JIFSAN is accepting applications for internships to begin in the fall

The JIFSAN internship program, a collaboration between the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the University of Maryland, has oneposition available beginning in the fall of 2011 and continuing through the 2011-2012 academic year. JIFSAN interns must have completed at least two college semesters and be enrolled as undergraduate students at the University of Maryland, College Park during the time of their internship.  Interns are expect to work part time (8-10 hours/week) during the academic year.  Current sophomores, juniors and seniors (graduating May 2012) are encouraged to apply. Students who plan to graduate in December 2011 are not eligible. After a 100-hour volunteer commitment, interns are eligible for a paid internship at $10/hour.

An intern is needed for the following project:

Project number: JIP-218
Project Title: To identify allergenic proteins of the major food allergens and to determine their digestibility and IgE immunoreactivity.
Principal Investigator: Ondulla T. Foye
Project Description: Food allergies are an emerging health problem in the US with more than 30,000 anaphylactic reactions annually due to food allergens. Anaphylaxis is a multi-system allergic reaction that may be deadly if not treated promptly, with food allergies accounting for 35- 50% of anaphylaxis annually. Therefore, the development and validation of accurate and precise detection methods to be used and implemented universally within the food industry for the detection of food allergens is critically necessary to ensure label accuracy. Additionally, due to the advancements of biotechnology a vast array of genetically modified food crops containing nouvelle proteins which may have allergenic potential have been introduced into the production of packaged foods, presenting new challenges to the sensitive consumer.
Project Objective: The student will assist with: 1) standardizing gastric and intestinal luminal digestion procedures on crude extracts from the eight major food allergens; 2) identifying temporal stability of food allergen proteins to gastric and luminal digestion by western blot analysis and 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis; and 3) determining the immunoreactivity of digestion stable food allergens to specific IgE from the sera of mice and human subjects with food allergens using immunoblotting techniques.
Project Needs and Duration: The student should be able to perform: wet bench chemistry techniques, basic pipetting techniques, and basic laboratory calculations (dilutions, stock solutions from a recipe). The student should be familiar with gel electrophoresis (Westerns) and immunoblotting procedures. A second year student is preferred. Weekly blocks of time required to effectively manage the project are flexible. The student should be willing to work 10 hours per week during the fall/spring semesters and 30 hours per week during the winter term. Project start/end dates: September 2011 - May 2012.
Location: MOD1, Laurel, MD

The application form (in Word format) and more information about the Program can be found at http://www.jifsan.umd.edu/internship.htm. For more information, contact [log in to unmask] Applications can be submitted by email or delivered to 1313 Symons Hall. Review of applications will begin on Sept. 1 and continue until the position is filled.