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An undergraduate research opportunity is currently available with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH) located in Bethesda, Maryland.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) offers a unique training and research environment for basic and clinical neuroscience through a wide range of programs aimed at furthering the professional training and career development of students, health professionals and research scientists. NINDS' mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use the knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological diseases for all people.  

What will I be doing?

The goal of the project is to understand synaptic dysfunction underlying in neurodevelopmental disorders.  The project will focus on the characterization of disease-associated rare variants identified in NMDA receptor genes.  A better understanding of pathogenic variants in neurotransmitter receptor genes (such as NMDA receptor genes) will enlighten our knowledge of brain function and the resulting dysfunction that underlies neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, intellectual disability, and epilepsy.   

You will become a part of a highly collaborative team to help reveal mechanistic understanding of neurotransmitter receptors. Specifically, you will learn how to conduct basic molecular and biochemical techniques including molecular cloning and western blotting.  In addition to conducting experiments using these techniques, you will present findings in lab meetings and in a poster presentation.  

Why should I apply?

You will receive developmental training and practical research experience in a lab setting under the mentorship of highly trained staff researchers.  The hands-on experience that you will be given is to support and encourage your pursuit of professional careers in biomedical research.  You will also have an opportunity to network with others in your field and develop important professional relationships that may help further your career path.  

Where will I be located?

The appointment may be part-time or full-time at NINDS in the Bethesda, Maryland, area.  

Benefits

The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program.  

Nature of Appointment

This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and the National Institute of Health (NIH). Participants do not become employees of NIH, NINDS, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits. 

Connect with ORISE...on the GO! Download the new ORISE GO mobile app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to help you stay engaged, connected, and informed during your ORISE experience and beyond!

Must be an undergraduate enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university and must maintain satisfactory progress in academic coursework, pursuing a bachelor's degree in a discipline related to biomedical studies. 

A complete application consists of:

• Completed Zintellect profile
• Completed Application questions
• Current Resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, and relevant experiences.
• Transcripts/Academic Records - Recent unofficial transcripts or copies of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institutional systems may be submitted to complete the application if a copy of the official transcript is not available at the time of application. Transcripts/Academic Records must include the name of the academic institution, name of the student, completed/in progress coursework, grades and degree expected/awarded.  If you are selected, you will be required to provide a copy of your most recent official transcript before the appointment can start. 
• One Academic or Professional Recommendation - Applicants are required to provide contact information for at least one recommendation in order to submit the application.  Recommenders will be asked to complete a recommendation through the Zintellect system and must complete it before the application is considered complete.  Applications without a completed recommendation will not be reviewed.  The recommendation should address a candidate's academic record, scientific capabilities, personal characteristics, and potential for success.  The recommendation must be submitted through the Zintellect application system. Recommendations submitted via email will not be accepted.   

Note:  All documents must be submitted via Zintellect and must be in English or include an official English translation.  All application components must be received in the system in order to be considered.  Documents must have all social security numbers, student identification numbers, and/or dates of birth removed (blanked out, blackened out, made illegible, etc.) prior to uploading into the application system.  Incomplete applications will not be considered.  Supporting materials must be uploaded as PDF files to ensure the document can be searched by Zintellect's search engine.  Documents sent by email, postal mail, or fax will not be considered.

If you have questions, send an email to NIHprograms@orau.org. Please include the reference code (NIH-NINDS-2024-02) for this opportunity in your email.

• Degree: Currently pursuing a Bachelor's Degree.
• Academic Level(s): Undergraduate Students.
• Discipline(s):
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (16 )