Lab Assistant for R&D Drosophila Lab

Main Purpose:
The main purpose of the internship is to assist with the development of research protocols for the fruit fly.
Tasks / Key Results Expected:
1. Establish a biological laboratory – Equipment set up, qualification and record.
2. Establish optimized drosophila melanogaster growing environment conditions using agile project management
methodology
3. Create novel experimental protocols and SOP based on business gap analysis and experimental observations
4. Observe, monitor and record drosophila melanogaster growing and behavioural activities
5. Acquire necessary laboratory skills for drosophila melanogaster feeding, anaesthesia, sex recognition,
and that required to achieve fly genetic crosses, such as virgin flies and genetically modified fly selection
• Other responsibilities as assigned by their supervisor.

Benefit to Organization:
The protocols and flows will be an essential part of our business to continuously produce model systems for the study of human neurodegenerative diseases, which PurMinds Neuropharma seeks to gain advanced knowledge of. The relative simplicity of the Drosophila systems and genetics makes it ideal for creating animal models of complex neurodegenerative disorders. It has emerged as model system for studying mechanisms of neurodegeneration in several major neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), etc. Genetic studies using these animal models have provided novel insights into the disease process. Multiple rigorous assays to score neurodegeneration can be used in Drosophila, providing reliable measurements for the effects of the disease process. These studies will help PurMinds Neuropharma in developing drugs to treat these neurodegenerative diseases.

Faculty Supervisor:

Norah McRae

Student:

Partner:

PurMinds Neuropharma

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Waterloo

Program: