Applied Biophysics is a company that works to create opportunities for research in drug discovery and cell biology through ECIS™, or Electric Cell-substrate Impedance Sensing. ECIS is method of studying cell growth and behavior in a real-time. Cells grown in tissue culture are placed in an electrode array. As the cells grow and divide, they cover the surface of the array. As the electrical current is sent indirectly through the layer of cells, a potential (V) across the electrodes results, and is then measured by the ECIS instrument. This impedance-based method of studying cell behavior has been applied in countless ways, such as in the study of the “invasive nature of cancer cells, the barrier function of endothelial cells, in vitro toxicity testing as an alternative to animal testing, and signal transduction involving GPCR’s for modern drug discovery.” (www.biophysics.com)

 The potential of ECIS was first realized when Drs. Ivar Giaever and Charles R. Keese were working at GE. Since then, the private company, Applied Biophysics, has been created around this product. The ECIS technology is now used in 6 continents and is utilized by major research foundations and universities.   

I am very excited to begin my STEM internship this year! I have heard so many incredible projects my fellow students have worked on in the past, and can’t wait to be a part of this program. From developing video games, to creating sustainable packaging with mushrooms, to learning about the evolution of molecular life, the stories I hear of my peers’ internships never cease to amaze me. One thing I love about the internships of my peers is that they were all able to explain how their work has real-world application. With my own internship, I hope to explore an area of science that will both challenge and inspire me. I am looking forward to working with people who are passionate about their area of study, and enthusiastic about sharing their love of science with others. I have confidence that my internship will be a guiding factor in what I want to pursue in college. Also, it will be a great experience for me to get a feel for working in a real lab setting before I go to college!