The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (DPLM) at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (CSMC) is one of the nation?s premier academic pathology departments.  The DPLM provides exceptional diagnostic support to help physicians guide patient therapy at CSMC and its affiliated hospitals.  CSMC is ranked by US News and World Reports as one of the top-10 hospitals in the nation (currently ranked #2).

In addition to world-class patient care services, the DPLM has 10 basic and translational research laboratories which study a wide range of biomedical topics including cancer biology, microbiology, renal disease and physiology, immune function, neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration.  Dr. Tourtellotte?s lab is funded by the NIH to study molecular mechanisms regulating neurodevelopment and peripheral and central neurogenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease.  He has mentored many PhD and MD/PhD students who have performed their dissertation research in his lab, and he is actively involved in mentoring undergraduate students, medical students and clinical residents and fellows.

The Intern will join the Student Research Program course (SRP-99).  She will learn general laboratory techniques including molecular biology and histology methods including, but not limited to, DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis and documentation, data acquisition and analysis, histological tissue sectioning, staining of histological tissues, photo microscopy, data presentation, RNA isolation, reverse transcription, and real time PCR.

During in the Course, Intern will be guided by either Dr. Tourtellotte or a faculty mentor (Dr. Lin Li) in the laboratory who will meet and discuss project goals twice per week in-person.  The mentor will follow up and evaluate her performance including the experimental design, procedure, recording and analysis of results.

The typical undergraduate intern will join the lab by enrolling in the Student Research Program course (SRP-99) to learn basic biomedical laboratory research techniques.  The course objectives include:

1. Introduced to the projects of research through meetings with the mentor and independent reading and including laboratory safety and Animal procedure (2 weeks).
2. A project will be planned by the mentor and the intern. The following weeks will be spent completing experiments, initially with the mentor or research associate including learn basic laboratory procedures include protein work, molecular procedures, histological techniques and participate in ongoing research projects. Design and conduct simple research experiments (9 weeks).
3. Data analysis and research presentation (1week).

Required Education & Experience:

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Must have a HS Diploma or GED.
• Must reside in the greater Los Angeles area or surrounding cities while conducting all activities related to the intern appointment.
• INTERNS: Those participating for academic credit must receive academic credit for the duration of the internship.