I am writing to express my interest in the Clinical Internship at the Child Mind Institute, which I found listed on the Columbia University Center for Career Education Handshake platform. As a junior, majoring in Biochemistry with a concentration in Psychology, I believe the clinical internship is an ideal blend of my past academic, laboratory and extracurricular experiences.
As an undergraduate research assistant at the Champagne Laboratory, which specializes in psychobiology, epigenetics and neuroscience, I’ve independently studied the gene expression and methylation profile of adult mice exposed to early-life maternal separation. In choosing the depression and anxiety target genes for my study, I’ve been exposed to a wealth of literature on anxiety and mood disorders. My experience studying the influence of nonoptimal early environments on the developing brain and later symptomatology of depression and anxiety has sparked an interest in pursuing a career in the molecular biology of psychiatric disorders. The combined coursework of Abnormal Behavior and Developmental Biology helped solidify my knowledge of psychiatric disorders and the normal and abnormal early-life …show more content…
Even more so, during our lab meetings, I’ve had to report weekly on my achievements and present once per semester on my accomplished work to my lab community. My ability to write about and present on scientific research was ultimately strengthened by my poster presentation at both the Columbia University Undergraduate Science & Engineering Research Showcase and the Undergraduate Research
As an undergraduate research assistant at the Champagne Laboratory, which specializes in psychobiology, epigenetics and neuroscience, I’ve independently studied the gene expression and methylation profile of adult mice exposed to early-life maternal separation. In choosing the depression and anxiety target genes for my study, I’ve been exposed to a wealth of literature on anxiety and mood disorders. My experience studying the influence of nonoptimal early environments on the developing brain and later symptomatology of depression and anxiety has sparked an interest in pursuing a career in the molecular biology of psychiatric disorders. The combined coursework of Abnormal Behavior and Developmental Biology helped solidify my knowledge of psychiatric disorders and the normal and abnormal early-life …show more content…
Even more so, during our lab meetings, I’ve had to report weekly on my achievements and present once per semester on my accomplished work to my lab community. My ability to write about and present on scientific research was ultimately strengthened by my poster presentation at both the Columbia University Undergraduate Science & Engineering Research Showcase and the Undergraduate Research