ODYSSEY Program

Program Description:

ODYSSEY provides a research internship experience focusing on translational big-data studies in cancer with leading researchers in bioinformatics, biostatistics, and machine learning at Moffitt and University of South Florida (USF). The program is tailored for undergraduate students currently enrolled in a college or University within the state of Florida. Research trainees are primarily students on the pre-medicine track, public health program, or computer science program interested in gaining exposure to cancer research. There are four major goals of the program:

Basic training in basic data processing and data cleaning.
Basic training in bioinformatics.
Basic training in simple machine learning models.
Basic training in cancer biology and immune-oncology.

At the end of the training, the student is expected to generate an oral presentation during the Bio2/Machine Learning weekly seminars.

This research experience is educational focused and volunteer based, typically without a stipend.

Each student is expected to commit to 1 year of training. Training can be scheduled around classes.

Students are accepted to this program on a rolling basis depending on faculty mentor availability.

Instructions and Important Information for Applicants

Eligibility: This program is intended for students who are currently enrolled in a bachelor's degree program at an accredited college or university within the state of Florida with an interest in translational big-data studies in cancer, whose career potential will significantly benefit from an extended mentorship and exposure to the cancer research environment.

Admission: Students accepted into this program will be required to undergo a criminal background check and drug screen, which Moffitt will cover the costs of. Human Resources will require the submission of additional forms and documentation.

See https://www.moffitt.org/education/research-education-and-training/office-of-undergraduate-and-visiting-scholar-affairs/odyssey/

Key Contacts:

Timothy Shaw, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Moffitt
Timothy.Shaw@Moffitt.org
Mingxiang Teng, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Moffitt
Mingxiang.Teng@Moffitt.org
Aleks Karolak, Department of Machine Learning, Moffitt
Aleks.Karolak@Moffitt.org
Rays Jiang, University of South Florida
jiang2@usf.edu
Heraldo Dalmeida, Moffitt Quantitative Science Research Operations
Heraldo.Dalmeida@Moffitt.org
Tonya Kaplan, Moffitt Quantitative Science Research Operations
Tonya.Kaplan@Moffitt.org
Paola Uscanga, Moffitt Research Education and Training (RET)
Paola.Uscanga@Moffitt.org

Trang Ta (Undergraduate USF) Joint training with Dr. Yi Luo.

Mentor: Drs Yi Luo and Timothy Shaw

Research: Data Visualization and machine learning

Sofia Rojas (Undergraduate, Florida State)

Mentor: Drs. Timothy Shaw and G Daniel Grass

Research: Bladder Cancer Informatics

Kim Nguyen (Undergraduate USF)

Mentor: Dr. Martina Molgora

Research: Single cell RNAseq analysis

Ken Dao (Premed USF)

Mentors: Drs Timothy Shaw, Dung-tsa Chen, Eric Padron

Research: Biostatistics and Bioinformatics in AML. Adverse events.

Accomplishments:
ASH Abstract. Inflammatory Transcriptional Signature Can Discriminate De Novo and Secondary AML

Vishwa Murugappan (Premed USF)

Mentor: Dr Steven Eschrich and G Daniel Grass