Senior Biological Research

The Senior Biological Research course creates a space for students who have demonstrated proficiency in fundamental research skills, through either the Biological Research course and/or the Summer Research Intensive, and want to further deepen and expand the proficiency of their research skills within the context of a real-world project.

Students engaged in two projects:

Project 1: Designing and optimizing a detection method for two genes for the California Institute of Technology

Students designed a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) - based detection method for two genes involved in breaking down phenazine molecules that are antibiotic-like molecules produced naturally by bacteria. As part of this project, students had to design PCR primers and optimize time and temperature gradients as part of PCR to maximize amplification of their target gene (and minimize off-target amplification) from a complex mixture of bacterial DNA sequences. The results were verified with genetic controls with and without the two genes and the data was presented to Dr. Newman at her lab at Caltech.

Student Commentary

Project 2: Antibiotic Resistance

Students used primary literature to identify a research question and hypothesis that they used to choose a local soil sample and a resistance gene of their choice to perform experiments about antibiotic resistance, including samples from around local hospitals and parks. The data was reviewed and entered into the national antibiotic resistance database maintained by Tufts University.


Student Learning Outcomes