Our Summer Intern 2024 positions are now filled, and we are no longer accepting applications.
This internship program represents a collaboration between investigators at Duke University and North Carolina Central University. Students from both universities are invited to apply today!
The Superfund Research Program (SRP) is a network of grants funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) designed to seek solutions to complex health and environmental issues associated with toxic chemicals found at the nation’s hazardous waste sites. The Duke University Superfund Research Center (DUSRC) focuses on early-life, low-dose exposures to toxins and their developmental impacts that may only become evident during later life stages. Our internship program is suited for students with a variety of backgrounds and interests, including environmental and exposure sciences, biomedical sciences and pre-med tracks, public health, chemistry, biology, neuropsychology, computer science, and statistics.
Descriptions of Currently Available Projects (subject to change)
Project 1: Prenatal Exposures to PAHs and Metals: Assessing Neurodevelopment Impacts and Tracing Metal Sources
Exposure to lead among children has decreased over the past several decades; however, it is still a problem in some areas of the US, and the potential interactions between lead and other hazardous chemicals that children are exposed to remains a concern for children’s health and development. Project 2 investigates pregnant women’s co-exposure to metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) assess their associations with early neurodevelopmental milestones in their children. Interns working on this project will work with a senior PhD student or postdoctoral research associate to assist with collection of samples in the field (home visits to collect information on the home, soil samples, etc.) and with analysis of the samples in the laboratory. Students will have the potential to gain experience in field sampling skills, analytical chemistry, exposure science, and epidemiology.
Project 2: Persisting Neurobehavioral Dysfunction Caused by Interacting Toxicant Exposures During Development: Mechanistic and Treatment Studies with Zebrafish and Rats
Project 2 focuses on understanding how early developmental exposure to toxicant mixtures cause persisting neurobehavioral dysfunction later in life. We use an effects-driven mechanistic investigation, working from the persisting neurobehavioral dysfunction in motor, emotional and cognitive function caused by early life toxicant exposures back to determine the critical mechanisms that caused the neurobehavioral toxicity. Interactions of two prototypic PAHs (benzo[a]pyrene and fluoranthene) and two heavy metals (lead and cadmium) producing persisting changes in locomotor activity, emotional dysfunction as well as attention, learning and memory impairments will be determined. Zebrafish will be used as a front-end model to assess detailed dose-effect interactions of PAH and heavy metal neurotoxicity, charting interacting dose-effect functions. Rats will be used to determine the detailed character of the neurobehavioral toxicity and mechanisms of effect.
Project 3: Mitochondrial and cellular mechanisms of neurotoxicity of Superfund chemical co-exposures
Project 3’s intern will work to determine the developmental neurotoxicity of the lead and cadmium alone and in combination, in the small nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans. The intern will work with a mentor to exposure the worms to the metals, and then use transgenic strains of worms with fluorescent protein permitting visualization of neuronal structure, to test for effects of the metals on neuronal integrity. Using additional transgenic animals with fluorescent read-outs, the intern will also measure mitochondrial energetics and cellular redox state, which we hypothesize will mediate the neurotoxic effects. We may also examine behavioral changes. The intern will gain knowledge of mitochondrial and neuronal biology, toxicological principles, and fluorescence microscopy.
Project 4: Neurobehavioral and bioenergetic consequences of evolving resistance to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a multi-stressor environment
The overarching goal of our project is to study pollution resistance. Exposure to chemical contaminants in aquatic ecosystems can have significant ecologically relevant fitness consequences such as mitochondrial dysfunction linked to adverse behavioral and bioenergetic outcomes. These effects may be exacerbated when exposed to multiple abiotic stressors such as changes in temperature and oxygen levels but remain poorly understood. Students will engage on projects associated with exploring these links using Atlantic killifish that have evolved resistance to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Project 5: Microencapsulation Delivery Vehicles for the Implementation of Precision Bioremediation at PAH-Contaminated Superfund Sites
Project 5 focuses on the development of bioremediation strategies for the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination. Traditional bioaugmentation strategies utilize PAH-degrading microbial strains in their planktonic state, but during the transition from simple lab conditions to complex field conditions, we see the failure of augmented strains to establish in contaminated environments. Our goal is to develop strategies that provide protection to PAH-degrading strains for application to contaminated sites. We are currently investigating the encapsulation of bacteria and fungi in biodegradable sodium alginate microcapsules for improved microbial growth, survival, and viability to increase PAH degradation. The intern will work on projects relating to the growth and viability of candidate microbial strains, microencapsulation strategies, and biodegradation of PAHs.
Analytical Chemistry Core (ACC)
The Analytical Chemistry Core (ACC) of Duke’s SRC focuses on development and implementation of advanced chemical measurement technologies in support of the center’s component projects. The ACC intern will work with Core staff to develop and refine new methods for detection and quantitation of water-soluble pollutants such as per-and-polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), polar pesticides, and tracers of wastewater such as sucralose and extraction and quantification neurotransmitters from model organisms used throughout the Duke’s SRC. This work will focus on improving sensitivity via online sample concentration coupled to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and by use of passive sampling techniques for time-integrated PFAS concentrations in river systems. Trainees will gain hands on experience with bench chemistry, field work, and analytical instrumentation.
Community Engagement Core (CEC) / Research Translation Core (RTC)
The Community Engagement and Research Translation Cores (CEC & RTC, respectively) work together to share the research conducted by the Superfund Center with impacted communities in ways that are equitable and accessible. We are working to develop educational activities/curricula based around environmental health and exposure topics for communities in Durham and southeastern North Carolina. In addition to helping to support work in the areas above, the summer intern will have the opportunity to attend monthly meetings with other CECs and RTCs from around the country, as well as weekly meetings among our team at Duke, and will be able to gain direct experience doing community engaged work. For more information on our current and past work, please visit our website at https://sites.nicholas.duke.edu/superfundcec/.
Potential Experiences of Specific Internship Assignments (not guaranteed):
| Project | Vertebrate animal work | Invertebrate animal work | Interaction with human subjects and/or community members | Off-campus field work |
| Project 1 | No | No | Yes | Possibly |
| Project 2 | Yes | No | No | No |
| Project 3 | No | Yes | Possibly (limited) | Possibly (limited) |
| Project 4 | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Project 5 | No | No | No | Possibly (limited) |
| ACC | No | No | No | Yes |
| CEC/RTC | No | No | Yes | Possibly (limited) |
Internship Program Details & Requirements
- 8 weeks, 35 hours per week
- Start Date: June 3, 2024 / End Date: July 26, 2024
- Applicants should not plan to take university classes or work another job during their internship.
- Applicants should expect to participate in their internship in person (no remote participation), though prevailing health and safety precautions in effect at the time of the program will take precedence.
- Applicants must be located in North Carolina for the duration of the internship.
- Positions are open to individuals currently enrolled as an undergraduate or Master’s student at Duke University or North Carolina Central University and who are enrolled as a student at their home institution for Fall 2024. Recent graduates (e.g. Spring 2024, Fall 2023) are NOT eligible.
- Work schedules will be determined with the assigned mentor at the time of placement and may include occasional weekend or evening hours in order to complete certain experiments or tasks.
- In addition to working with their assigned project, interns are expected to participate in weekly cohort meetings and other activities, complete program assignments, and present their research at the conclusion of the program.
How to Apply
Our Summer Intern 2024 positions are now filled, and we are no longer accepting applications.
There are 3 parts to your application:
Email your personal letter of interest and resume/CV to SuperfundIntern@duke.edu. Your letter should describe your educational background, detail your experience and skills, and explain your interest in working with the Duke University Superfund Research Center.Complete a short survey through the link to rank the internship options in order of your interest: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0uNswtKhlxsCtYGOne (1) letter of recommendation in support of your application. Your recommender must send their letter of recommendation directly to SuperfundIntern@duke.edu.
All applications received in their entirety (survey, letter of interest, resume/CV, and letter of recommendation) by January 14, 2024, will be reviewed and considered. Applications missing any of the above components by this date may be overlooked during the review process. Applications received after January 14, 2024, will be considered if internship openings are still available after all prior applicants have been considered.
Questions? Contact SuperfundIntern@duke.edu
Meet the Duke University Superfund Research Center: https://sites.nicholas.duke.edu/superfund