August 7, 2007
High School Students Participate in Cutting-Edge Research at ASUs Biodesign Institute
A group of researchers at ASU's Biodesign Institute recently presented findings from their work in areas including autism, cancer, renewable energy and diagnostic devices. It might have been a typical symposium except for one thing; the presenters were all high school students. The 26 Arizona students participated as paid interns for six weeks, each contributing to an actual research project ongoing at the institute.
"We felt it was important for the students to work directly on a project as part of a research team in the same way they will if they pursue a career in research science," said Rick Fisher, director of educational outreach at the Biodesign Institute.
The Biodesign internship included participants from 13 Valley schools and is the largest bioscience high school internship in Arizona. It supports a Valleywide initiative to strengthen the area's bioscience/biotechnology industry.
Students applied for the program and were competitively selected by a review team from the Biodesign Institute based on a variety of factors, including science courses taken, grades, a short essay explaining their interest, and teacher references.
"The level of accomplishment and intellect of these students is remarkable," said Fisher. "We know that, overall, the United States has been losing ground in effectively preparing students for careers in math and science, but looking at these bright students, you realize that there are incredible pockets of excellence. The credit for their success must be shared by both the students and their teachers," he said.
This is the second year for the Biodesign Summer High School Internship, which is funded by a grant from the ASU Foundation's Women & Philanthropy program and the state-funded Technology and Research Initiative Fund. The objective is to enable high school students to participate in a cutting-edge laboratory research environment to further their education and interest in science as a career.
Some examples of this summer's interns and their projects include:
Pictured above are Biodesign researcher Jerry Lin and Kathryn Scheckel, of Xavier College Preparatory.
Veronica Shi, of Corona del Sol High School, and Biodesign researcher Alan Filipski, PhD.
Kathryn Scheckel, a 2006 Xavier College Preparatory graduate and a Flinn Foundation Scholar, who worked in the institute's Center for Innovations in Medicine with researcher Kathryn Sykes, PhD. Sykes team attempts to identify genetic fingerprints of deadly infectious agents in order to create vaccines against them. Scheckel worked on validating genetic material for use in future vaccines.
Veronica Shi, a 2006 graduate from Corona del Sol High School and a U. S. Presidential Scholar, worked in the institutes Center for Evolutionary Functional Genomics with researcher Alan Fillipski, PhD. In a center devoid of the standard "wet lab" test tubes and chemicals, new types of scientists are emerging. These researchers use computers to identify genetic mutations that cause disease. By looking at DNA databanks goldmines of genetic information they compare the published genomes of species ranging from humans to mice and chickens to puffer fish to gain new insights into human disease. Shi developed a computer program to analyze the impact of mutations.
The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University is focused on innovations that improve health care; provide renewable sources of energy and clean the environment; outpace the global threat of infectious disease; and enhance national security. Using a team approach that converges the biosciences with nanoscale engineering and advanced computing, the goal is to find solutions to complex global challenges and accelerate these discoveries to market. In addition to its high school outreach, the institute also educates future scientists by providing hands-on laboratory research for more than 250 ASU undergraduate and graduate students per semester.
Participating students included:
| School | Student | Project descriptions |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona School for the Arts |
Sindhu Pandurangi | Examined overgrowth of bacteria in intestines of individuals diagnosed with autism |
| Basha | David Ganger | Tested a cheaper, faster, more versatile material for micromachine actuators in artificial muscles |
| Central | Alexander Brown | Attached gold nanoparticles to DNA for use in detecting disease |
| Chandler | Raza Mushtaq | Modified salmonella bacterium genes for use as a delivery method for new vaccines |
| Chandler | Andrew Tseng | Identifiedvarious anaerobic microbes, organic compounds, and acids in sewage/sludge for the purpose of refining methods to yield energy from waste |
| Chandler | Puja Umaretiya | Compared DNA patterns in salmonella bacterium that with genetic modifications could be used to deliver future vaccines |
| Chaparral | Rebecca Hui | Developed a stimulus/response microfluidic cassette for improved detection of disease |
| Chaparral | Eric Lakin | Produced special vitamin D-binding protein to advance a promising cancer immunotherapy. |
| Corona del Sol | Tara Bozorg-Grayeli | Created synthetic antibodies for detection of prostate cancer |
| Corona del Sol | Sam Hooke | Copied and amplified DNA to look for genetic mutations for use in a vaccine against cancer |
| Corona del Sol | Helen Jing | Prepared nucleosome samples to use in the study of DNA transcription errors that lead to cancerous cells |
| Corona del Sol | Priya Parikh | Made microchannels that promote solution mixing in an evolving nanochip that integrates lab tests |
| Corona del Sol | Veronica Shi | Developed a computer program to analyze the impact of mutations |
| Desert Mountain | Anita Lin | Identified genetic mutations that cause tumor cells for use in a cancer vaccine |
| Desert Mountain | Jordan Wong | Created synthetic antibodies for detection of prostate cancer |
| Desert Vista | Christine Hsieh | Researched optimization of salmonella as a mechanism to deliver a vaccine |
| Desert Vista | Sarah Ly | Tested silicon substrates as a biocompatible material for producing biosensors for cancer detection |
| Fountain Hills | Alex Fryer | Made nanorod materials for use in autonomous in-body nanomotors for medical actuators, sensors or pumps |
| Jess Schwartz Jewish Community |
Josh Steinberg | Improved the performance of organic solvents in plastics for use in an evolving nanotech chip that integrates forensic lab tests |
| La Joya Community | Alicia Johnson | Examined behavior of genetically modified salmonella intended as a delivery method for vaccines |
| Moon Valley | Mikala Mehlau | Studied interactions between a fluorescent dye and DNA for use in biophysical research |
| Mountain Pointe | Aubri Carman | Helped to create a nanotech cartridge to analyze DNA at crime scenes |
| Mountain Pointe | Kevin He | Researched more efficient production of hydrogen from a microbial fuel cell |
| Phoenix Country Day School |
Lauren Motzkin | Assembled a virus from different DNA fragments to better understand mutations that occur in coronaviruses, like SARS |
| Tempe Preparatory Academy |
Hannah Peckham | Quantified purified virus-like particles for use in a vaccine against the Norwalk virus, which causes intestinal infections and diarrhea |
| Xavier College Preparatory | Kathry Scheckel | Validated genetic material for use in future vaccines |
For more information, contact:
Julie Kurth
(480) 727-9386.
julie.kurth@asu.edu
