Externship

Website: www.jax.org
Stipend: No
Housing: provided by Dr. Sundberg

Description of Externship:
I offer opportunities for students at all stages of their career to work in my basic science research laboratory. I require a minimum of one month. Students take part in ongoing research dealing with genetic based skin diseases in laboratory mice. We are mapping and identifying mutated genes in both simple Mendelian genetic models (one gene) or complex polygenic traits. The projects vary constantly depending on funding. I provide room and board in my home. Mentorship grants are available for $3000 from the North American Hair Research Society but need to be applied for in the fall each year. These grants cover travel and room and board plus funds for the research project if any are left. Current studies focus on the complex genetics of alopecia areata (quantitative trait locus analysis, gene microarray, large scale quantitative real time RT PCR, immunohistochem, etc.). This is a cell mediated autoimmune disease that targets anagen (growing) hair follicles. We are also identifying the genes and mechanisms in a variety of inflammatory and noninflammatory based scaly skin diseases (psoriasiform and ichthyosiform dermatoses, respectively). New mutant mice are being created or identified in our large animal facilities. Each are phenotyped (detailed gross and histopathology) and the genetics investigated.

Contact:
Dr. John Sundberg
The Jackson Laboratory
600 Main St.
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
jps@jax.org