SRP Trainee Performs KC Donnelly Externship in Tucson
March 7, 2013
University of Iowa Superfund Research Program (SRP) trainee Sabine Vorrink received a KC Donnelly Externship Award to perform research with University of Arizona SRP investigator Dr. Bernie Futscher. She came to Tucson from January through March of 2013 and worked with mammalian cell lines to investigate the role of oxidative stress in polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-induced aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling.
Reflecting on her time in Tucson, Ms. Vorrink says she enjoyed her time in Dr. Futscher’s lab, and the three months passed very quickly. Working with Dr. Futscher’s group, as well as the Genomics Shared Service Core, she learned many valuable techniques and research skills, as well as how to troubleshoot. Despite encountering some hurdles, “overall, the project was a great success and we were able to get very helpful results that I can use for my research.” She was also able to enjoy some time outside of the lab, and says, “the warm weather and beautiful landscape of Tucson spoiled me during the cold Iowa winter months and I was sad when I had to go back to the Midwest.”
The KC Donnelly Externship is an NIEHS administrative supplement given in honor of Dr. K.C. Donnelly, a long-time SRP investigator and mentor at Texas A&M University, who passed away in 2009. It is designed to provide SRP trainees with translational/transdisciplinary opportunities at other SRP centers or agencies. Ms. Vorrink says of receiving the award, “the KC Donnelly Externship at the University of Arizona was an amazing experience and I am very thankful and glad that I had this wonderful opportunity!”