Current Tufts student Raissi Siavash the following about being a Summer Intern at Tufts University School of Medicine …
What did you do as an intern at this organization?
I accompanied a professor in protein design research, and was responsible for analyzing DNA and protein data and then identifying potential mutations for improved function. This digital analysis was accompanied with a variety of lab procedures, such as isolating DNA, site-directed mutagenesis, protein modeling, agarose gel electrophoresis, plasmid transformation, and mini/maxi preps. As a result of these efforts, I also helped develop figures for future papers to be ready for publication.
How did you find this internship?
I found this internship through the Tufts Faculty Directory, as I was drawn to my professor’s field of research.
What did you enjoy most about your internship?
In previous research experiences, I was left unsatisfied due to my small role and a lack of ownership in my work, as I did not have a very good understanding of the processes behind my research. But this summer, I appreciated my mentor’s trust and the responsibilities and agency delegated to me, as I had an important role in the project’s development and was able to receive hands-on experience in a laboratory space.
What did you find challenging?
For almost a month, our cells would not grow, and as a result, our research was halted until we could solve the issue. As a result, we constantly had to try new techniques, reagents, and modified procedures, along with reaching out to other professors and published papers. This time helped me realize that when encountering barriers, repetition and efficient communication is crucial to research.
What advice would you offer to someone who wants to make the most of an internship like yours?
Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. When encountering a problem, do your own research first and then ask questions, lots of them.
About the Organization
Tufts University School of Medicine
The Department of Developmental, Molecular & Chemical Biology was formed on July 1, 2013 to integrate the traditional studies of developmental and molecular biology with the innovation of chemical biology to facilitate fundamental understanding of disease processes as well as the development of novel therapeutics. One area of focus is signal transduction mechanisms in development and disease, especially in cancer. Structural biology and structure-based drug development is a second area of strength.
