• Job Description

  Req#: HRC1695139

  Overview of Department & Mentor
  Please provide an overview or description of the department, research/administrative area, and PI/Mentor.
  The purpose of this program, Toro Health Pathways/Cedars-Sinai Postbac Fellowship, is to provide post-undergraduates from CSU Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) with a 9-month immersive pre-graduate experience. Cedars-Sinai Cancer Center is the fellowship host of this program, which aims to inspire and prepare recent graduates of CSUDH for professional biomedical careers by offering education in the health priorities of the American public, introduction to diverse professional careers in biomedicine and healthcare settings and mentored fellowships in laboratory sciences, community outreach and engagement, clinical sciences, regenerative medicine, cancer research, population science, and others.

  The researchers in the Department of Urology are dedicated to advancing the field of urology care through research and education. Our researchers evaluate new medications, treatments and technologies that may revolutionize the urological care we can provide patients. The research enterprise at the Jim and Eleanor Randall Department of Surgery has demonstrated remarkable growth over the last decade. Cedars-Sinai has received more than $220 million of external research funding this year with a fivefold increase in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding over the last eight years. This ascent has been aided by strong institutional investments that provided research space, infrastructure and salary support for new investigators.

  The research focus of Dolores Di Vizio, MD, PhD, is mechanism of metastasis of prostate cancer. She employs molecular, cellular, animal and human tissue models to perform molecular and functional analysis of circulating Large Oncosome (LC) in prostate cancer and other tumors. Molecular profiling is based on large scale quantitative LC/LC-MS/MS, and NGS.

  The Di Vizio Laboratory investigates the molecular mechanisms of tumor progression to advanced disease in solid human tumors, with a significant focus on intercellular communication between tumor and stromal cells. Our team is currently profiling the large oncosomes and other EV populations by next generation sequencing and mass spectrometry. The Di Vizio Lab has been continuously funded by the National Cancer Institute and the Department of Defense since 2007.
  Role Summary & Objectives
  Provide a description of overall role, goals, and objectives. This should highlight why this role is coming to CSMC through Academic Programs and how it will be an educational opportunity or foster collaboration. Include specifics of the project, skills, and techniques the candidate will learn, be trained on, or train on.
  Program Objectives:
  1. Increase the diversity of the health professions workforce to eliminate health disparities among our most vulnerable populations.
  2. Inspire post-undergraduate from underrepresented populations to pursue careers in health professions through training, mentorship, and educational and financial support.
  3. Create and strengthen educational partnerships, community support, and workforce preparation efforts between Cedars-Sinai Cancer Center and CSU, Dominguez Hills.
  Under the mentorship of Dr. Di Vizio, the research internship offers students the unique opportunity to join a research team for 9-months.
  1. To be mentored by a researcher who will help guide intern in her research.
  2. Gain an introductory level knowledge in basic research including cell and molecular biology, as well as translational research on biomarker discovery.
  3. Develop skills in scientific data presentation and demonstrate progress in lab meetings.
  4. Network with mentors and peers within Dr. Di Vizio’s team.
  5. Participate in a wide range of campus activities, including lecture and seminar series featuring Principal Investigators and peer networking opportunities.

  Internship Goal & Objectives:
  1. Gain familiarity with extracellular vesicle research and cancer biology research.
  2. Conduct basic research on cell culture models, organoids, and extracellular vesicle isolation .
  3. Summarize research activities in a short intern report.
  4. Collaborate with other members of the team on manuscript preparation for submission to a peer-reviewed journal (based on interest).

  Additional Information:
  ­ The intern will meet with Dr. Di Vizio twice a week. They will also attend UC End Disparities research meetings which occur every two weeks. They will observe the meeting, take personal notes, and assist the mentor with preparing a community grant review process that is funded by this P50.
  ­ The intern will not be working with specimens or samples.
  ­ The intern will not be working with PHI. The intern will help collect and analyze de-identified qualitative data. There may be an opportunity to work with a larger de-identified data set. This would be with the help of biostatisticians and the intern would have more of an observational role. All data would be de-identified.
  ­ Systems the intern will be using include Red-cap, Dedoose, or Atlas.
  ­ Dr. Di Vizio and Dr. Concato will provide training on experimental skills and data analysis, support and examples on how to prepare a poster, and additional training as needed to perform internship tasks.

  Note: CSUDH course ends in December and resumes in January 2025. In November 2024, the department will provide documentation from CSUDH for the spring semester that will end in mid-May 2025 for an extension.

  Role Activities & Timeline.
  Provide a detailed description of the activities that will be completed during this appointment. For interns this should include specific information regarding mentorship and curriculum, including an intended timeline for the activities. If this is a hybrid role, please indicate what activities will be on-site and which will be remote.
  The anticipated timeline for this internship is 9 months:
  1. Meeting with internship mentor to review learning goals and objectives. (month 1)
  2. Orientation to the project team and overview of work area. (month 1)
  3. Initial project team meetings regarding project, project needs, roles and responsibilities. (month 1)
  4. Introduction of technologies and equipment needed for the project. (month 1 and 2)
  5. Supervised research: read manuscript for literature review on cancer-derived extracellular vesicles, data collection, data analysis, lab meeting presentations. (month 2 and month 3)
  6. Supervised research with independent analysis/work: literature review continued, data collection, data analysis, community presentations, and progress summary. (month 4, month 5, month 6, month 7, month 8, month 9)
  7. Weekly scheduled check-ins with supervisor to monitor intern’s progress. (month 1, month 2, month 3, month 4, month 5, month 6, month 7, month 8, month 9)
  8. Creation of intern report. (month 7, month 8, month 9)

  Required Education & Experience
  • Must reside in the greater Los Angeles area or surrounding cities while conducting all activities related to the intern or visitor appointment.
  • Intern: Must enroll in INDICATE THE SEMINAR COURSE HERE for academic credit for two semesters at CSUDH.
  • VISITORS: Must be receiving funding from an eligible sponsoring institution (employer, educator, funder, etc.).
  Preferred Education & Experience
  • Graduated from CSU-DH within the preceding 24 months with a degree in a health-related discipline and with interest in a career in biomedical science and healthcare requiring a professional degree

• About the company

  Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a nonprofit, tertiary, 886-bed hospital and multispecialty academic health science center located in Los Angeles, California.

Notice