Biology Opportunities

This opportunity is brought to you by a Carleton alumnus, Samara Reck-Peterson, PhD ’93. You are welcome to reach out to Swetha Mahesula (smahesula@health.ucsd.edu), Nick Lattal ’24 (nlattal@ucsd.edu), or Samara (sreckpeterson@health.ucsd.edu) with any questions prior to applying. The lab of Dr. Samara Reck-Peterson at Weill Cornell Medicine seeks a motivated and intellectually curious Research Assistant to join our research team for post-baccalaureate studies. The Reck-Peterson lab studies the molecular mechanisms of intracellular transport and how defects in transport lead to neurodevelopmental diseases and neurodegenerative diseases.

Vevo Therapeutics in San Francisco is seeking a talented and motivated Research Associate to join their team. This position is laboratory-based and will require close work with team members to maintain cancer cell lines and support their Mosaic and Validation experiments. We are looking for a candidate that is a dedicated team player, capable of assisting with several projects at once, and one who thrives in a collaborative environment between multiple innovative individuals. Scientists that demonstrate self-motivation and enthusiasm for scientific bench work are strongly encouraged.

In late summer and fall of 2025, Mark McKone is continuing a project on the reproductive biology of prairie asters (genus Symphyotrichum).  Members of this species-rich genus flower at the very end of the season (as late as October), which means that pollination failure due to lack of pollinators is a significant possibility.  We will build on previous results to test hypotheses about whether this late-season flowering is an adaptation to escape insect herbivores that feed in the flower heads.  The role of climate change in shifting aster flowering time will also be examined.  In addition to asters, the team will work on another species of prairie plant (rattlesnake master, Eryngium yuccifolium) that is often attacked by a specialist insect seed predator.  Because this species flowers earlier, we will be able to collect data on this as soon as we start in August.  The research work will involve both field work (as long as plants are in flower) and lab work (to analyze samples collected from the field).  No previous field experience is necessary.  But a willingness to work hard in a collaborative research group is highly valued.  New discoveries are guaranteed! Apply here by 5/7/25!

In light of funding cuts and uncertainty in US graduate programs (including in some cases rescinded offers), the University or British Columbia has reopened their graduate application portal to US citizens for this week only (April 14-18), for a select set of programs: https://www.grad.ubc.ca/us-applicant-week

Currently hiring for summer break work in the biology greenhouse and animal colony. The position will involve feeding and cleaning of bullsnakes and zebrafish as well as plant care and general cleaning/maintenance of the greenhouses.  Prior experience is a plus but not required. Working with bullsnakes and availability for most of the summer is essential for hiring.  Training for bullsnake care will begin spring term prior to the start of summer break.  The summer work continues into a work study position available throughout the 2025/2026 academic year.  Total hours per week to be determined. Please contact Randy Hagen, Bio Greenhouse and Animal Supervisor, by email at rhagen@carleton.edu for an application and more details.

The Lipinski lab’s research is dedicated to understanding how genetic and environmental influences interact in causing common human birth defects, like clefts of the lip and palate. We are recruiting a research intern to our ongoing investigation into the role of DNA methylation in orofacial clefting. Following training the team member will be responsible for conducting animal experiments, tissue dissection and imaging, modified CRISPR/cas9, qPCR, DNA and RNA extraction, and methylome transcriptome data analyses. The successful candidate will also engage our research team and campus collaborators to plan experiments, analyze and interpret data, and prepare research manuscripts.

The American Heart Association has been a pivotal supporter on heart and stroke research nationwide, leading to many lifesaving discoveries. Each year the American heart Association awards medical scholarships established by generous Minnesota donors to enable medical students in pursuing degrees in medicine, science and research.

The Helen and Harold Shapira Undergraduate Scholarship was established in 1969 to assist young men and women pursuing degrees of medicine and science. This $1,000 scholarship award is given annually to an undergraduate student enrolled in a four-year Minnesota college or university and working in a medically related curriculum with potential application to patients with diseases of the heart and blood vessel system. Recipients will be chosen by the Minnesota Scholarship Committee of the American Heart Association, Midwest Affiliate. Successful candidates will be eligible for a renewal of the $1,000 award for a second year provided they maintain satisfactory scholastic progress.

If you have any questions regarding these scholarships, please contact Eric Mens at 952-278-7715 or mwmn.scholarships@heart.org

The Spearman lab at the Medical College of Wisconsin studies single ventricle congenital heart disease using a variety of techniques including cell culture, single cell RNA-seq, and Western Blots, among others. No prior research experience is required and 1:1 mentoring from Dr. Spearman makes this position an ideal opportunity for students who plan to pursue an MD, PhD, or MD/PhD. If you have questions please email Henry Rousseau ’23 (henry@rousseauhome.com) or Dr. Andrew Spearman (ASpearman@childrenswi.org).

The University of Minnesota is looking for exceptional undergraduate students to complete an 11-week intensive research experience designed to provide immersive research training for students interested in a career in academic research/medicine.  Each student will conduct a small, independent research project focused on a scientific question using computational biology. Over the course of the summer, students will attend weekly presentations and meetings. Students will be expected to discuss their research results informally in laboratory and group meetings. A student’s work will be directly supervised by a faculty member or a designated post-doctoral associate working in the laboratory. At the end of the summer, students will present their research to faculty from the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, the Division of Pediatric Epidemiology and Clinical Research, the Division of Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy, and other selected guests.  Students will work up to 40 hours per week; schedules and hours will be arranged with the assigned faculty mentor (or delegate). This is not a clinical shadowing opportunity. 

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Entomology offers a National Science Foundation funded 10 week residential summer research program on plant-insect interactions under the mentorship of Dr. Joe Louis. Submit your letter of application and CV to Dr. Joe Louis (joelouis@unl.edu).