HOT Division Summer Internship Research Program

“I am thrilled to support this summer research program. We are developing excellent candidates for scientific research and health related careers starts by investing early in outstanding and motivated students.”
- Dr. Anne Blaes
Established in 2021, the Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation (HOT Division) at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities offers a competitive, six week Summer Internship Research Program. The program runs June 12, 2023 to July 21, 2023 and is open to undergraduate students. The program goal is to encourage the next generation of scientists to become leaders and innovators in the field of hematological and oncological malignancies. The program aims to support the interests of each scholar in developing a long-term career in research or clinical disciplines.
Each of the accepted undergrad scholars will take part in numerous aspects of clinical or basic research. Activities in the program include but are not limited to:
- Understand the scientific foundation and current clinical barriers of hematological or oncological diseases.
- Comprehend the landscape of current job opportunities or career trajectories.
- Receive individualized mentorship from established faculty and laboratory members.
- Conduct hands-on experiments as a key laboratory research member.
- Gain clinical exposure through interactions with faculty and physicians in the hospital.
- Learn from current medical students and researchers about career paths in medicine.
- Interact with peers with similar career interests.
This paid internship program is offered to undergraduates who:
- Currently attending regional colleges or universities in the State of Minnesota.
- Must be entering a full semester or quarter of school for the 2023-2024 academic year.
- Plans to pursue a graduate or professional degree in medicine (i.e. MD, PhD, PA, etc.)
Each undergraduate scholar will be supported by research scholarships by the HOT Division and a faculty mentor for the 6 weeks and will work full time. Scholars will receive a stipend of $3,000.
The completed application is due by April 12, 2023 at 5 pm CST. APPLY HERE. Applicants will hear back by the end of April.
If you have any questions regarding the program, qualifications or application process, please contact Linsey Roschen, rosch053@umn.edu, 612-626-6553.
HOT Division Faculty Spotlight
The HOT Division is home to renowned clinicians and research professionals who investigate and treat cancers and blood disorders in adults. Each faculty member is renowned for their research or clinical expertise in hematological, oncological, or transplantation disease.
Of our outstanding faculty, many are involved in cutting-edge research and our international leaders in their research disciplines. Some examples include Emmanuel S. Antonarakis, MD, Jeffrey Miller, MD, and Carol Lange, PhD. Dr. Antonarakis is focused on the development of novel androgen therapies for the treatment of prostate cancer. Dr. Miller is investigating the novel use of immunotherapies, specifically Natural Killer cells, for the treatment of cancer. Dr. Carol Lange is focused on steroid hormone receptors, estrogen receptors, and progesterone receptors in breast and ovarian cancers.
Intern Spotlight
Alison Wong

I am finishing up my undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota, studying Health and Wellbeing Sciences along with Health Services Management. After graduation, I'll be taking a gap year to learn new experiences in hopes of attending medical school. While balancing this goal, I enjoy traveling the world to connect with different cultures and indulge in delicious food. I completed the HOT Division Internship Program in 2022, and I really enjoyed learning laboratory methods and collaborating with the other researchers. After shadowing in-patient care through this internship program, I realized the importance of discovery in research labs to understand these diseases and help patients on a larger scale. This has inspired me to continue asking questions to further science and provide high-quality care.
Allison Makovec

I’m Allison Makovec, a Junior at the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities. As a prospective MD/ PhD student, I’m interested in developing gene therapies for cancer patients, specifically in regards to solid tumor cancers like breast and prostate cancer. The HOT Division Summer Internship Program helped me acquire skills directly related to my career goals. I particularly enjoyed the experiences in wet lab work, experimental design, and grant writing. The Internship Program overall influenced my decision to pursue a career as a physician-scientist after I was given the opportunity to shadow physician-scientists in both oncology and hematology. In the end this program gave me certain insights and mentorship needed to be successful in my future career in medicine.
Hannah Saveraid

My name is Hanna Saveraid and I'm majoring in Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development at the University of Minnesota. I will graduate in spring 2024, after which I plan to apply to medical school. My academic and research interests are focused around genetics, gene therapy, rare diseases, and cancer. While I enjoyed learning cell work through my research placement with Dr. Kratzke, Dr. Patel, and Dr. Jacobson, I found seeing patients in the oncology and BMT clinic on my shadowing days especially meaningful. There, I could refocus on the reason we do research - for people, so that they have treatments that work for them - and I felt privileged to spend time with each patient and learn a little part of their story. I admired the care and dedication of the physicians and researchers to improving the lives of their patients, and my interest in hematology-oncology as a future specialty greatly increased through my experience in the HOT program.
Physician Spotlight
Yvonne Datta , MD

I am interested in Classical Hematology, which includes the diagnosis and treatment of blood disorders. My main clinical interests are bleeding and clotting disorders, platelet disorders and sickle cell disease. I collaborate with Dr. David Wood in research in sickle cell disease. I also have a strong interest in education. I am director of the hematology/oncology fellowship, and have been a member of the University of Minnesota Medical School Admissions committee. Advising undergraduate students regarding the path to medical school admission is one of my favorite academic activities.
Stuart Bloom, MD, MSc

Dr. Stuart Bloom spent his 20's in New York City as an actor and musical comedian, but after he turned 30, and his own father was diagnosed with cancer, he had an epiphany and decided to become an oncologist. After an award winning, twenty year run in community oncology, he now joins the Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation at the Medical School as part of the Master Clinician pathway. While he remains dedicated to the care of patients with breast and prostate cancers, he has multiple other passions he offers to medical school students and faculty. These include the teaching of doctoring skills, exploring and addressing the causes of medical burnout, and further developing the intersection of the humanities in medicine. His acclaimed musical How to Avoid Burnout in 73 Minutes recently played a sold out run at the Open Eye Theatre, with the plan on performing this at medical schools around the country.
PI Spotlight
Emil Lou , MD, PhD, FACP

After completing undergraduate studies in biochemistry at SUNY College at Geneseo, Dr. Lou received his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees (Microbiology and Immunology) from SUNY Upstate Medical University in 2004. He performed his residency training in Internal Medicine at Duke University Medical Center and then subsequently completed his Medical Oncology and Hematology fellowship at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in 2010. He also completed an additional fellowship in Neuro-Oncology at the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke. Dr. Lou, a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, is board certified in Medical Oncology and Internal Medicine. In addition he is also board certified in Neuro-Oncology through the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties. He joined the faculty in the Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation in 2011 and is a member of the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota. Care Philosophy New Patients If you are scheduled or interested in scheduling a clinic consultation with Dr. Lou, click here for more information and a welcome from Dr. Lou. Tips to be a Great Patient Advocate Dr. Lou's interview with Caringbridge.org
Joan Beckman, MD, PhD

I am a dedicated physician-scientist who is passionate about caring for patients with benign hematologic conditions. I have a clinical interest in patients with acquired and congenital bleeding disorders as well as patients with anemia. I conduct translational research in the molecular and cellular mechanisms driving inflammation-induced pathology in endothelial cells and blood vessels My current research focuses on evaluating the contribution of red blood cell and endothelial cell interactions in JAK2 V617F and CALR+ myeloproliferative neoplasm patients.