Barrow Neurological Institute Internship Programs: Launching the Next Generation of Neuroscientists
The Barrow Neurological Institute offers a variety of internship programs designed to provide aspiring researchers and healthcare professionals with invaluable hands-on experience. These programs span diverse areas, from basic neuroscience research to clinical applications and support services, all within a leading center for neurological care and innovation. The ALS Network and the Barrow Neurological Institute have teamed up to provide hands-on experience to promising young researchers.
Summer Undergraduate Internship Program: A Deep Dive into Neuroscience Research
One of the flagship programs is the Summer Undergraduate Internship Program, a paid, 10-week immersion into the world of translational neuroscience. The 2025 summer undergraduate program is offered to 42 undergraduate students from all colleges and universities, nationally and internationally. This program offers a unique opportunity for undergraduate students from across the globe to contribute to groundbreaking research under the mentorship of Barrow's esteemed scientists and clinicians. Students in the program work full time in a research laboratory under the mentorship of a Barrow scientist, actively participating in groundbreaking neuroscience research using the most advanced technologies and equipment.
Program Leadership and Focus Areas
Leading the Institute’s internship program is Rita Sattler, PhD, whose own lab work is focused on synaptic biology in neurodegenerative disorders like ALS and FTD. Dr. Sattler is a principal investigator and co-investigator of numerous active grants from the NIH/NINDS as well as several disease foundations, and is the David and Weezie Reese Chair for Neurodegeneration Research and a professor in the Department of Translational Neuroscience at Barrow Neurological Institute. The program encompasses a wide range of research areas, including:
- Neurodegenerative Diseases: Investigating the mechanisms and potential treatments for conditions like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
- Neuro-oncology: Advancing the understanding and treatment of brain tumors.
- Neurovascular Disorders: Studying stroke, aneurysms, and other conditions affecting blood vessels in the brain.
- Neurotrauma: Researching traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury.
- Neuroimaging: Developing and applying advanced imaging techniques to visualize brain structure and function.
A Student's Perspective
Ria Moharil and Dr. In collaboration with Dr. Robert Bowser and Dr. David Medina, Ria’s internship project investigates the role of the ALS-associated protein Matrin 3 in ALS, frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and other neurodegenerative diseases. Ria’s interest in neurology stems from her high school biology course, where her interest has since delved into research in ALS, FTD, and related neurological diseases. “This internship and the ALS Network sponsorship has opened so many doors for me. Coming in, I was kind of still trying to figure out what I wanted to do, but I think this really solidified that I do want to become a physician and still be involved in research outside of the general school year.
Call to Action
The Barrow Neurological Institute Internship Program runs annually during the summer and is always seeking motivated and interested young researchers, including those who are interested in ALS research. “Our support of the summer internship program showcases the power of partnership in advancing scientific discovery. Programs like Dr. Dr. “Be bold, come up with innovative ideas that you can test in the laboratory or in the clinic, in order to help us to understand how these diseases manifest, how they progress, and hopefully, how we can prevent all this from happening in the first place. Science is fun, science is a big exploration. - Dr.
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The 2025 Class of Summer Undergraduate Interns
Barrow Neurological Institute is thrilled to introduce the 2025 class of summer undergraduate interns. These 42 students are joining us from 25 different universities across the United States, Mexico, and Brazil. The Summer Undergraduate Internship Program at Barrow allows participants to immerse themselves in translational neuroscience laboratories, where they contribute to game-changing research under the mentorship of esteemed scientists and clinicians. Research areas include neurodegenerative diseases, neuro-oncology, neurovascular disorders, neurotrauma, neuroimaging, and more. “We are excited to welcome the 2025 class of summer undergraduate interns,” said David and Weezie Reese Chair for Neurodegeneration Research Rita Sattler, PhD, MSc, who leads the Program. “This internship offers a unique opportunity for the next generation of neuroscientists and clinicians to launch their careers and, we hope, spark a lifelong passion for understanding and treating brain diseases. School: Washington University in St.
Specialized Internship Opportunities
Beyond the summer program, Barrow offers internships in various specialized areas, catering to diverse interests and career goals.
Neuroimaging Innovation Center
The mission of the Barrow Neuroimaging Innovation Center is to transform patient care through innovative neuroimaging solutions. The center aims to apply these solutions to all major neurological conditions treated at Barrow. Interns in this center may contribute to developing new imaging techniques, analyzing data, and translating research findings into clinical applications.
Spinal Biomechanics Laboratory
The Spinal Biomechanics Laboratory studies the mechanical behavior of the spine in its normal condition and after injury, disease, or surgical intervention. Interns may be involved in research projects focusing on spinal stability, injury mechanisms, and the development of new surgical techniques.
Spine Virtual Reality Laboratory
The Spine Virtual Reality Laboratory in the Sonntag Spine Center was established by surgeons for surgeons to allow neurosurgery residents and attendings to design and test innovative surgical training in virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality. Interns can contribute to the design, development, and evaluation of VR-based surgical training modules.
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Neuro-Rehabilitation Center
The Neuro-Rehabilitation Center and outpatient neuro-rehabilitation focuses on helping people who have experienced complex brain and spinal cord disease, injuries, and conditions return to normal functioning or regain as much function as possible. As Barrow is a leader in the use of neuro-rehabilitation robotics and advanced technologies, you will see how we use these devices to help with therapeutic interventions to support and challenge a patient’s abilities to meet their rehabilitation goals. In addition, we offer positions with our team of speech pathologists. This group supports patients who have acquired new swallowing, language, and cognitive disorders during their hospitalization. The team uses advanced imaging technology to assess swallow physiology. Interns may assist therapists, observe patient interactions, and contribute to research projects evaluating the effectiveness of different rehabilitation techniques.
Neuroscience Publications Department
The Neuroscience Publications Department leads the academic publishing industry in author services focused entirely on the neurosciences. Interns can gain experience in scientific writing, editing, and publishing.
Barrow Innovation Center
Considering the critical importance of innovation to the advancement of neurosurgery, and a surprising lack of formal training in innovation among residency programs, Barrow created a residency training program in neurosurgical innovation-The Barrow Innovation Center. Interns in this program may assist with research, product development, and business planning related to new neurosurgical technologies.
Marketing Department
The Marketing Department at Barrow offers students a broad exposure to all facets of healthcare marketing. From content creation and strategy to analytics and measurement, the marketing team strives to tell the Barrow story in a way that informs and educates prospective patients. Interns may contribute to content creation, social media management, and marketing analytics.
Philanthropy
Philanthropy plays a key role in advancing healthcare. Interns may assist with fundraising campaigns, donor relations, and event planning.
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