Project Background

Five Principal Investigators (PIs) from the University of Utah (UU) are offering an American Heart Association (AHA) -funded research internship during Summer 2025 addressing the theme “Training in lipotoxicity-induced cardiovascular and metabolic complications.” The accumulation of lipid metabolites in tissues not suited for fat storage precipitates many of the cellular dysfunctions that underlay cardiovascular disease. Of the numerous types of lipids that accumulate, sphingolipids such as ceramides are amongst the most deleterious, as they modulate signaling and metabolic pathways to evoke myriad cardiovascular complications. Successful applicants will complete a 10-week research internship that investigates the contribution from lipotoxicity in general, and ceramide species in particular, to stroke outcomes (Dr. Symons), renal (Dr. Ramkumar)/myocardial (Dr. Boudina)/cognitive (Dr. Holland) dysfunction, and metabolic defects (Dr. Chaix). Each project aligns squarely with the mission statement of the AHA. Our ultimate goal is to provide a meaningful research experience that inspires each mentee to strongly consider pursuit of a career in the cardiovascular sciences.

This project is funded by the American Heart Association and has additional eligibility requirements. Applicants must be rising junior or senior graduating in Spring 2026. Open to students nationally and international students currently enrolled in a US institution. Additionally, funds include a higher compensation of a stipend of $6,000, however, does not include housing. In addition to stipend is a $3,000 contribution towards travel to attend and/or present your research at AHA-sponsored conference.

Student Role

Incoming students will be embedded in one of the five PI laboratories. Next, they will be paired with a near-peer mentor (graduate student, or postdoctoral fellow) who, together with the respective PI, will direct you to relevant background reading material, guide you through developing a testable hypothesis, develop requisite laboratory skills, complete data collection/analysis/ and interpretation, and prepare a presentation (oral or poster) that describes your findings and synthesizes them into what is known currently about your particular area of inquiry.

Student Learning Outcomes and Benefits

Key learning outcomes include your ability to work independently, and successfully describe your research question in written, oral, and / or poster formats.  With help from your peer mentor and PI, you will be expected to develop a small yet important body of work into a story that you present at lab meetings, the Office of Undergraduate Research Summer Research Symposium, and at an American Heart Association Conference. Importantly, throughout the summer you will be involved in career development training to foster your growth beyond the laboratory as you prepare for post-graduate studies.

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