This one-day class is designed to give our scholars a solid foundation in the math and chemistry skills they’ll use every day in the lab. Wel review essential topics like unit conversions, working with scientific notation, making and interpreting graphs, calculating concentrations and dilutions, and applying these concepts to real lab scenarios. The session is hands-on, practical, and focused on building confidence so that math becomes a helpful tool rather than a hurdle. By the end of the session, scholars feel more prepared to tackle experiments, analyze results, and make the most of their summer research experience. 

In these week-long minicourses scholars are introduced to the essential data and computational skills that support modern research. Designed for learners with little to no prior coding or software experience, the workshop focuses on practical, domain-specific lessons that connect directly to participants’ research interests. Through guided, hands-on activities, scholars will learn how to organize, analyze, and work more effectively with data, while also gaining confidence with new tools and approaches. Collaboration and peer support are central to the experience, ensuring that everyone learns not only from the instructors but also from one another. By the end of the week, participants will be ready to apply their new skills directly to their own research projects.

In this hands-on, two-day workshop, scholars will explore the fundamentals of PCR and qPCR—powerful techniques used to detect and amplify DNA. Together, we break down the core concepts, walk through the steps of these methods, and connect them to real-life applications in research. With plenty of opportunities to practice and ask questions, participants gain both confidence and practical skills that strengthen their performance in the lab throughout the summer and beyond. This event is proudly sponsored and organized by Thermo Scientific and the UW Biotechnology Center.