Biology Student Benefits from Attending STEM Industry Night

STEM Industry Night, hosted by the Career Center, proved to have immediate benefits for one our students in the Department of Biological & Environmental Sciences.  Dana Thiemann, a Biology Senior got an internship with Aalto Scientific, one of the event vendors. The research that she will be conducting this summer is essentially a continuation of the research she is currently learning in her Molecular Biotechniques class.

The Molecular Biotechniques course is a course-based undergraduate experience (CURE) designed to provide cutting-edge research training to students. Dana, who has not had an opportunity to participate in individual mentored research, is conducting an original class project with a team of 3 other students. Her team is working with the oncogene c-myc. The goal of team is to design a DNA molecule that can be used to validate the regulatory function of this oncogene.

Over this spring semester, students in this course learned how to design PCR primers, design, and simulate a molecular cloning experiment, perform cell culture techniques, and use some of the department’s newer technology like the TapeStation and Nanopore sequencing.

Throughout the course, the students - including Dana -  learned how to work in a scientific team and conduct multiple types of data analysis skills along with scientific communication (both written and oral). These transferable skills are evident in her success in getting this internship.

Dana credits Assistant Professor Dr. Arnab Sengupta for providing “...an opportunity like this to us students who have not participated in a research class and thank you for helping me personally with learning new lab techniques and helping with my resume. I truly believe that I would not be getting this internship without this class and your support”.