Students interested in Laboratory research typically work with a mentor in the Integrated Research & Development Laboratory (IRDL) on projects that explore relationships or association between the cause of disease and current medical practice with the goal to enhance a better understanding of a disease or disorder. In addition to the independent project, students may have the opportunity to be involved with other projects which are undertaken with external collaborators in the industry and academia that focus on molecular biology, genetics, virology, microbiology and immunology.
IRDL SRIP Project Summer 2025
IRDL researchers will be offering one project for the 2026 summer session.
1) Molecular Approaches to Tick-Borne Disease Ecology
Project Overview:
The Tick Inventory via Citizen Science (TICS) is a surveillance network for ticks and their pathogens that is entering its third year. The research team are currently adding more molecular techniques to our portfolio, including quantitative PCR pathogen detection and microbiome sequencing.
Primary research question: Where and when are ticks most likely to be carrying a pathogen? How does genetic diversity in the environmental reservoir of disease compare to what is observed in patients?
The intern will assist with general TICS operations, including making and distributing kits, attending outreach events, tick species identification, DNA extraction from ticks, and pathogen testing of ticks. The intern will assist on quantitative real-time PCR and next-gen sequencing. They will also lead their own project either investigating the use of a new molecular technique on these specimens or analyzing data generated by their efforts in pathogen testing. The intern will have to opportunity to shadow our sequencing team and learn how to use an Illumina MiSeq. We can also teach bioinformatics analysis. The intern will also have to opportunity to learn about citizen science and interact directly with the public at events such as the Wisconsin Farm Technology Days.
Requirements:
Students need to have laboratory experience as well as experience with the Microsoft Office Suite. Experience using micropipettes and sterile technique is appreciated but not required. Undergraduate sophomores, juniors, and seniors and graduate students who are engaged in the following areas are strongly encouraged to apply for this project: biology, wildlife ecology, genetics, or microbiology. Students will be performing literature reviews, analyzing/collecting data, attending seminars, and project related community outreach. This project is an in-person internship.
Friendly reminder, the internship is a competitive process with an application, copy of transcripts, resume or CV, personal statement, and two academic or research references. See Frequently Asked Questions for additional details.
Application window for the summer of 2026 is now open and will close Feb. 6, 2026 at 11:59pm CST. Apply here.