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 Ashley_Giansanti@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 (University)
A title and brief description (2-3 sentences) of the project on which the student might
work:
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 bench-bedside experience.
The qualifications/previous experience of the ideal student for the project:
The ideal student would be intelligent, assiduous, dependable, and have an interest in
and a demonstrated aptitude for science.
Whether or not you are able to provide funding for the student:
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 Adashi
Potential Projects:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The Caribbean Medical Education System: An Uncertain Future
Osteopathic Medical Education: Separate but not Equal?
Assisted Suicide: Is the Writing on the Wall?
Health Care Fraud and Abuse
The Undocumented Immigrant and the Unaffordable Care Act
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
A title and brief description (2-3 sentences) of the project on which the student might
work:
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.
The qualifications/previous experience of the ideal student for the project :
Student must have at least some neuroscience or biology background.
Whether or not you are able to provide funding for the student:
Yes we have funds 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.