Health Scholars at the Mayo Clinic

One student will be involved with a review of Immunotherapy in patients with chordoma treated with immunotherapy. The time of day to work on this project is flexible.

The project will be focused on statistical analyses of genomic data in breast and ovarian cancer. Examples of past projects include 1) multi-omic exploration of X chromosome inactivation in ovarian cancer, 2) genetic etiology of the menopause transition in females, 3) gene expression changes associated with breast cancer prevention therapy, and 4) ovarian cancer prognosis in women with a history of breast cancer.

Qualifications: Students must have completed prerequisite course SDS 272. Additional coursework, including SDS 264, SDS 284, or other higher-level SDS courses are favorable but not required.  Students completing their junior year highly preferred.

The scholar will join the Biostatistics team with the opportunity to work on collaborative research applying data science and statistical methods to clinical research studies.  Examples of recent summer projects include:

(i) analyzing outcomes of a randomized clinical trial comparing interventions for post-surgical anemia
(ii) a cohort study evaluating variation in blood pressure measured often during surgery and how that variation relates to post-surgical outcomes, and
(iii) a cohort study quantifying bleeding risk in critically ill patients who get aspirin and anticoagulant medications.

The scholar should be aware that there will be a few in-person team meetings during the summer, but most team and project meetings are conducted virtually.

Qualifications: Students must have completed prerequisite course SDS 272 before the program begins. Additional coursework including SDS 264 or SDS 284 are favorable but not required.
Students completing their junior year highly preferred.

We will offer the student an opportunity to shadow us in clinic and in the Operating Room as their interest dictates and work on a clinical research project on a topic in thoracic surgery.  Thoracic Surgery deals with both malignant and benign diseases of the chest.  We primarily deal with issues related to the lungs, esophagus, mediastinum, and pleural diseases.  We also are involved in lung transplantation.  In the past, St Olaf Scholars have presented their research projects at national/international thoracic surgery meetings.

The Intern will be assigned to support the buildout of a quality, regulatory, and compliance office organization, tools, policies, and procedures for Mayo Collaborative Services (MCS) under the direction of an Operations Director and a Senior Manager. Tasks will include review and organization of documentation, organizational recommendations, cross-functional work with other MCS and Mayo Clinic teams. The intern will be given full responsibility for an independent assignment relating to one of the quality, regulatory, or compliance functions.

Our hospital-based research curriculum introduces students to clinical research through foundational training in research ethics, patient privacy, and study design. Under mentorship, students engage in supervised activities such as literature review, basic data analysis using de-identified data, and interpretation of clinical outcomes. The program also highlights quality improvement, patient safety, and interdisciplinary teamwork, and concludes with a brief research presentation to develop scientific communication and professional skills.

Our mentoring experience includes master’s students at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, doctoral students at the University of Iowa, and University of Iowa family medicine residents, hospitalist program at University of Kentucky.

The Intern will work with the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology leadership team with support and direction from an Administrator and Associate Administrator.  The assignment will focus on projects and laboratory initiatives supporting the department priority of operational excellence.