Studies of leukemia to uncover new therapeutic targets
Hilde Schjerven, Professor
UC San Francisco
Applications for Spring 2025 are closed for this project.
The Schjerven Lab at UCSF studies the transcription factor Ikaros (encoded by the Ikzf1 gene) and its different biological roles in immune cell development and disease. Ikaros is an important tumor suppressor in B-cell lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and we have multiple projects in our lab to study how Ikaros acts as a tumor suppressor, and how downstream target genes of Ikaros provides growth advantage to the leukemic cells. Some of the sub projects involved bioinformatics analysis of RNA-seq data. Students with knowledge and interest in bioinformatics are encouraged to reach out. The overall goal is to increase our understanding of these mechanisms to uncover new therapeutic targets.
Role: In general, the student will learn and perform laboratory research techniques and methods relevant to the project, and the extent of repertoire of methods the student will learn, will depend on time spent, skillsets and learning curve.
The undergraduate student will learn and perform molecular biology techniques such as for example PCR, plasmid cloning, western or microscopy. We use the technique of CRISPRi for many of our leukemia projects to specifically test the function of a target gene of interest. The student will also learn about and perform mouse husbandry and colony maintenance, how to process cells and analyze cells using different techniques, including flow cytometry for single cell analysis of cell populations. Additionally, the student will learn general laboratory tasks, literature research, flow cytometry, scientific data analysis, figure preparation and presentation of research project. As mentioned above, there might also be opportunities to analyze RNA-seq data for students with bioinformatics knowledge.
Qualifications: Ability to travel to UCSF Parnassus campus 1-2 times per week (hours are to be negotiated, but realistic range from 9 hours per week and up). Interest in working with mice. Interest and some completed or ongoing coursework in molecular biology, cellular biology, developmental biology, immunology or related topics. Interest in a career in laboratory biomedical research, strong sense of responsibility, integrity, organized and self-motivated. We are positive to students who have interest in continuing in the lab over more than one semester, and who are considering pursuing a Ph.D. degree in the future.
We will interview interested students (Zoom) and we will ask for additional information (including list of relevant classes taken) at time of invite to interview.
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Amrita Palaria, Post-Doc
Hours: to be negotiated
Off-Campus Research Site: UCSF Parnassus campus (on site, in lab), accessible by N-Judah and MUNI busses #6 and 43. University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) 513 Parnassus Ave, MSB-S1479 San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
Related website: https://schjervenlab.ucsf.edu
Related website: https://bms.ucsf.edu/people/hilde-schjerven-phd