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All IGERT students will be expected to complete an internship in industry, at a national laboratory, a foreign university, or an appropriate field site. These internships are essential because many newly developed protocols are not yet in the public record. Our intention is to have students complete internships that are well integrated with the thesis research of the student. While the student is on an internship, he or she will be enrolled in the IGERT program and will receive Thesis credit (up to 12 credits per term). Students with internships at national labs and other sites with enhanced communications will enroll in the biweekly seminar for credit. National laboratories or other U.S. universities may have some specialized, analytical instruments that exceed the capabilities at OSU and PSU, or have direct access to unique field sites. Internships at international facilities may also be an option and may be supported by International Travel funds. Internships may be partially supported by external funds. The internships will be coordinated by the IGERT director in consultation with the student, the mentors, and the internship host/mentor. Examples of IGERT Internships National Laboratories: Shawn R. Starkenburg, a fourth year IGERT PhD student in
the Dept. of Microbiology at Oregon State University, completed an internship
at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in the fall of 2004.
His research is focused on understanding the biological processes of nitrification
in soils and its application to wastewater treatment. Nitrification is
mediated by two distinct bacterial groups, ammonia oxidizing bacteria
(AOB) and nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB), which are the subject of intensive
study in the Arp and Bottomley labs at Oregon State University. Shawn's
co-advisor, Dan Arp, received funding from DOE to have 5 nitrifying bacterial
genomes sequenced in collaboration with research scientists at the Joint
Genome Institute, Lawrence Livermore and Oakridge national laboratories.
Mr. Starkenburg worked as a visiting collaborator with Patrick Chain,
a staff research scientist at LLNL, to learn the process of genome sequencing
and aid in the completion, closing and assembly of the Nitrobacter winogradskyi
and Nitrobacter hamburgensis genomes. The internship enabled Mr. Starkenburg
to gain valuable experience in the interdisciplinary field of bioinformatics,
utilize resources and technology not available at OSU, and establish professional
contacts with scientists at multiple government laboratories. Furthermore,
the results of his research efforts will be incorporated into multiple
manuscripts for publication, one of which being the subject for first
chapter of his Ph.D. thesis. (Read about Shawn's internship on OSU's Subsurface Biosphere Center of Excellence web site: http://sbi.oregonstate.edu/news/200603.htm International Internships: Jessica C. Goin, a fifth year IGERT PhD student in the Department of Geology at Portland State University, interned with Dr. Nancy Hinman at the University of Montana-Geology Project: Detection of organic compounds in hot spring waters. For my internship I went to the University of Montana in Missoula to work with Dr. Hinman to develop techniques for determining organic acid concentrations in hot springs using HPLC. The first portion of this internship involved running multiple concentrations of Oxalic, Acetic and Citric acid and combinations of various concentrations on HPLC to predict detection limits. Comparing detection limits with literature values for organic acid levels predicted in hot springs indicates that Oxalic and Acetic acid should be detectable by this technique without pre-concentration. The second segment of this internship was a sampling trip to Yellowstone National Park with Dr. Hinman. This internship was a great experience as it introduced me to a very different aspect of hot springs research. Dr. Hinman was very helpful and a lot of fun to work with. Dr. Hinman is also an advisor for the INRA - Subsurface Science graduate
program, and while I was at the University of Montana I got to meet and
speak with a group of INRA students. It was an interesting tie-in with
our IGERT program, as their graduate students are at many institutions
taking classes together through distance learning programs. Mark E. Nielsen, a firth year IGERT PhD student in the
College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State University,
interned with Karsten Pedersen, Goteborg University, Dpt. of Cell &
Molecular Biology, Microbiology in Goteborg, Sweden Results - Four modified push-pull experiments were conducted in which
the test solution was injected into pressurized flow cells containing
coupons for biofilm growth. The flow cells are contained in refrigerated
cabinets connected to the aquifer, thus maintaining in situ conditions.
We detected and were able to quantify both nitrate reduction and lactate
consumption. A manuscript describing the experiments and results has been
submitted for publication and is This international research experience has been a highlight of my graduate
studies. The trip exposed me to a different culture and introduced me
to researchers from all over the world. The length of the trip (two months)
allowed me to get comfortable with my surrounding and to explore the country.
I also valued the chance to learn how research
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