Summer Assistantship Faculty Sponsor List Summer 2014
Below is a list of Brown faculty who have expressed an interest in working with medical
students this summer. We urge you to contact them early in your application process to
discuss potential collaborations. Please note that that you are not limited to faculty on
this list – you may identify other faculty mentors independently.
All applications and application materials must be submitted electronically as email
attachments to Emily_Green@Brown.edu
no later than noon on February 20, 2014
Samuel C. Dudley Jr., M.D., Ph.D.
Director, Lifespan Cardiovascular Institute
Ruth and Paul Levinger Chair in Medicine
The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
593 Eddy Street, APC 730
Providence, RI 02903
Telephone: (401) 444-5328 (Office)
Fax: (401) 444-4652
Email Address: Samuel_dudley@brown.edu
Project: Student might do a range of basic, translational, or human trials in heart
science. The main focus of the laboratory is to develop new diagnostic tests and
treatments for sudden cardiac death and a form of heart failure where the heart fails to
relax, known as diastolic heart failure. The laboratory has 25 provisional or issued
patents in the area and uses techniques including molecular biophysics, animal
experiments, and human trials. The student could experience a complete benchbedside experience.
The ideal student would be intelligent, assiduous, dependable, and have an interest in
and a demonstrated aptitude for science.
Funding would be available for students with strong qualifications.
Eric Goldlust, MD, PhD, FACEP
Asst Professor, Dept of Emergency Medicine
(401) 261-8479
egoldlust@lifespan.org
Project 1: ED Crowding Surveys: Student would analyze survey results from two
national surveys of ED and hospital practices related to ED crowding. Subsequent
analysis could inform future surveys. Helpful if student has some experience in data
analysis using SPSS, R, or similar software. Should result in at least two articles for
peer-reviewed publication.
Project 2: Effects of an iPhone App on Patient Satisfaction and Empowerment: Student
would survey patients on their satisfaction after ED visits, and analyze results to
determine effects of an iPhone app. Student may also be able to assist in developing
and leading interviews with ED patients as individuals or in groups regarding patient
satisfaction, smartphone use, health literacy and health care needs of the ED
population. Experience and/or interest in survey research, public health, and/or needs
assessment a plus. Has potential for publication.
I do not have funding at this time (but am applying for relevant grants). Also, I may
have projects available for a student with experience in Discrete Event Simulation, to
perform any of several projects with strong publication potential. Prior experience in this
field a must; information on these projects available upon request.
Thomas Roberts
Associate Professor
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Brown University
Biomed Center 205
401-863-3608
Title and description:
Determinants of muscle damage. The project will investigate the mechanical factors that
determine damage and decrease in performance of skeletal muscles, using isolated
muscle preparations.
Student requirements:
The student should have good quantitative and computer skills and be enthusiastic
about musculoskeletal biology.
Funding:
I may be able to provide funding for a student.
Eli Y. Adashi, MD, MS, CPE, FACOG
Professor of Medical Science
Former Dean of Medicine and Biological Sciences
The Warren Alpert School of Medicine
Brown University
eli_adashi@brown.edu
Potential Projects:
1. Assisted Suicide in the US: Past, Present, and Future.
2. The Caribbean Medical Education Enterprise: Challenges and Opportunities
3. Guns Violence: A Role for Medicine?
4. International Medical Graduates: Coming to America?
5. The Sunshine Act: Theory and Practice in Action
6. Fraud and Abuse in the American Health Care System: Incalculable and Incurable?
No specific skills are required. No funding is available other than that which is secured
(e.g. SRA)
Name: Philip A. Gruppuso, MD
Academic Department: Pediatrics (Endocrinology)
Brown University
Division of Pediatric Endocrinology
Rhode Island Hospital
593 Eddy Street
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-444-5504
Title: Cell Signaling in Liver Development and Carcinogenesis
Description: Several projects, all relating to signal transduction in liver, are available.
Our laboratory uses animal models (rodents), liver cell lines and traditional biochemical
approaches as well as genomic and proteomic methods.
Qualifications: An interest in pursuing laboratory research. Prior experience is desirable
but not required.
Funding: This opportunity will qualify for T35 (BTR Program) funding.
Summer Research Assistantships in Emergency Medicine:
http://www.brown.edu/academics/medical/plme/current-students/enrichmentactivities/research-opportunities/summer-research-assistantship-emergenc
Will Fairbrother, PhD.
Associate Professor
MCB Department
Brown University
70 Ship Street, Room 404
LMM Building
Providence, RI
office 401 863-6215
lab 401 863-6329
fax 401 863-9653
skype ID will.fairbrother1
Title: Genome Sequencing in the Clinic
Description:
Whole genome sequencing (WGS) and exome sequencing are increasingly being used
to identify causal alleles in genetic disease. A sequencing experiment is typically
performed on trios (i.e. the patient and the unaffected parents) and typically return tens
or hundreds of potential causal variants. For recessive disorders this will include two
copies of the same loss-of-function alleles or, more commonly, a compound
heterozygote: two different loss-of-function alleles. There could also be a de novo
dominant variant. The problem comes in determining which of the hundreds variations
could be causal. There are certain classes of mutations( e.g. nonsense mutations,
frameshifts, deletions) where the variation will clearly affect the protein coding function
of the gene. However recently we have shown that 1 in 3 variants affect the processing
of the gene, specifically pre-mRNA splicing. Interestingly, certain antibiotics (e.g.
aminoglycosides) function by binding RNA and can sometimes alter splicing events.
These "off-target" interactions can manifest as side effects of drug treatment. Our lab
has developed predictive methods of analyzing variation and also high throughput
splicing assays. We use these assays to identify which disease alleles or clinically
identified variants alter splicing. The high throughput splicing assay will also be used as
a drug screening platform to see if any of these disorders can be reversed by antibiotic
treatment. These research goals form the three projects available to incoming students:
Projects - title, [qualifications]
1) Develop pipeline for predicting mutations in clinical sequencing projects that alter
splicing [programming perl or python, UNIX navigation]
2) Using high throughput splicing assay to identify processing mutations [basic
molecular biology lab skills]
3) Drug screen - identifying compound that reverses splicing defect [basic molecular
biology lab skills, knowledge of basic pharmacology]
Funding: There is a small chance lab funds will be available for this research. However
students should assume they will need to apply in February to receive a $3,500 stipend
from the medical school.
Barbara S. Stonestreet, M.D.
Professor of Pediatrics
The Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Staff Neonatologist
Director, Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship Program
Department of Pediatrics
Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island
101 Dudley Street
Providence, RI 02905
Phone: (401) 274-1122, x 7429
Fax: (401) 453-7571
E-mail: bstonestreet@wihri.org
Project: Brain injury in the fetal and neonatal brain. Students can work on a neonatal
rodent project studying the effects of a new nuclear protein which uniquely becomes a
cytokine when released from the nucleus, HMGB1. They can also study the effects of
cytokines on brain injury in the fetal sheep brain.
Student must have at least some neuroscience or biology background.
Funding available
Sharon Rounds, MD
Professor of Medicine and of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Vascular Research Laboratory
Providence VA Medical Center
830 Chalkstone Ave
Providence, RI 02908
401-457-3010
sharon_rounds@brown.edu
Title of project:
Effect of Acrolein on Lung Endothelial Permeability
Description:
Previous work from our laboratory has demonstrated that cigarette smoke increases
lung vascular permeability and thereby may predispose to the devastating lung injury,
acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We have also found that acrolein, a
component of cigarette smoke alters endothelial cell permeability. The purpose of the
proposed project is to determine if acrolein exerts this effect by altering function of
mitochondria in lung endothelial cells. This project will entail use of cultured lung
endothelial cells to measure morphology, number, and function of mitochondria
exposed to cigarette smoke and/or acrolein.
Ideal Student:
The ideal student would be interested in lung disease, the pathophysiology of ARDS,
and mechanisms of disease. The student should have completed biochemistry and
histology. Undergraduate or other experience in working with cells and basic
understanding of general chemistry (pH, buffers) would be ideal.
Funding:
Funding is available for supplies required for the project.
Joseph Bliss MD, PhD
Department of Pediatrics
Women & Infants Hospital
101 Dudley St.
Providence, RI 02905
401-274-1122 ext. 47484
jbliss@wihri.org
Title: “Effect of Dietary Medium Chain Triglyceride Intake on Colonization of Preterm
Infants with Candida”. This is a pilot clinical trial that will involve screening premature
infants for colonization with the yeast, Candida. Colonized infants will then be enrolled
and given a nutritional supplement to determine whether it is effective in reducing
colonization. Colonization is a risk factor for invasive infection in these infants, so
methods to reduce colonization have translational implications.
The ideal student will have experience with microbiological methods and prior exposure
to clinical research.
Funding for a student is possible but not certain.
Hannah Wei Wu, MD, PhD
Assistant professor of Peadiatrics, Brown Univeristy
Center for International Health Research,
Rhode Island Hospital,
55 Claverick St, Rm 325,
Providence, RI 02903
Tel: 401-444-7963
Email: Haiwei_wu@Brown.edu
hwu@lifespan.org
Recombinant proteins expression and purification of vaccine candidates for
schistosoma japonicum
Interested in public health problems in developing countries; with previous biology lab
experience, easy-going personality, fast learner with strong academic record, pre-med
student preferred
Gideon Koren, MD
Professor of Medicine and Director of the Cardiovascular Research Center
Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University
Coro West, 5th floor
1 Hoppin Street
Providence, RI 02903
401-444-0392
Gideon_Koren@brown.edu
Jean Daley, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery (Research)
Brown University
Middle House 303
Rhode Island Hospital
593 Eddy St.
Providence, RI 02903
401-444-8212
jdaley@lfiespan.org
Excellent summer opportunity for a student, especially for those interested in cardiology,
cardiac surgery, emergency medicine, anesthesia, and/or intensive care medicine. Our
laboratory is studying the origins of fatal heart rhythms that occur after myocardial
infarction, using a model in New Zealand white rabbits. The student will be exposed a
variety of research techniques including continuous ECG monitoring/analysis via
implanted transmitter, embolization of coronary arteries under fluoroscopic guidance,
echocardiography, programmed electrical stimulation of the heart to induce abnormal
rhythms, drug therapy to prevent and treat acute arrhythmias, endotracheal intubation
and anesthesia with continuous monitoring of ECG and arterial pressure, and optical
mapping of abnormal rhythms in isolated hearts. The student will work as a member of
a team to acquire and analyze data to determine mechanisms that underlie the
proarrhythmic changes that occur after myocardial infarction. One of the ongoing
projects examines the effects of aging on the vulnerability to arrhythmias after infarction;
another project examines the effects of genetic vulnerability to arrhythmia (long QT
syndrome) after infarction.
Funding: The student will need to apply for a Summer Assistantship at Brown
University. Interested students should contact Dr. Koren or Dr. Daley to discuss
application for a Summer Assistantship.
Elizabeth McQuaid, PhD, ABPP
Director of Faculty Development, Bradley/Hasbro Children's Research Center, RI
Hospital
Director, Brown Clinical Psychology Training Consortium
Associate Professor (Research), Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior
Alpert Medical School, Brown University
Elizabeth_mcquaid@brown.edu (401)-444-7573
Needs Assessment and Intervention Development for Families affected by Pediatric
Food Allergy
Medical Student research interns will have the opportunity to work on several research
and clinical initiatives related to Pediatric Food Allergy, including Food Allergy Virtual
Environment Simulator (FAVEs) Project, involving design and testing of a Web-Based
and Interactive Environments for Children with Food Allergies, and the Food Allergy
School Transition (FAST) Project, developing an intervention to prepare families of
chidren with food allergies to transition to kindergarten and the broader school
environment. The Food Allergy Research Program is located at Rhode Island Hospital,
in the Bradley-Hasbro Research Center. Our lab has several offices for research
support staff, with dedicated desktop or laptop computers, full internet and phone
access, and all the requisite office supplies and facilities.
Working within the Food Allergy Research lab, the research intern will meet and interact
with a large interdisciplinary team of pediatric food allergy researchers, including clinical
psychologists, allergy specialists, child development and education experts, as well as
other trainees in these areas. Interns will have to opportunity to assist with research
participant recruitment and scheduling, orienting families to research protocols and
conducting research visits, data entry, lab organization, and other tasks integral to
research. Interns will also have opportunities to shadow a pediatric allergist in the
Hasbro Food Allergy clinic. Opportunities are also available within the Childhood
Asthma Research Program and Community Asthma Programs at RIH/Hasbro Children’s
Hospital.
The intern will meet with the primary faculty mentor, Dr. McQuaid, every week to
develop an individual research project and to review progress with relevant literature
review and data processing, and to synthesize this information within the context of the
larger study. Interns will attend weekly lab meetings covering a variety of topics related
to pediatric allergy. Dr. Jandasek will serve as a secondary mentor, providing day-today oversight of activities as well as training and supervision related to the processing
and analysis of data. Emphasis will be placed on opportunities for preparing
presentations for scientific conferences, and/or generating manuscripts for publication.
At the end of the summer, the intern will be expected to have generated a “product”
such as an abstract for conference submission, or manuscript to submit for publication.
Concentration in psychology, biological sciences, or public health. Completion of
research methods and introductory statistics course preferred. Strong organizational
and time management skills, excellent attention to detail, a thorough working knowledge
of MS Office applications, comfort and experience interacting with children and parents
from a variety of cultural backgrounds.
Rebecca Reece
Department of Infectious Disease
1125 N. Main Street
401-350-6194 (pager)
rreece@lifespan.org (best way to contact)
Faculty: Dr. Aadia Rana and Dr. Tim Flanigan
Quantitative Analysis of Barriers to Care among HIV patients in Kumasi Ghana:
This will be a survey study conducted at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in
Kumasi among both general and antenatal HIV clinics as to patients' perceived barriers
to care: such as distance/transportation, cost, disclosure issues, lack of HIV knowledge,
etc. It will be conducted with the help of a Ghanaian medical student who will serve as
translator for the survey.
We will have funding from external grants for this project.
Rebecca Reece
Department of Infectious Disease
1125 N. Main Street
401-350-6194 (pager)
rreece@lifespan.org (best way to contact)
Faculty: Dr. Aadia Rana and Dr. Tim Flanigan
Retrospective Chart Review of 2004 HIV cohort in Kumasi Ghana:
This will be a retrospective 10yr review of the first year that antiretrovirals were available
to HIV infected patients at the HIV clinic at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi
Ghana. Data will be abstracted looking at time to ARV initiation, treatment failure (ie
drug regimen switch), retention to care or LTFU, mortality, etc. We are looking for 1-2
students to help with chart review for this summer, data will be entered into either Excel
or Access so familiarity with either would be helpful.
Students would need to apply for funding through the Summer Assistantship for this
project.
Elizabeth A. Lowenhaupt, MD, FAAP
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior (Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Division
Rhode Island Hospital, 593 Eddy St, POB-122, Providence, RI 02903
(401) 444-3762
elowenhaupt@lifespan.org
"Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Project" - A student could work either at the Rhode
Island Training School ("RITS", our state's only juvenile correctional facility) or more
broadly with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (our state's child welfare
agency) to develop a resource for mental health providers in the community regarding
best practices for treatment for these vulnerable populations. The details of the project
will vary depending on student interest and on current ongoing program development, of
which there are several. There will be a clinical component with time spent getting to
know the patients currently detained or incarcerated at the RITS, as well as the
administrative, advocacy, and possibly academic (i.e. research) components as well.
Students must be interested in working with adolescents and in participating in larger
systems-wide advocacy projects - any experience with either would be welcome. In
addition, students should ideally have participated in the Henrietta Leonard Medical
Student Fellowship Program in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry to some degree during
their first year of medical school. (I'm happy to provide more details about this program
if requested)
Unfortunately, I do not have any funding at this time (although in addition to the Brown
SA application, there are a couple of other potential funding options through the Child
Psychiatry national and regional organizations)
Susan A. Rudders, MD
Assistant Professor, Pediatrics
The Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University
Pediatric Allergist/Immunologist
Hasbro Children’s Hospital/Rhode Island Hospital
593 Eddy Street
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: (401) 444 9879
Fax: (401) 444 2168
Email: srudders@lifespan.org
Clinical predictors of inpatient interventions for food-induced anaphylaxis
Food allergy is the leading cause of anaphylaxis in children. Approximately 10,000 U.S.
children per year are hospitalized with a diagnosis of food allergy, tripling estimates
from less than a decade ago. There is very little published data on the determinants of
hospital admission or inpatient management of food-induced anaphylaxis (FIA). In order
to address these important issues, we will perform a structured chart review of hospital
admissions for FIA. A medical student working on the project will initially assist with the
data abstraction process and data management. One the data has been collected;
he/she will then have the opportunity to help with the data analysis and presentation of
our findings with the opportunity to also conceptualize their own research question that
could be addressed with this data. Medical students involved in this study will be
trained to review the medical records.
No specific previous experience is required but familiarity with medical terminology is
preferred. Preferred candidates would also be interested in pediatrics and/or
allergy/immunology, inquisitive, attentive to detail and independent.
Students should apply for student assistantships (SA) for potential summer funding to
participate in the project.
Lei Wei PhD., MD
Associate Professor
Department of Orthopaedics
Brown Medical School/RIH,
Coro West/402H
1 Hoppin Street, Providence, RI 02903
phone: (401) 793 8384
fax: (401) 793 8360
e-mail: Lei_Wei@brown.edu
Meniscus changes after pasot traumatic osteoarthritis. The project will study how
meniscus changes will affect cartilage
Students should apply for student assistantships (SA) for potential summer
Belinda Borrelli, PhD
Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior
Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine
Coro Building
167 Point Street, Suite 309
Belinda_Borrelli@Brown.edu
Title of Project: Motivating Smokers with Physical Disabilities to Quit Smoking (NIH
funded randomized controlled trial).
Experiences can include: data entry, screening participants, recruiting participants into
the study, structured interviews with participants, and assisting with general research
tasks. Opportunities for assisting with conference presentations is possible.
Qualifications: Familiarity with research; good social and communication skills;
organization, attention to detail, and proficient use of Word and Excel.
Funding: Unclear at this time.
Megan L. Ranney MD MPH
Department of Emergency Medicine
megan_ranney@brown.edu / 401-444-2557
Project One:
Title - Developing an advocacy curriculum regarding gun violence
Description - I am chair of a national committee on Trauma & Injury Prevention, and
have been asked to develop a more detailed educational initiative re: ways that
physicians can deal with gun violence. The student would assist with collating literature
and developing both online and in-person resources regarding gun violence. Possible
projects could include creating presentations (e.g. Prezis, webinars); helping to
disseminate screening tools; helping to collate lists of resources; liaising with local and
national staff.
Project Two:
Title - "iDove -- A text-message-based depression prevention intervention for high risk
teens"
Description - I am in the midst of an NIH-funded grant to develop a text-message-based
depression prevention intervention. The student would have the opportunity to get
involved with the iterative refinement of the intervention. Roles would include recruiting
high-risk teens in the ED, helping to arrange follow-up, participating in qualitative
interviews, transcribing interviews, and altering the intervention based on the interviews.
Qualificatons: A strong interest in and commitment to public health is the primary
qualification. Additional necessary skills include attention to detail, good interpersonal
skills, and the ability to deal with a variety of unpredictable situations (particularly for
project 2). Desired but (not *necessary*) attributes include experience with medical
literature searches, article authorship, qualitative analysis/user-centered-design, and/or
advocacy. I will ask potential students to send me a resume/CV as well as a writing
sample and two references.
Funding: Not available for either project
John Lafleur
Department of Emergency Medicine
Miriam Hospital
164 Summit Ave. 02906
401 639 2072; johnelafleur@gmail.com
Quorum Quenching Enzymes in Pseudomonas UTI and Catheter-Associated UT
Many bacteria employ chemical signalling to coordinate the expression of virulence and
biofilm formation—this is a major problem in patients with urinary catheters. In the
context of growing antibiotic resistance, findings ways to limit the expression of bacterial
virulence/biofilm formation (rather than killing the bacteria outright) is an increasingly
attractive idea.
This project aims to assess the role of urinary catheters in modulating the gene
expression of Pseudomonas clinical UTI isolates, and the role in preventing infection, if
any, of a native anti-virulence enzyme known as paraoxonase which is normally
released into human urine.
Subject enrollment, sample collection, and lab processing of samples is being
conducted at RIH.
I would welcome a medical student to participate in this research over the summer. The
student would be involved in all phases of the work including subject enrollment and
sample collection (we do have a research assistant who does most of this), and working
with the samples in the lab. This will involve molecular biology/microbiology techniques
including culturing clinical UTI strains, learning how to perform and analyze gene
expression studies on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and performing western blots to
measure paraoxonas1 in urine samples.
The ideal student is very interested in these issues—this is the only absolute
requirement.
I do not have funding available; stipend for the summers work would need to be
obtained through application for a ‘Summer Assistantship’
Name: Jeffrey Riese, MD and Brian Alverson, MD
Department: Pediatrics
Address: 593 Eddy Street, Rm 223 Multiphasic Bldg., Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-444-7396
Email: jriese@lifespan.org or balverson@lifespan.org
Project Title: “High-flow nasal cannula use in patients hospitalized with bronchiolitis”
Description: To study the use of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in bronchiolitis and its
impact on intensive care unit admission, need for endotracheal intubation, hospital
length of stay, and hospital cost. In order to achieve this goal, we will perform an
administrative database search and retrospective chart review over the time periods
including before HFNC was introduced at Hasbro Chidren's Hospital, when HFNC was
initiated in the Pediatric ICU and when HFNC was approved to be initiated and used on
the general pediatric wards.
Student prerequisites: No specific previous research experience required for this
retrospective chart review. The ideal student will be enthusiastic, thoughtful, and one
who is interested in learning more about inpatient care of children. Students
considering a career in pediatrics are encouraged to apply. We will also provide some
experience on the general wards and background education for the student as a way of
clarifying the nature of the research question.
Funding: We do not have funding support for this project, the student will need to apply
for the Scholarship from Brown.
Katherine M. Sharkey, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry & Human Behavior
EP Bradley Hospital Sleep and Chronobiology Laboratory
300 Duncan Drive
Providence, RI 02906
tel: 401-421-9440
fax: 401-453-3578
katherine_sharkey@brown.edu
Title: Perinatal Sleep and Mood
We have two projects related to perinatal sleep and depressive and anxiety disorders.
The first is a prospective study of the effects of sleep and genetics on mood during the
perinatal period. Participants are women with a history of a mood disorder (major
depressive disorder or bipolar disorder) who are studied during pregnancy and in the
postpartum period. Sleep is recorded for one week using wrist actigraphy at several
time points during the perinatal period. Participants provide DNA samples for
genotyping and saliva samples for circadian phase assessment with melatonin. The
second study is a pilot clinical trial of a sleep and circadian rhythm intervention to
improve sleep and mood in pregnant women with depression. The student would
participate in visits with participants, recruiting participants, scoring sleep data. There
are several projects that could emanate from this data set.
Previous experience in sleep research or women's health would be ideal.
Funding through the lab may be available but student should still apply for SA funding.
Daphne Koinis Mitchell, Ph.D
Associate Professor (Research), Dept of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, Brown Medical
School
Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Research), Brown Medical School
Director, Community Asthma Program, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence RI
dkoinismitchell@lifespan.org
Project NAPS: Nocturnal Asthma and Performance in School. Principal Investigator:
Daphne Koinis Mitchell, PhD, Associate professor (research), Dept of Psychiatry &
Human Behavior, Brown Medical School. NAPS is a longitudinal, multimethod study
examining asthma, sleep and school outcomes in inner city minority children between 79 years of age. An ancillary study, “Asthma and Physical Activity in Urban Children:
Cultural and Contextual Factors” (Koinis Mitchell and Jelalian, PId) is also under way.
Involvement will include assisting with research participant recruitment and scheduling,
administering questionnaires to youth with asthma and their parents, piloting physical
activity and exercise challenge protocols, study tracking setup and documentation, data
entry, lab organization, and other tasks integral to research. Summer interns also will
assist with asthma education activities at a local week-long summer camp for children
with asthma. Opportunities to be involved in preparing a manuscript for publication may
also be available.
Strong organizational and time management skills, excellent attention to detail, a
thorough working knowledge of MS Office applications, comfort and experience
interacting with children and parents from a variety of cultural backgrounds. Spanish
fluency is a plus, though it is not required.
No funding is available.
Elizabeth McQuaid, PhD
Director of Faculty Development, Bradley/Hasbro Children's Research Center, RI
Hospital
Director, Brown Clinical Psychology Training Consortium
Associate Professor (Research)
Alpert Medical School, Brown University
Project ARC: Asthma Management Across the High School Transition. Involvement in
this study will include scheduling and assisting with research sessions, administering
questionnaires to youth with asthma and their parents, data entry, lab organization, and
other tasks integral to research. Summer interns also will assist with asthma education
activities at a local week-long summer camp for children with asthma.
Strong organizational and time management skills, excellent attention to detail, a
thorough working knowledge of MS Office applications, comfort and experience
interacting with children and parents from a variety of cultural backgrounds. Spanish
fluency is a plus, though it is not required.
No funding is available.
Thomas O’Toole, MD, Professor of Medicine, Alpert Medical School
Providence VA Medical Center
830 Chalkstone Avenue, T-34
Providence, RI 02908
p: (401) 273-7100 x6266
f: (401) 457-1482
e: thomas.o’toole@va.gov
Title: Evaluating the needs of homeless Veterans.
Description: The student will work with the research and medical teams to formulate
data-driven responses to the needs of homeless Veterans. This will include an
introduction to research processes as well as clinical exposures. The student will design
project aimed towards describing or improving care for homeless and other vulnerable
Veteran groups.
The “ideal” student will be instrinically motivated to care for disadvantaged groups,
sensitive to Veteran needs, and willing to be immersed in care models for special
populations. It is helpful if the student has an open-minded goal for his/her summer
opportunity or is willing to be mentored on research objectives/deliverables.
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide funding.
Birju Shah and Jim Padbury, M.D.
Women and Infants’ Hospital of Rhode Island
Department of Pediatrics/Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
Kilguss Research Institute, Research Office Suite # 203
200 Chestnut Street, Providence RI 02903
401-274-1122 x 48016
bshah@wihri.org
Inter-alpha inhibitor protein as an early neonatal and Perinatal biomarker for systemic
inflammatory response syndrome
Our laboratory has shown previously that circulating levels of inter-alpha inhibitor
protein (IAIP) in plasma decrease significantly during adult and neonatal sepsis as well
as necrotizing enterocolitis. We have also demonstrated the beneficial effects of IAIP
replacement therapy in experimental mice model of neonatal sepsis.
In our current clinical translational project, we are investigating IAIP as a neonatal
biomarker that can differentiate necrotizing enterocolitis from spontaneous intestinal
perforation and matched controls and also as a Perinatal biomarker of chorioamnionitis.
Therefore, we are collecting plasma or serum from residual blood samples from infants
at Women and Infants’ Hospital. We are also collecting clinical data for these infants
from electronic health care records.
Desired qualifications: Basic computer skills (MS office), prior wet lab exposure would
be beneficial but not necessary.
Plans for mentoring:
1. Regular meetings and ongoing evaluation of the project
2. Analysis and discussion of results
3. Hands-on laboratory experience dealing with human samples
4. Participation in poster presentation and manuscript writing
5. Attendance at Friday research colloquium conferences
6. Presentation at laboratory meeting
Maria D. Mileno, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Department of Medicine, Infectious Disease
Director of Travel Medicine
The Miriam Hospital
164 Summit Avenue
Providence, RI 02906
401-793-4620
mmileno@lifespan.org
I have developed a survey that would require a research assistant to ask travelers who
seek pretravel advice whether they would consent to us calling them a few weeks after
their trip to report on how things went. The student would stay in travel clinic during our
office hours obtaining signed consent forms and organizing a call back schedule. They
will also make some of the phone calls to the travelers to complete the 10 minute phone
survey. We need to recruit about 400 individuals to have powerful data.
I need someone who is organized, meticulous with data and follow through, personable
and available. I promise they will enjoy talking to travelers! They will be included as
authors on publications.
I can provide funding.
Scott Hewitt, MA, CPEHR
Project Manager
Brown Primary Care Transformation Initiative
Teaching Associate
Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Phone: 401-729-2818
Fax: 401-729-2923
scott_hewitt@brown.edu
The Brown Primary Care Transformation Initiative, based out of the Dept. of Family
Medicine of Brown Univ. and Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island has opportunities for
students this summer. We are looking for students interested in primary care and health
care reform to provide assistance in collecting, curating, and analyzing quantitative and
qualitative data on primary care practices that are implementing the Patient Centered
Medical Home of model of care. Students will also assist Practice Transformation
Facilitators and they directly engage practices to facilitate the implementation of the
model. Ideally, candidates will be comfortable with Microsoft Office and interacting with
physicians, medical staff, and patients in the practice setting.
We anticipate being able to provide some funding.
Pamela C. High, MD
Professor of Pediatrics (Clinical)
W Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Director, Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics
Hasbro Children's/Rhode Island Hospital
593 Eddy Street
Providence, RI 02903
phigh@lifespan.org
Tel (401) 444-5440, Fax (401) 444-8488
I am working with Dr. Marsha VanVleet, director of the newborn nursery at Women and
Infant and Dr. Luisa Cala Cala, a fellow in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics on a
study that I think would be of great interest to a Spanish-English fluent student. We
have created two educational interventions for new mothers and we will be testing them
beginning in February and continuing through the summer. One intervention is a
bilingual DVD, bilingual booklet and bilingual children’s book that promotes parent child
interactions and focuses on reading with young children. The second is a bilingual
video and booklet that teaching parents that many young infants can be fussy and
supports them in learning to calm their babies and take care of their own needs. We will
enroll 400 new mothers who are fluent in either Spanish or English and are insured
through Medicaid into one of these two interventions. Each intervention group will serve
as the control group for the other intervention. We will have follow-up telephone
interview conducted when babies are 2-4 months and 5-6 months old.
Interested students could assist in enrollment, interview parents in follow-up, enter data
into a spread sheet, participate in data analysis and presentation and/or help prepare
papers for publication.
We do not currently have external funding for this project, so a talented and interested
student would be a great addition to our team.
Dr. Colleen Kelly
Colleen_r_kelly@brown.edu
The Miriam Hospital
Women’s Medicine Collaborative
146 W River St Providence, RI 02904
Research assistant, 10 hours/week
NIH-funded study of fecal transplant for recurrent C. difficile infection. It will be
conducted over 1.5 years. Under the supervision of Dr. Colleen Kelly (PI) and Joyce
McKenney (Research Manager), the research assistant will interview patients to gather
information, make phone calls to research participants, book follow up visits for
subjects, prepare and maintain study records, enter data into the study-database,
prepare study materials, and transport specimens to the research laboratory.
Qualified applicants will be able to work at least 3 days per week and have excellent
organizational skills. Training in working with human research participants and
protection of human subjects will be provided and is mandatory.