ASPIRE Internship: CSNK2A1 Foundation, Data Analysis and Publication Intern (remote position)
ASPIRE Internship Opportunity
CSNK2A1 Foundation
Data Analysis and Publication Intern (remote position)
(March -August 2024)
1929 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94109
The CSNK2A1 Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on finding a cure for Okur-Chung Neurodevelopmental Syndrome (OCNDS) and ensuring affected individuals have the opportunities and supports necessary for happy and full lives. Our organization’s structure is upheld by four pillars, bolstering our capacity to expedite the journey to treatment: the Board of Directors, Scientific Advisory Board, Parent Advisory Board, and the OCNDS Community.
OCNDS is a rare genetic disorder that was first identified in 2016. OCNDS is caused by a heterozygous mutation in the CSNK2A1 gene, located on Chromosome 20. The gene CSNK2A1 encodes for the alpha subunit of a protein called Casein Kinase 2 (CK2) which plays a crucial role in development. More than 220 patients worldwide have been diagnosed with OCNDS so far. This number is expected to increase with increasing utilization of whole exome sequencing in other regions of the world. There is no definitive treatment for OCNDS yet.
All individuals with OCNDS have some degree of developmental delay and/or differences in brain function including autism spectrum disorder. The most common symptoms are speech delay/inability to speak, motor delay (e.g., walking, feeding difficulties), behavioral challenges (e.g., tantrums, hand flapping, other stereotypic movements), sleep problems due to disrupted circadian rhythm, and other neurologic problems such as low muscle tone (hypotonia), clumsy movements, small head (microcephaly), epilepsy (seizures), and gait abnormalities.
The ASPIRE intern will work under the direction of Gabrielle Rushing, Ph.D., Science Program Director, and Jennifer Sills, J.D., Founder and President, and other collaborators as needed to assist in the responsibilities detailed below.
Primary Responsibilities
The CSNK2A1 Foundation seeks a volunteer intern to assist with data analysis and publication writing. The focus of the analysis will be data from the OCNDS natural history study through Simons Searchlight.
This opportunity allows the intern to:
- Analyze de-identified patient data from a natural history study including relevant statistical tests and graphics for publication
- Serve as a co-author on a publication communicating the results of the analysis
- Gain exposure to a start-up culture at a non-profit foundation
- Gain experience developing content for an ultra-rare disease non-profit
- Potential interaction with scientists and clinicians who study OCNDS
- Additional opportunities may be available depending upon the interest of the candidate including patient education, development of scientific graphics, etc.
Requirements
- Familiarity with statistical analysis and access to relevant software (e.g., PRISM, R)
- Familiarity with literature reviews and citation management software (e.g., Zotero)
- Motivation to co-author a publication
- Must be a US citizen or permanent resident.
- If accepted, intern must complete relevant paperwork to be approved to utilize the natural history data.
INTERNSHIP DETAILS:
- Internship will run from March-August (approximately 6 months), with potential to extend pending interest and needs of the organization. There may be extenuating needs pending publication review process that will require additional input past August.
- Internship is remote, unpaid, part-time (2-5 hours per week, variable).
- The intern will interact primarily through email and Zoom meetings although in-person meetings are an option as Dr. Rushing is local to Nashville.
Applications due by midnight, Sunday, February 25, 2024
To apply:
- Fill out the following ASPIRE Internship Application found here: https://redcap.link/ASPIREInternship_Application
- Submit a resume and cover letter (which will show your writing style) and include on the resume any social media links you manage or own (Twitter, Instagram, websites, etc). Documents can be uploaded as pdfs with your last name_Coverletter/Resume_CSNK2A1_Spring 2024 in the file name into the Redcap Application form linked above.
- Schedule a meeting with Angela Zito angela.zito@vanderbitl.edu prior to the application deadline.
Your information will then be passed along to the institute and they will contact you directly to schedule an interview.
Please review ASPIRE Internship FAQs: Found here
For further questions, please contact Angela Zito (angela.zito@vanderbitl.edu) or Ashley Brady (ashley.brady@vanderbilt.edu).
Eligibility requirements
- Applicants must be a current Vanderbilt University PhD student or a current postdoctoral fellow.
- All PhD students must have completed all coursework for their degree prior to the start of the internship.
- Biomedical PhD students must also have passed their qualifying exams before the application deadline.
- Students and postdocs may not participate in more than one internship at a time. More than one application may be submitted at a single time, but only one position can be accepted.
- If you are not in a department supported by the BRET office, we will also require that you complete a form guaranteeing PI approval to participate in this program. Please contact Ashley Brady at ashley.brady@vanderbilt.edu for more information.
- If you are an international student or postdoctoral fellow, your visa status may affect your work eligibility. Please contact Ashley Brady (ashley.brady@vanderbilt.edu) to discuss this further.
- Must be authorized to work in the US