Carl Connection: Summer Internship Research Opportunities in Biochemistry and Evolutionary Genetics
Apply by: Friday, March 10
The University of Utah is offering four 9-week summer fellowships with four Carleton alumni. There is one application for all four labs. Please submit a current résumé and cover letter to apply. Indicate in your cover letter your preferred lab(s). You are highly encouraged to reach out to any of the alumni prior to applying with any questions regarding the organization or the position. The program will provide a stipend, travel allowance, and housing with the other participating Carleton students.
These opportunities are funded with the support of Carleton’s Office of the Provost, the Carleton Career Center, and the University of Utah Department of Biochemistry. Candidates belonging to underrepresented populations or disadvantaged backgrounds are encouraged to apply and to note that in their cover letters, see the NIH definitions.
Labs include:
Wes Sundquist ’81, P’16(wes@biochem.utah.edu) – BiochemistryResearch in the Sundquist lab focuses on the molecular and structural biology of retroviruses, with particular emphasis on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
Major projects in the laboratory include characterizing HIV replication and budding, capsid structure, and restriction by innate immune pathways; functions of the cellular ESCRT pathway in mediating and regulating cell division, and designing new proteins that mimic viral functions.
Our approaches include EM, crystallographic, NMR, and computational studies of viral complexes, identification, and biochemical analyses of viral and cellular protein functions.
We also enjoy training new scientists, and our laboratory has trained more than 40 graduate students and postdocs, nearly all of whom have gone on to science positions in academic and industry.
The internship is designed to give an advanced undergraduate biochemistry student the opportunity to experience a graduate research environment and to gain in-depth knowledge in an area of the research conducted in the Sundquist lab.
Matthew Miller ’01(matthew.miller@biochem.utah.edu) – BiochemistryResearch in the Miller lab focuses on how dividing cells ensure that each resulting daughter cell inherits a copy of every chromosome.
Chromosome segregation errors are the leading cause of miscarriages and congenital birth defects and are the most prevalent genetic alteration in tumor cells. Despite this, we know very little about why chromosome segregation is so defective in these circumstances.
Major projects in the laboratory include trying to understand how cell “sense” whether they have made proper attachments of their chromosomes to the mitotic spindle (based on the amount of tension exerted across these attachments) as well as the examining features of the microtubule that are required for appropriate attachments. Our lab takes an interdisciplinary approach, utilizing in vitro reconstitution-based assays combined with yeast genetics and cell biology to understand the macromolecular machines that carry out the process of chromosome segregation.
As a young lab, we very much enjoy training new scientists. The internship is designed to give an advanced undergraduate biochemistry student the opportunity to experience a graduate research environment and to gain in-depth knowledge in an area of the research conducted in the Miller lab.
Greg Ducker ’06 Lab(greg.ducker@biochem.utah.edu) – BiochemistryGregory Ducker ‘06, professor at the University of Utah School of Medicine is interested in talking with students who are interested in an internship in biochemistry. Research in the Ducker lab focuses on molecular changes in metabolism that underlie human disease with an emphasis on liver cancer and diabetes.
Major projects in the laboratory are centered around different aspects of amino acid metabolism broadly defined. They include the role of amino acid-mediated remodeling of lipid head groups in liver tumors, systematic amino acid homeostasis in mice, amino acid storage and metabolism in the liver, transport and uptake of amino acids by cancer cells, and the adult neurobiology of folate metabolism. Our lab centers itself around the application of isotope tracing mass spectrometry to the study of metabolism in cell culture and in vivo, utilizing zebrafish and mice as model organisms. A major component of our analytical work is the integration of CRISPR generated genetically engineered cells and animals with isotope tracing to absolutely validate reaction pathway fluxes. The data analysis is math heavy and involves the calculation of fluxes and turnover to quantify metabolism reactions in vivo. I am a relatively new professor with a small lab that is very focused on quickly advancing our multiple projects. We currently have several graduate students, undergraduates, and technicians who are working together on analytical mass spectrometry, mammalian physiology, and genetic engineering to answer key questions in metabolism. The internship is designed to give an advanced undergraduate biochemistry student the opportunity to experience a graduate research environment and to gain in-depth knowledge in an area of research conducted in the Ducker lab.
Address your cover letter for the Sundquist, Miller, and Ducker lab: University of Utah Department of Biochemistry, 15 N Medical Drive East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
Nels Elde ’95(nelde@genetics.utah.edu) – Evolutionary GeneticsResearch in the Elde lab focuses on interactions between infectious microbes (viruses, bacteria, fungi) and their hosts.
Major projects in the Elde laboratory focus on the consequences of pathogen-driven evolution on cellular processes and host immunity functions. Protein surfaces at these interfaces often evolve in a manner resembling molecular arms races, providing a conspicuous means to investigate mechanisms underlying the process of evolution. The lab uses these approaches to discover new sources of genetic resistance to infectious diseases.
In addition, we are using experimental evolution to determine the evolutionary potential of pathogenic microbes and understand the rules by which they adapt to overwhelm host defenses. These studies are well suited for training in multi-disciplinary approaches to biomedical research.
The lab is in the Department of Human Genetics. The lab currently has several postdocs, graduate students, and technicians who are working together by combining computational, experimental, and genomic analysis to advance our research projects.
The fellowship is designed to give an advanced undergraduate genetics student the opportunity to experience a graduate research environment and to gain in-depth knowledge in an area of research conducted in the Elde lab.
Address your cover letter for the Elde lab: University of Utah Department of Human Genetics Associate Professor of Human Genetics, Bioscience Ph.D. Programs, 26 S 2000 E, HSEB Bldg. 575, Rm 3650, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
The Career Center is happy to provide assistance with the candidate’s application materials. Drop by or schedule an appointment.–
Andrea Kubinski
Recruiting Program Coordinator
Carleton College Career Center
Johnson House 205
Northfield, MN 55057
(507) 222-5511
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