This year’s 5th annual LaGuardia Undergraduate Research Day will take place on Wednesday, June 1, from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. It will be held both virtually and in-person. Register early! In-person capacity is limited.

The Research Day is an annual event dedicated to promoting and facilitating research experiences for students. This is an opportunity for students to showcase the research they have been working on to the college-wide community. We encourage faculty from all departments to invite their students to participate in poster presentations. All students must have gone through CITI training and submit their certificate with their poster.

Posters will be made available to view from May 25 – May 31. This will give the college community a chance to view the posters and give the committee time to vote for the winners. During the presentation on June 1, both on Zoom and in E-111, students will present their electronic poster in the form of a 3-minute lightning talk.

Student abstract submissions are due April 25.

Please direct all inquiries to the Co-Chairs of the Undergraduate Research Committee M. Anne O’Reilly (moreilly@lagcc.cuny.edu) and Derek Stadler (dstadler@lagcc.cuny.edu).

PRL is a subsidiary of Opentrons Labworks Inc., a leading diagnostic life sciences company based in Long Island City, NY. PRL is led by a team of experts in genetics, clinical diagnostics, and robotics. PRL’s state-of-the-art labs use knowledge and technology licensed from NYU Langone based on research led by world-class geneticist Dr. Jef Boeke. PRL leverages proprietary innovations in automation, sample accessioning, sample processing, and assay sensitivity to enable <24 hour turnaround time with 20% increased sensitivity and <200 ml limit of detection vs benchmark sites. Cost-effective, unmatched capacity, and unparalleled turnaround times PRL implements multiple instruments of top of the line lab robotics working in parallel within a single lab.

PRL is collaborating with LaGuardia and looking for talented and dedicated student interns interested in pursuing science careers in the life sciences sector.

Eligibility:

• Enrolled Students must be US citizens or US permanent residents (including DACA participants), or holders of visas that allow completion of the internship without sponsorship.
• PRL may consider those who have already graduated if they are within a year of graduation, meet all other criteria, and are willing to commit to the program for the full duration of the internship period.
• Students must be at least 18 years of age.
• Students should have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. Students with a GPA under 3.0 may apply but must write an explanation of extenuating circumstances.
• Participants must be able to commit to a 20-25 hours work week for the ten weeks of the program, must commit to the work requirements and are expected to attend and actively engage in all scheduled seminars, events, and activities.

Application Materials:

• Personal Statement: Please explain your interest in participating in the PRL internship program. How does this program fit in your future career goals? What professional and personal skills do you hope to learn during this internship? Note that this program welcomes both scientists and non-scientists; either way, we want to hear about your interest in being a part of the life sciences industry in New York City. Please include a brief description of the type of work you would like to do in your internship; in particular, specify if you would be interested in both business and science track roles. Science majors are encouraged to be open to both types of opportunities if at all possible in order to maximize chances of obtaining an internship (up to 500 words).
• Relevant Courses: Provide a list of any relevant courses you have taken, as well as specific skill sets.
• Transcript / Resume: Provide a copy of your latest academic transcript (unofficial copy is acceptable) and your current resume.
• Optional Video: You have the option (not required) of providing a video of up to 3 minutes expressing the reasons why you are interested in participating in the PRL internship program.
• References: You will need 1-2 people to provide letters of reference for you. You should ask professors, advisors, work supervisors or personal references as long as they aren't family members or friends, and give them plenty of time to submit a reference for you.

*All application materials must be shared via Dropbox links or Google Drive links. Please do not send application as attachments in the email.

Internship Description:

Title: Laboratory Internship

Reports to: Lab Supervisor

Schedule: Flexible; 24/7 days operation During the height of the coronavirus pandemic, a group of leading experts came together to launch the Pandemic Response Lab (PRL) which was announced by NYC’s Mayor De Blasio in August 2020. As New York City reopens, we recognize the need for fast, accurate and widespread testing. Based in Innolabs in Long Island City, PRL is a state of the art high complexity lab dedicated to currently processing COVID-19 tests with results within 24-48 hours and other validated tests in the future. We are currently seeking a Laboratory Internship to join our growing team.

General role: The Laboratory Intern provides support for the clinical laboratory to ensure that clinical operations and special projects are performed in a timely manner.

Responsibilities: Handle specimen plates for running on various automated laboratory protocols. Locate, retrieve, and transport specimens as needed. Store samples in designated storage areas. Handle specimens with utmost consideration to maintaining specimen integrity, safety, easy retrieval, and organization. Provide assistance to Lab Technologists in any area when necessary. Remove and/or discard expired samples from the storage area as required. Maintain a safe and clean workspace at all times. Maintain a well-organized work area with adequate supplies. Maintain documentation of assigned functions as required. Escalate any/all issues or questions through appropriate channels. Escalate any/all issues or questions to a Lead, Supervisor or Manager. Attend department training and meetings and interact in two-way communication to assist in process improvement. Other duties as assigned Basic qualifications: Previous lab work experience, lab automation a plus. Must be enrolled in a physical science degree program. Basic computer skills. Good written and verbal communication. Ability to work in a team environment. Problem solving skills. Sitting, standing, and/or walking for hours.

Advanced qualifications: Familiar with various laboratory automation, especially Opentrons, Tecan, Analytik Jena

Downloads: Program description and company introduction (pdf, 3.6Mb).
Contacts: Dr. Na Xu (nxu@lagcc.cuny.edu).