Project details
We currently have two main areas of focus with our research that students could actively participate. 1) We are developing aptamers that specifically target the heart to study and potentially treat heart failure and arrhythmias and 2) we are investigating aptamers that specifically target vascular cells (smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells) to improve drug eluting stent mitigation of neointimal formation.

Both of these projects make significant use of molecular biology, cell-biology culturing primary cells (e.g. human and mouse vascular cells) and induced pluripotent stem cells and animal work with Langendorff heart preparations and light-sheet microscopy. Students will begin with molecular biology that is focused on the SELEX process used to generate RNA aptamers. Molecular biology techniques will include reverse transcription, PCR, in vitro RNA transcription and TRIzol extractions. If these techniques are successfully learned, students will then learn primary cell-culture. These techniques together will enable students to conduct experiments with researchers within Dr. Thiel's laboratory or independently.

Website

Qualifications
Background in biology, minimal bench experience is ok.

Time Commitment
At least 10 hours/week

Compensation
Volunteer
Academic Credit

Start Date
Immediate

Timeline
Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position

How to apply
Contact Dr. Thiel (william-thiel@uiowa.edu)