DNA damage is ubiquitous and can arise from many sources, including from ultraviolet light and other environmental sources such as pollution and foods. In all organisms there are overlapping pathways to identify and remove DNA damage. However, DNA damage can evade repair pathways and block or stall the process of copying DNA that is required for cell division, which is known as DNA replication. Disrupted DNA replication can lead to mutagenesis and can be lethal to a cell.

A specialized family of DNA polymerases with the ability to copy damaged DNA contributes to DNA damage tolerance. Notably, these polymerases do not repair DNA, but rather allow DNA replication to continue in the presence of DNA damage. These specialized polymerases are characterized by their low fidelity on undamaged DNA and are therefore mutagenic. Individuals with defects in DNA pol eta, which copies DNA containing lesions that result from UV light, are predisposed to skin cancer.

For this project the scholar will research the specificity of DNA polymerases for different types of DNA damage, how dynamic interactions between “normal” DNA polymerases, specialized DNA polymerases, and other DNA replication proteins contribute to DNA damage tolerance, and which of the numerous cellular pathways contribute to tolerance to DNA damage. This will be accomplished using biochemical assays, biophysical methods, and molecular biology techniques.

The exact project is flexible and will be based on discussion with the applicant. Through this work the ROUTES scholar will gain an understanding of modern problems and techniques in biochemistry and biotechnology research. The scholar will gain experience in experimental design including the use of appropriate controls. Research experiences include site-directed mutagenesis, molecular cloning, protein purification, biochemical assays, and characterization of cellular responses to DNA damaging agents and mutagens.

Scholars are expected to have or be willing to develop excellent laboratory technique. They will be fully active members of the laboratory group, including attending group meetings, discussing research results, and reading and discussing the primary literature. The scholars will be expected to demonstrate creativity and critical thinking in designing experiments and analyzing results.

Please apply on NU Works.

NU Works Job Title: ROUTES DNA Damage Research Assistant

NU Works Job ID: 128841

Air pollution poses a significant public health risk, with aging populations being particularly vulnerable due to physiological changes and pre-existing health conditions. This project will focus on assessing air pollution exposure among older adults, with a specific emphasis on fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and its associated health risks. PM2.5 is known to exacerbate respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, contribute to cognitive decline, and increase overall mortality risks in aging individuals.

The project will utilize a combination of sensor-based air quality monitoring, satellite-derived pollution data, and demographic analysis to evaluate exposure levels in urban and suburban environments. Preliminary studies indicate that older adults in densely populated areas experience heightened exposure to PM2.5 due to proximity to traffic emissions and industrial activities. This study will further investigate how exposure differs based on factors such as socioeconomic status, housing quality, and access to green spaces. In addition to quantifying exposure, the project will assess the physiological impacts of air pollution on aging populations through partnerships with health researchers. This will involve leveraging datasets on hospital admissions and chronic disease prevalence to correlate exposure levels with health outcomes.

The student will gain from exposure to the network of faculty, postdocs, graduate students, and air quality professionals working on the project. If student time and competency allow, the student will be supported in writing a 1st author paper.

Primary Responsibilities

• Read papers about the relevant topics.
• Integrate, process, and analyze data.
• Summarize data and develop visualizations
• Weekly/bi-weekly meetings to NU team.
• Prepare a report with the aim of developing this for scientific publication (likely to be submitted after the co-op ends – some students do this for capstone for instance).
• Engage in general lab activities (shared cleaning, lab meetings)
• Train other students / assist with other activities as time, interest and expertise allow (e.g. co-op students often become experts in some of the lab techniques as they are doing them daily and can help either train others)

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong attention to details.
• Motivated and eager to learn new things.
• Have experiences or willing to learn programming (e.g., Python, R, etc.) for data processing, analysis, and visualization.

Please apply on NU Works.

NU Works Job Title: ROUTES Air Pollution & Health Research Assistant

NU Works Job ID: 129017

This ROUTES scholar will work in the area of air quality monitoring using an existing high-resolution network of sensors that has been installed in the nearby communities of Chelsea and Brookline as part of the iSUPER Impact Engine supported by the Provost’s Office. The ROUTES scholar will collaborate with other faculty and graduate students in our field research team, which conducts short-term monitoring experiments to test the air quality benefits of various interventions such as increased vegetation cover or traffic management measures. The research will directly support decision-making by municipal agencies and community groups in those areas.

Work will take place both in the field (outside) in placing and maintaining sensors as well as with data management and analysis in our group office suite. All field sites are accessible by public transportation.

Tasks will include design of field experiments, consultation with municipal partners and community groups, data gathering, cleaning, and basic statistical analysis, and identification of spatial patterns of air pollution hotspots and areas of exposure concern for environmental health.

The work will be carried out under the supervision of Dr. Matthew Eckelman in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, with support from iSUPER faculty, staff, and students.

Please apply on NU Works.

NU Works Job Title: ROUTES Air Quality Field Research Assistant

NU Works Job ID: 129250

Students will contribute to research into the fate of plastics in the environment, including human stomachs. Students will learn methods to conduct experiments and measure plastics. They will then assess how the size of a piece of plastic influences the speed at which it dissolves in environmentally relevant solutions, including synthetic gastric juices. Students will first learn basic techniques by shadowing graduate students or postdocs. They will design experiments. Once proficient in experimental and analytical methods, they will conduct an experiment with oversight from their day-to-day mentor. They will then lead the workup and interpretation of the data generated, and, results permitting, be encouraged to work the results up for presentation at major meetings and publication in a scientific journal.

Primary Responsibilites

• Read papers about the relevant topics.
• Design experiments.
• Conduct experiments.
• Process and analyze samples.
• Integrate data.
• Summarize data and fortnightly meetings to NU team.
• Prepare a report with the aim of developing this for scientific publication (likely to be submitted after the co-op ends – some students do this for capstone for instance).
• Engage in general lab activities (shared cleaning, lab meetings)
• Train other students / assist with other activities as time, interest and expertise allow (e.g. co-op students often become experts in some of the lab techniques as they are doing them daily and can help either train others).

Preferred Qualifications

Primary student audiences: Chemistry and Chemical Biology; MES; Bouve; Biochem; and CEE. Others welcome to apply.

Environmental science/health science interest; analytical chemistry laboratory experience.

Please apply on NU Works.

NU Works Job Title: ROUTES Plastics & Human Health Research Assistant

NU Works Job ID: 129618