Intern, Research

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit organization providing adult cancer treatment and groundbreaking research focused on cancer and infectious diseases. Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington.

 

With a track record of global leadership in bone marrow transplantation, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunotherapy and COVID-19 vaccines, Fred Hutch has earned a reputation as one of the world’s leading cancer, infectious disease and biomedical research centers. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services, and network affiliations with hospitals in five states. Together, our fully integrated research and clinical care teams seek to discover new cures to the world’s deadliest diseases and make life beyond cancer a reality.

 

At Fred Hutch we value collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity and respect. Our mission is directly tied to the humanity, dignity and inherent value of each employee, patient, community member and supporter. Our commitment to learning across our differences and similarities make us stronger. We seek employees who bring different and innovative ways of seeing the world and solving problems.

 

The Adeyemi Lab is seeking one part-time paid Research Intern from Biology, Biochemistry, Bio-Engineering or related fields of study to help support ongoing research in the discovery of genes involved in PARP inhibitor resistance.

 

The Adeyemi Lab (https://research.fredhutch.org/adeyemi/en.html) at Fred Hutch studies how cells repair DNA damage. We utilize clinically approved DNA damaging agents such as cisplatin, hydroxyurea, and PARP inhibitors to leverage different aspects of DNA repair pathways. Recently, we have conducted a pan genome (12,000 genes) screen for genes involved with PARP inhibitor resistance in cells that lack BRCA1. Our screen has identified 260+ genes (70 selected for validation) that confer resistance and are involved in diverse cellular processes spanning novel DNA repair enzymes, metabolism, autophagy, and ubiquitination. We are looking for undergraduates with a long-term dedication to research to help characterize and validate these hits. A minimum of 2 years of research time is required to develop laboratory skills and independence. As such, we strongly prefer sophomores/juniors or seniors pursuing a gap year. Authorship is expected as a result of this long-term project.

 

For context, BRCA1 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRCA1) is a gene that regulates double-strand DNA break repair and deficiency in BRCA1 is implicated in increased risk of numerous cancers such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and prostate cancer. PARP inhibitors block single-strand DNA repair and can lead to PARP trapping on DNA leading to replication stress. In cells that lack BRCA1 (deficient in dsDNA repair) and treated with PARP inhibitors (blocking ssDNA repair), cells die from the combined defects in DNA repair, a concept called synthetic lethality. However, patients treated with PARP inhibitors eventually develop resistance and the full understanding of this process is unknown. Undergraduate students will also be expected to help out with lab chores such as making solutions, though this will be a minority of time in lab.

• Help lab members with routine lab chores (e.g. making solutions, restocking supplies)
• Develop technical skills with 1:1 mentorship in techniques such as cloning, mammalian cell culture, protein expression, protein analysis, microscopy imaging, and DNA damage analysis
• Analyze data and present results in publication grade format
• Design and propose experiments to progress independent projects
• Attend and present at weekly lab meeting

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Currently enrolled as undergraduate in a four-year university
• Pursuing major in Bio-Engineering
• Excited about impactful research in the basic sciences
• In-person attendance at Fred Hutch is required, remote work is not available

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Prefer applicants with prior lab experience
• Prefer applicants with background knowledge in molecular biology techniques
• Prefer applicants with a long-term interest in graduate school or medical school

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The hourly pay range for this position is from $21.30 to $30.13 and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications.

 

Although Fred Hutch is not sponsoring most H-1B visas at this time, candidates who already hold an H-1B sponsored by another organization and are currently in the U.S. may be eligible for this position.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center offers employees access to a retirement savings plan, an employee assistance program, paid sick leave (1 hour for every 30 hours worked), and prorated paid holidays (up to 13 days per year).

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, disability (physical or mental), marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, political ideology, or membership in any other legally protected class. We desire priority referrals of protected veterans. If due to a disability you need assistance/and or a reasonable accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to Human Resources at hrops@fredhutch.org or by calling 206-667-4700.