Research Intern (Academic Credit) - Guzman Lab - Department of Neurology - Per Diem (On-site)
About The Position
The Research Internship program provides students and trainees an opportunity to develop basic research skills through exposure to basic, translational, and/or clinical research. The internship typically lasts no more than twelve months and introduces participants to clinical and non-clinical research investigations. Under direct supervision from an assigned Postdoctoral Scientist, senior-level Research Associate, and/or Principal Investigator, the intern receives basic research instruction, orientation to the Institutional Review Board and other Human Subjects courses, and exposure to research practices and techniques. The Neuropathology Core Laboratory and Alzheimer's Disease Brain Bank in the Department of Neurology provide an environment for translational human neuroscience research, integrating human brain banking and neuropathologic characterization with histology, immunohistochemistry, spatial transcriptomics, digital pathology, quantitative image analysis, and molecular data analysis. The lab's research uses human brain tissue to investigate Alzheimer's disease and related neurodegenerative disorders, ALS, tauopathies, epilepsy, neuro-inflammatory disease, and other neurologic conditions. This internship is designed for students interested in medicine, neuroscience, pathology, or biomedical research who want direct exposure to human brain research and experimental neuropathology. Under supervision, the intern will gain experience with brain bank workflows, neuroanatomy, neuropathologic assessment, histology and immunohistochemistry, digital pathology, quantitative image analysis, spatial transcriptomics, and research data analysis. The trainee will learn to integrate morphologic, molecular, spatial, and clinical information to study selective neuronal vulnerability and mechanisms of neurologic disease. The primary objective is educational: to develop practical research skills, scientific reasoning, and an understanding of how human tissue research can contribute to biomarkers, disease mechanisms, and future therapeutic investigation. The planned learning timeline includes foundational training in research compliance, laboratory safety, human brain anatomy, brain banking, tissue preservation, and neuropathologic diagnosis; supervised exposure to brain bank and neuropathology workflows; participation in a supervised experimental neuropathology project; development of image and data analysis skills; and completion of a mentored research or case-based project with a scientific presentation. Opportunities to contribute to abstracts, posters, or manuscripts may be available when appropriate to the trainee's contribution.
Requirements
- Must be 18 years of age or older.
- Must have a high school diploma or GED.
- Must reside in the greater Los Angeles area or surrounding cities while conducting activities related to the intern or visitor appointment.
- Interns participating for academic credit must receive academic credit for the duration of the internship.
Responsibilities
- Complete orientation and foundational training in research compliance, laboratory safety, human brain anatomy, brain banking, tissue preservation, and principles of neuropathologic diagnosis and translational research.
- Participate under supervision in approved brain bank and neuropathology workflows, including neuroanatomic sampling, tissue processing, histology, immunohistochemistry, digital slide review, and organization of de-identified research material.
- Participate in a supervised experimental neuropathology project, which may include immunohistochemistry, quantitative image analysis, literature review, data organization, and introduction to spatial transcriptomics datasets.
- Develop skills in image and data analysis and learn to integrate neuropathology with spatial transcriptomics and other molecular findings.
- Participate in research discussions, interpretation of results, and development of research questions.
- Complete a mentored research or neuropathology case-based project and prepare a scientific presentation describing the question, methods, results, and significance.
- Contribute to abstracts, posters, or manuscripts when appropriate to the trainee's contribution.
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Intern
Education Level
High school or GED
