Research Intern
The Watanabe Lab at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is seeking a highly motivated Research Intern to join our lung cancer biology research program. Our primary interest is to understand the transcriptional and lineage-specific programs that govern lung cancer development. To achieve this, our group utilizes cutting-edge technologies, including single-cell RNA sequencing and ChIP sequencing, to characterize the molecular mechanisms driving tumor plasticity.
Position Structure & Future Trajectory: This internship is an undergraduate position (unpaid, with paid opportunities evaluated on a case-by-case basis). Candidates who demonstrate exceptional bench potential and express a clear interest in transitioning into a full-time, paid Associate Researcher (Research Technician) position upon graduation will be given strong preference.
Candidate Qualifications:
Academic Standing: Candidates must be in their junior undergraduate year, majoring in the biological sciences (or a related discipline).
Career Trajectory: Applicants must have a definitive intent to pursue a PhD or an MD/PhD degree in the future. Please note: We do not consider candidates looking to pursue an MD-only degree, or careers limited to Medical Genetics or Population Sciences.
Technical Experience: No prior experience specific to lung cancer biology is required. However, previous hands-on experience working in a wet laboratory—particularly in foundational molecular biology techniques—is preferred.
Role Responsibilities & Learning Opportunities: The successful candidate will be fully immersed in project workflows intersecting lung development and cancer biology. You will have the opportunity to learn cutting-edge genomics. Primary responsibilities will include executing mammalian cell cultures, performing a wide range of molecular biology assays, and participating in next-generation sequencing (NGS) library preparations. This is an exceptional launchpad for an ambitious student looking to acquire rigorous genomic and bench skills before applying to competitive tier-1 graduate programs.
How to Apply: Interested candidates should submit a single email containing a cover letter (detailing your post-graduation career goals), a current CV, and the names/contact information of 2–3 references directly to Dr. Hideo Watanabe at hideo.watanabe (at) mssm.edu.
Lab Website: https://labs.icahn.mssm.edu/watanabelab/research/