab skillsets such as cell culture, protein engineering, protein expression, and purification, ELISA analysis, running SDS-PAGE, mass-spec, and western blot analyses, protein labeling, animal handling, and working with instruments such as FPLC, LC-MS, microscopy, and flow cytometry.
The number of hours students are expected to work, and the length of the project: at least 30 h per week for one year.
Mentoring: senior graduate students and postdocs in the lab will be mentoring students. The PI will have regular weekly meetings with students as well.
Application information: motivated students should contact Dr. Rashidian at mohammad_rashidian@dfci.harvard.edu