Research Intern

This role is designed to be 100% onsite, giving you the opportunity to collaborate closely with your team and immerse yourself in the energy of our workplace. Please note that hybrid or remote work options are NOT available for this position at this time.

The laboratory focuses on understanding Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases (PTPs) — a family of enzymes that regulate cellular signaling by removing phosphate groups from tyrosine residues. The team studies their role in the pathology of autoimmune diseases, integrating approaches that range from analyzing human tissue samples to developing cellular and animal models. Additional areas of research include protein structure determination, functional analysis, and the design of therapeutic strategies.

The lab combines a wide range of in-house technical capabilities with collaborations across academic and biopharmaceutical institutions. Over the years, the lab has successfully mentored undergraduate and master’s students, helping them transition into PhD programs and careers in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

The Research Intern will be an active member of the laboratory and will contribute to projects aimed at isolating and characterizing antibodies against tyrosine phosphatases. The intern will:

• Participate in experiments involving subcloning, DNA preparation, protein isolation, and binding assays.
• Learn to perform in vitro binding assays using biolayer interferometry and cell-based functional assays using flow cytometry and other techniques.
• Potentially contribute to antigen/antibody crystallization studies and biochemical/biophysical characterizations of proteins (e.g., catalytic activity, stability, conformation, and oligomerization).
• Engage in ongoing experiments that may lead to publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

This internship provides hands-on experience in molecular and cell biology, protein biochemistry, and laboratory research design. Depending on interest and progress, the intern may also gain exposure to advanced methodologies such as X-ray crystallography, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, microscopy, and gene knock-out/knock-down studies.

Mentorship & Training Structure

The lab has a well-established mentorship system for undergraduate and master’s students.

• The intern will work under the direct supervision of a senior lab member.
• Progress will be reviewed through regular discussions and biweekly presentations to the principal investigator.
• As the internship progresses, the intern will take on increasing levels of independence while continuing to receive close guidance from lab members with relevant expertise.
• The intern will also have opportunities to contribute to manuscript preparation related to their work.

Tentative Project Timeline

• Weeks 1–4: Subcloning and DNA preparation
• Weeks 3–8: Protein isolation and binding affinity determination
• Weeks 5–10: Cellular assays and evaluation of functional efficacy