Research Intern

Research Intern – Radiation Oncology

Toro Health Pathways / Cedars-Sinai Postbac Fellowship
Location: Cedars-Sinai Cancer Center
Program Duration: August 25, 2025 – May 20, 2026 (9 months)
Time Commitment: 24 hours/week
Credit-Based Internship (for CSUDH students)

Program Overview

The Toro Health Pathways (THP) Fellowship, hosted by Cedars-Sinai Cancer Center, is a 9-month immersive, for-credit research experience for recent graduates of CSU Dominguez Hills (CSUDH). The program is designed to provide equitable access to hands-on research opportunities in cancer science for students from historically underrepresented backgrounds.

Department Summary

The Radiation Oncology department at Cedars-Sinai advances radiation therapy through innovative techniques and research. Under the mentorship of Dr. Atkins, a physician-scientist specializing in cardio-oncology, interns will explore how cancer treatments impact cardiovascular health using real-world patient data.

Internship Objectives

• Gain foundational knowledge in cardio-oncology and clinical cancer outcomes research

• Learn principles of clinical data collection, cancer staging, and cardiovascular risk factors

• Conduct chart reviews using electronic health records and radiotherapy systems

• Analyze the impact of radiation dose on cardiovascular outcomes

• Develop research communication skills through presentations and poster development

• Work with IRB-approved study: STUDY00003891 (no lab or specimen handling)

Key Responsibilities

• Participate in research design, planning, data collection, and analysis

• Conduct literature reviews to understand research background and scope

• Attend team meetings and weekly check-ins with the mentor

• Use systems such as RedCap, CS-Link, Mosaiq, and Eclipse for data management

• Present findings in a final report and at the THP Culminating Event

Program Timeline

Month 1 (Aug 2025): Orientation, EMR and PHI training, intro to cardio-oncology
Months 2–3: Begin data collection and radiation dose extraction
Months 4–6: Data analysis and team presentations
Months 7–8: Independent research and poster development
Month 9 (Apr–May 2026): Finalize and present research

Ongoing Activities:

• Weekly team meetings and mentor check-ins

• Participation in seminars and networking events

• Continuous data analysis skill-building