Research Internship at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

admin Summer 2018 0 Comment

Hello! My name is Hannah Hilgeman and I am a rising sophomore at Tulane. I am majoring in Cell and Molecular Biology and English with a creative writing concentration. This summer, I will be interning in the Adams Lab at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute located in La Jolla, California. I will be investigating the function of a histone post-translational modification called H4K20me3. It is believed that H4K20me3 functions to stabilize senescence programming in cells, which helps to suppress cancer formation. I will conducting this research through the use of qPCR, a research technique based on the polymerase chain reaction that amplifies a targeted DNA sequence. I am extremely excited to begin research at SBP and to enhance my biological research capabilities. My future goals include enrollment in a MD/PhD cancer biology program and practicing as a pediatric oncologist.

For more information about the Adams Lab, check out the lab’s website: Adams Lab

NCI’s mission details “empowering women by integrating teaching, research, and community engagement.” My internship at SBP allows me to apply what I have learned in my chemistry and cell biology courses this year to cancer-focused research. I will be able to call upon topics covered in lecture at Tulane and apply it in a real-world fashion. The opportunity to engage with experienced scientific researchers allows me to develop meaningful relationships and connections that will benefit me for the rest of my research career. NCI also hopes to empower women to be become leaders in the 21st century. Science is a male-dominated field, and I hope that I will one day become a leader in the field of cancer research, serving as a role model for other women interested in science.

This summer, I plan on achieving five key learning objectives.

  1. Develop stronger biological research techniques
  2. Build upon prior knowledge of cancer biology mechanisms
  3. Gain a comprehensive understanding of my research project
  4. Strengthen interpersonal communication skills
  5. Enhance presentation skills
My internship advisor recommended I familiarize myself with the mechanisms of histones and the 3 Ras genes in human, which transmit signals within cells. I have also been familiarizing myself with the lab’s past work. I cannot wait to begin my internship and conduct biomedical research!

Leave a Reply