CURE Showcase

Students work with Innovative Consulting and Training, LLC, the City of Surprise Wastewater Treatment Plant, and ASU researcher Dr. Beth Polidoro to test for the presence of E.coli, Pseudomonas species, nitrates and microplastics at each stage of the wastewater treatment process using FTIR and 16S gene sequencing.   Students will then test hypotheses relating to the biodegradation of microplastics and the conditions in which Pseudomonas  species can enhance the wastewater treatment process.

For more information about this CURE, contact Robin.Cotter@phoenixcollege.edu

Working with Banner Health, a CURE was designed to develop workforce skills for laboratory sciences and health care professionals.  Medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the US. 70-80% of medical decisions are based on lab results performed by medical laboratory technicians.  Short blood samples often render inaccurate results, but may be the only option when it is difficult to draw enough blood from patients. This CURE will test if short samples produce inaccurate Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) results.  Students will collect, process, and test blood samples (standard and short) for BMP analytes and determine the minimum number of samples required to produce significant results. 

For more information about this CURE, contact Ana.Marti-Subirana@phoenixcollege.edu

Students utilize public data sets from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and the Department of Health Services (AZDHS) to identify patterns across data sets.  Students will be looking at issues such as the distribution of ozone, impact of uncontrolled burns on air quality, PFAS (chemicals found in Teflon and many other products), arsenic in water, and look for relationships with public health data.

For more information about this CURE, contact Frank.Marfai@phoenixcollege.edu

Working with the Phoenix Zoo and GIS collaborator, EASi engineering firm, students will develop a scope of work for an interactive map of the interesting plants of the Phoenix Zoo. The Phoenix Zoo houses animals in settings that mimic their natural habitats, so they also grow interesting plants from all over the world. However, this plant collection is not well known outside the Zoo. Students will create interactive map prototypes that are compliant with zoo standards and ADA regulations and present their interactive maps and the pros and cons of different map creation services to the Phoenix Zoo.

For more information on this CURE, contact Elena.Ortiz@phoenixcollege.edu