Research Intern - Hematopathology

The Research Intern position is a short-term appointment that provides first-hand practical experience in the area of cancer research and insight into the various science career opportunities. The Office of Research Trainee Programs manages and supports the Research Intern appointments to ensure the integrity of the research programs.

The ideal trainee will join existing lab staff under the guidance of a designated faculty mentor to:

• Develop Proficiency in Slide Scanning and Digital Pathology Workflow.
• Understand AI Models for Cell Classification in Leukemia Diagnosis.
• Apply AI-Based Classification to Leukemia Case Studies.
  
  

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Objective 1: Develop Proficiency in Slide Scanning and Digital Pathology Workflow:

• Introduction to Slide Scanners & Imaging Techniques, including hands-on training with whole-slide imaging (WSI) scanners.
• Understand scanner settings (resolution, focus, illumination), file formats (SVS, TIFF), and data storage.
• Acquire slides, organization, prepare and upload sample associated information using Epic.
• Practice scanning bone marrow and tissue slides, including aspirates, biopsies, peripheral blood smears, etc; compare different scan settings and assess image quality.
• Quality Control and image preprocessing, detect common scanning artifacts (blurry regions, out-of-focus areas) and use preprocessing techniques (color normalization, contrast adjustment).
• Using software tools for basic annotations, evaluating image quality, and troubleshooting ability.
  
  

Objective 2: Understand AI Models for Cell Classification in Leukemia Diagnosis:

• Overview of AI-based cell classification models, basics of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) in image recognition, understanding dataset requirements for training AI models.
• Hands-on Experience with Pre-Trained AI Models, running AI models on scanned images, AI-based classification of blasts, lymphocytes, and dysplastic cells.
• Comparing AI predictions with pathologist annotations.
• Evaluating Model Performance & Error Analysis, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity; identifying common AI misclassifications.
• Run AI models on new datasets, present findings in a structured report.
  
  

Objective 3: Apply AI-Based Classification to Leukemia Case Studies:

• Reviewing Clinical Cases & Correlating with AI Predictions on leukemia cases (AML, ALL, MDS) with expert guidance, compare AI-based classifications with pathology reports.
• Annotating & Labeling Training Data for AI Model Improvement, identification and labeling cells, participates in interobserver comparison with expert pathologists.
• Completes study project, writing abstract and manuscript, submits a final report with recommendations for model improvement.
  
  

Eligibility Requirements

NOTE: Research Interns are not allowed in clinics, patient care areas, or the OR.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicant must hold a bachelor's or master's degree;
• Degree must have been obtained recently (within one year)
• Applicant must have previous research experience;
• Applicants who hold a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (e.g., M.D., D.V.M., M.B.B.S.) are not eligible;
• Applicants associated with a home institution do not qualify;
• Applicants in a clinical position, postdoctoral fellowship, or faculty position do not qualify;
• Research Interns cannot change titles to another trainee title upon completion.
• The exception applies if the trainee enrolls in a degree-seeking program
• The appointee trains under the supervision of a faculty member/mentor
  
  

Term Limit

• Research Interns can be appointed part-time (0.5 FTE) or full-time (1.0 FTE).
• Research Interns must be appointed for a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of six months. Requests for extensions or reappointments beyond the six-month term will not be granted.
  
  

Additional Application Information

Application requirements:

• CV/resume
• Credential evaluation (if the degree was obtained outside the U.S.)
• Copy of diploma (certified translation if not in English)
• Two letters of recommendation
  
  

Onboarding

Final candidates will be required to meet the following onboarding contingencies prior to their program start date:

• Institutional Mandatory Training (IMT)
• PreCheck background check
• Immunization requirements
• Employee Health Clearance
• Form I-9 and E-Verify Employment Eligibility Verification (if compensated)
• Drug/tobacco screening (if compensated and benefits-eligible)
• VISA Department clearance (if not a U.S. Citizen)
• Attend a virtual onboarding session
  
  

POSITION INFORMATION

05/01/2025