The main research of the lab focuses on the interaction of psychological states with the immune system in ovarian and cervical cancer patients and in older adults. The work that is done is part of several grants from the National Institutes of Health examining interrelationships between stress, immune function and tumor growth factors. The patient populations we work with are ovarian, cervical, and breast cancer patients.

The role of undergraduates in our research:

We rely on undergraduate research assistants for many of the most critical activities in the laboratory. Undergraduate research assistants are needed to help conduct immune assays, help recruit cancer patients and older adults to our studies, do follow-ups on patients, and interview patients. You also earn course credit for working in the lab. Students get 3 hours of course credit for working approximately 9 hours a week in the lab.

Duties of undergraduate research assistants:

Undergraduate research assistants are involved in the lab in various ways. We are looking for at least two people who will be trained to work in an immunology lab to do specific immune assays. Much of this work is done in the afternoon (after 2:30 pm) and evening (5 pm-10pm). If you have worked with either cell culture or micropippettes it is a great bonus, but not necessary. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is pre-med.

We will also be conducting a study of breast cancer survivors and will need a student to help with recruitment, follow-up, and data management for this study. This will require someone with excellent people skills.

We have lab meetings every other week where we discuss relevant articles, research issues, and concepts related to health psychology and specifically interactions between the brain and the immune system.

What an undergraduate can learn from this experience:

Students learn how research is actually conducted, the theory behind our research, how studies are presented at conferences, how grants are written, how to do specific immune assays, and important interviewing and computer skills.

Requirements:

In general, students must have a 3.0 GPA to work in the lab. Some coursework in biology or biochemistry is preferable, particularly if you are involved in activities in the immune lab. Students should be highly motivated and capable of independent work.

I’m happy to answer questions.

Interested?

Send e-mail to susan-lutgendorf@uiowa.edu

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