Summer 2009: Biological Science Aid, Military Performance Division, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick Soldier Systems Center

By James Alvarez, POC: Edward J. Zambraski, Ph.D., Jeffery S. Staab, M.S.

My summer was spent as an Intern with the United States Army in Natick, MA, at the Soldier Systems Center. My division’s mission is stated as “conducting biomedical research to improve and sustain Warfighter health and performance under all conditions”. My role in this mission was acting as a general lab technician, processing human blood and tissue samples collected from numerous ongoing studies. I also had the opportunity to observe, and in some cases implement, a number of experimental protocols. Some noteworthy experiences include working in the high-altitude chambers, climate chambers, conducting exercise trials in a supplement study, and aiding in a demonstration of new techniques involved in microdialysis and the collection of transdermal body fluid.

Other experiences include participating in a cognitive science study, and working with an exercise physiology team analyzing experimental results and discussing their significance along with future avenues of research.

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