Submitted by Meghan Megowan on Wed, 05/03/2023 - 20:21

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Institution: 
Oregon State University
Mentor: 
Gerald Presley
Internship Location: 
In-person, OSU
Internship Term: 
Summer 2023
Full time/Part Time: 
Full-Time
Status: 
Closed
Academic Majors Sought: 
Any
Academic Level Sought: 
Undergraduate - Any
Introduction: 

We are initiating a research project to investigate the chemical and biophysical basis of UV light tolerance in Aureobasidium yeasts and other dark pigmented fungi. These pigmented yeasts are commonly found growing in polysaccharide-rich biofilms on building products or inorganic substrates in nature where they are often exposed to large temperature fluctuations and high levels of ultraviolet light. Despite the harsh conditions these fungi are able to survive and prevent their DNA from degrading in the presence of high levels of ultraviolet radiation. They are utilizing a combination of fungal polysaccharides and melanins to protect themselves, but the biophysical associations these components make with one another to form a protective matrix is not known. Understanding how this biological system functions to protect these microbes from high levels of UV radiation can help inform bio-inspired protective films that could be used for the protective of equipment and personnel involved in space exploration.

Position Description: 

The objective of this internship is to help identify the chemical and biophysical basis for UV tolerance in dark pigmented fungi. The intern will do this by using a combination of analytical and microscopic techniques to analyze the physical associations melanins share with the fungal cell wall and polysaccharide sheath. The intern will gain competency in a variety of common laboratory techniques in microbiology and analytical chemistry. These include aseptic technique, fungal culture isolation, making microbiological media, DNA extraction, chemical extraction of cell cultures, various types of chromatography, light microscopy and electron microscopy.

Position Responsibilities: 

This is a full-time, 10-week internship for 40 hrs per week for a total of 400 hours. The work will be done principally in the laboratory in person. The intern will be responsible for planning, preparing, and executing experiments toward the completion of the above objective in consultation with the P.I. and laboratory manager. The intern will be expected to keep detailed laboratory notes and learn common methodologies for data management and analysis. The intern will maintain a regular work schedule so the PI and supervising scientists will know when to expect the intern to be present in the lab. The intern will be expected to report to the PI with monthly progress reports that include data summaries and a description of research activities. The intern will be expected to present their research to the P.I.’s laboratory group at least once during the internship. The intern will synthesize data and compile methods into a final report presented to the P.I. at the end of the internship period.

Required/Preferred Qualifications: 

Undergraduate student with at least 1 year of courses (sophomore or higher). Background in biology and or chemistry would be helpful but is not required. No prior laboratory experience is required.

Cover Letter Dropbox: 
https://oregonstate.app.box.com/f/c4c96c9e7eca483fb262113231d4e73e