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Posted August 23, 2026

UCSD BISP197 INTERN - Tian Lab

Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
San Diego, CA, US Full Time

Job Description

Job Description

Sanford Burnham Prebys is much more than a research facility and hub for innovation; it’s a vibrant global community of talented scientists and researchers from over 30 countries. This worldwide representation enriches our perspectives and enhances our creative approach to solving complex scientific challenges.

We strive to be leaders not only in biomedical research but also in creating an environment where excellence thrives through collaboration across cultures and backgrounds. Our mission is to advance the biomedical sciences by cultivating the next generation of scientific leaders, providing meaningful opportunities for researchers of all backgrounds to learn, innovate, and make breakthrough discoveries that improve human health.

Together, we translate science into health.

The duties and responsibilities contained in the job description are intended to be examples of the accountabilities for which the person in the position will demonstrate competency through performance. The job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list. Duties and responsibilities are subject to change and other duties may be assigned as necessary.

Internship Summary:

The integration of current coursework into an internship bridges the gap between academic study and professional practice, forming a bidirectional learning cycle. This process allows interns to apply theoretical frameworks to real-world challenges while using professional experiences to refine and deepen their understanding of academic concepts.

The Tian lab investigates the molecular mechanisms of aging. Our current work in epigenetic reprogramming demonstrates that the progressive loss of epigenetic information is a key driver of aging. We aim to understand how the epigenetic landscape is established and maintained, and why the maintenance system fails, leading to aging and age-related diseases such as cancer and neurodegeneration. For more information, see https://www.xiaotianlab.org
Internship to learn epigenetic mechanisms of aging in the Tian lab at Sanford Burnham Prebys. Research areas include immunology and neurobiology. Experimental approaches include cell culture, multi-omics, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, tumor analysis, and genetic animal models.
Internship Eligibility:

Must be a current student at University of California, San Diego (USCD). You will have to enroll in BISP197 for Fall 2026.
https://biology.ucsd.edu/education/undergrad/research/research-acad-cred/bisp197/

Internship Learning Objectives and Outcomes:

  • Learn basic laboratory safety and good research practices.
  • Gain hands-on experience with fundamental biology laboratory techniques under supervision.


Internship Location: This is an onsite internship in San Diego.
Compensation: Unpaid, no remuneration.


We welcome talented individuals of all backgrounds regardless of gender, sex, religion, race, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, perceived disability, pregnancy, pregnancy-related condition, reproductive health decisions, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS, marital status, covered veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations. We are proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer.

As part of this commitment, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If a reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact our Benefits Team at (858) 646-3100 or via e-mail at [email protected]

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