Zhejiang University: Lab of Translational Medicine, Chronic Disease Research Institute, Center for Health Policy Studies
Research Internships
 
Location: Hangzhou, China
Duration: 8-10 weeks
Number of Positions: 4
Stipend: $2,000 plus full meal plan and lodging in China
 
About: Zhejiang University is a university in the eastern China city of Hangzhou, about one hour by train east southwest of Shanghai.  Founded in 1897, it is one of China's oldest, most selective and most prestigious institutions of higher education.  The city of Hangzhou is known for its natural beauty and is home to the West Lake UNESCO World Heritage Site.
 
Intern Responsibilities: There are three potential focus areas for summer interns.
 
FOCUS AREA #1 – Lab of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
 
This lab conducts research on the molecular mechanism underlying stomach cancer, the second leading cause of cancer-related death in China. Interns will acquire basic laboratory skills and will assist with studies on gastric cancer. They will begin by learning bio-information analysis, which they will use to search for genes differentially expressed in gastric cancer tissues compared with their corresponding noncancerous tissues. Next the interns may participate in cloning one mRNA or long non-coding RNA. Then they will study basic cellular functions of the target gene and submit a written survey report, with research tasks to include literature review, experiments, data analysis and attending a weekly lab seminar. At the close of the internship students will visit Zhejiang University School of Medicine’s Department of Gastroenterology to learn the clinical features of stomach cancers.  Chinese language skills are NOT required for this internship.
 
FOCUS AREA #2 - Chronic Disease Research Institute, Zhejiang University School of Public Health
China
 
The Chronic Disease Research Institute (CDRI) at Zhejiang University School of Public Health is committed to conducting high-quality research on the prevention and treatment of obesity, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other related chronic diseases. Currently, CDRI primarily aims to develop research on obesity and related chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, etc. Research at CDRI spans across many disciplines, including molecular biology, basic medicine, clinical medicine, epidemiology, health economics, biomedical engineering, nutrition and sports science research, etc. CDRI has also developed five research bases to support its research study.
 
Following a week designated for lab orientation and basic field survey methods training, the intern/s will design their own summer research projects related to chronic disease studies. For the remainder of the internship, the intern/s will collect data in the practice base (Lanxi Cohort Research Base or Chronic Disease Intervention Base at Hangzhou Ziyang Community) under the guidance of a Ph.D. student, review the relevant literature, analyze the data, present results and submit a written survey report.  For CDRI interns, basic spoken Mandarin Chinese proficiency skill is preferred. 
 
FOCUS AREA #3 – Center for Health Policy Studies, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
 
The Center for Health Policy Studies specializes in the following research areas: mental health, health determinants and outcomes assessment, health economics and policy, family medicine and community health services. This internship exposes Princeton undergraduates to the challenge of data collection, analysis and research in field setting, and some summer projects may lead to senior theses. Past projects have focused on topics such as dementia care models, health insurance and maternal mortality.
 
Following basic field survey methods training, interns will design their own summer research projects and collect data in the practice base (including Lanxi County rural area and the urban Westlake District in Hangzhou) under the guidance of a Ph.D. student. They will then analyze their data and submit a written survey report on their research findings. Other intern responsibilities may include literature review, survey design and organizing interviews. For CHPS interns, basic spoken Mandarin Chinese proficiency is preferred.
 
Qualifications: Interest and basic knowledge of health.  For Lab of Translational Medicine, laboratory skills in molecular biology is required, but no proficiency in Mandarin Chinese is required.  For CDRI and CHPS, basic spoken Mandarin Chinese proficiency is preferred.
 
Website: www.cmm.zju.edu.cn/index.php?web=english and www.phs.zju.edu.cn/english
 
View Internship Summary Posters from Past Zhejiang University Princeton Student Interns:
 
Summer 2019
Alison Chang '20 and Jasmine Lu '21 - Health and Honesty in Hangzhou
Xuefei Gao '22 - Pseudouridine Synthase mRNA and Protein Expression Levels in Gastric Cancer
 
Summer 2018
Leslie Chan '20 - Potential Role of heylin Gastric Cancer Progression
Young Sheng '19 - Sleep Quality’s Relationship with Obesity, Sarcopenia, Sarcopenic Obesity among Chinese Women
 
Summer 2017
Natalia Roszkowska '20 - Tumour Suppressor GEN: Protein Level Expression Effects on Metastasis
Jessica Sheng '19 - Relationship between Nicotine Dependence and Fat Distribution
Young Sheng '19 - The Cost Burden of MDR-Infections in Chinese Hospitals
Lydia Zhong '20 - Lentivirus-mediated Knockdown of ERK3 Inhibits Migration of Gastric Cancer Cells