Job Description

Preferred Qualifications:

Education:

Senior undergraduate or graduate student (Master’s, MD, or PhD track) in Biomedical Sciences, Molecular Biology, Medicine, or a related field.

Skills & Experience:

Basic laboratory experience in cell biology or molecular techniques.

Familiarity with bioinformatics tools or pathway analysis (e.g., GEO2R, KEGG, Enrichr) is advantageous.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office, and basic statistical or plotting software (GraphPad Prism, R, or SPSS).

Strong written communication skills and attention to scientific detail.

Learning Opportunities:

Gain hands-on experience in translational molecular endocrinology and adrenal tumor biology.

Receive mentorship in manuscript preparation, data analysis, and academic writing.

Exposure to integrative omics approaches and clinical–molecular correlation within a multidisciplinary research team.

Preferred Intern Educational Level

Education Level:

Master’s student (MSc or MPH) or senior undergraduate in biomedical sciences, molecular biology, or medicine.

Alternatively, a medical student (3rd–5th year) with prior research or laboratory experience.

🧠 Core Knowledge Requirements:

Background in molecular or cellular biology, pathophysiology, or endocrinology.

Familiarity with basic laboratory techniques (cell culture, Western blotting, qPCR, IHC) and data interpretation.

Basic understanding of bioinformatics or transcriptomic data analysis is highly desirable.

💻 Technical Skills (preferred but trainable):

Competence in R or Python for data visualization and pathway analysis.

Experience with databases such as GEO or KEGG, and basic statistics (SPSS, GraphPad, or R).

Knowledge of histopathology terminology (APA, MAPN, etc.) is advantageous.

🧩 Research Qualities:

Analytical mindset and attention to detail.

Ability to synthesize multidisciplinary data (molecular, clinical, and imaging).

Strong written and verbal communication skills for figure legends, results summaries, and manuscript support.

🤝 Role in the Project:

Assist in data curation, figure generation, and reference organization.

Participate in validation experiments or literature synthesis.

Support statistical analysis and manuscript preparation.

Skill sets or Qualities

1. Integrative Translational Research Design

Combined clinical phenotyping, histopathology, genomics, and functional assays to link molecular mechanisms with patient outcomes.

Demonstrates the ability to bridge bench-to-bedside research in endocrine oncology.

2. Advanced Histopathologic Classification and Interpretation

Applied the HISTALDO system to stratify adrenal lesions, showing expertise in adrenal pathology and morphologic quantification.

Integrated histology with molecular features to define clinically meaningful subtypes.

3. Molecular and Genetic Profiling Expertise

Performed targeted next-generation sequencing to identify PA- and CS-related driver mutations (KCNJ5, PRKACA, GNAS).

Executed transcriptomic and pathway enrichment analyses (e.g., KEGG) to interpret biological programs at the systems level.

4. Bioinformatics and Data Integration

Synthesized histopathological, transcriptomic, and mutation data to construct a coherent mechanistic model.

Validated findings using public GEO datasets, demonstrating proficiency in secondary data analysis and reproducibility.

5. Functional and Mechanistic Validation

Conducted cell-based assays (HAC15 line) to confirm the causal role of DRD2 signaling in cortisol biosynthesis.

Utilized pharmacologic and genetic perturbation (agonist, antagonist, siRNA) to establish mechanistic causality.

6. Quantitative and Statistical Rigor

Applied appropriate nonparametric tests, correlation analyses, and standardized outcome definitions (PASO consensus).

Ensured methodological reproducibility and statistical transparency.

7. Translational and Clinical Insight

Linked molecular signatures to surgical outcomes and clinical phenotypes, highlighting translational impact.

Proposed dopaminergic signaling as a potential therapeutic target, bridging molecular endocrinology and patient care.

8. Scholarly Writing and Conceptual Synthesis

Demonstrates clear articulation of complex data within a cohesive mechanistic framework.

Balances molecular discovery with clinical interpretation — a hallmark of high-impact translational work.