Operating electron and confocal microscopes, designing modeling projects and cultivating cells were just a few of the activities students from across the country participated in at the Penn State Biomaterials and Bionanotechnology Summer Institute (BBSI).
From May 28 to Aug. 7, 15 students from various universities took part in skills workshops, weekly seminars and laboratory research at the University and Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
The BBSI is designed to form a community of students interested in pursuing careers in biomedical science and engineering, with a successful and meaningful research experience. It is a collaborative teaching effort among the departments of bioengineering, chemistry and materials science and the Materials Research Institute.
"The goal of BBSI at Penn State is for people from many other disciplines to bring their skills to bioengineering," said Peter Butler, associate professor of bioengineering and director of the institute.
During the first two weeks, students participated in three skills workshops. The day-long workshops were designed to give students a hands-on introduction to various laboratory equipment and to accelerate proficiency in bioengineering techniques.
Skills workshop topics included methods in cell culture, atomic force microscopy and an introduction to molecular dynamics and protein modeling.
In collaboration with a faculty investigator, each student was also required to design a 10-week research project using their training in cellular and molecular engineering, quantitative microscopy and computational methods in bioengineering.
Some of the most sought-after research projects involved work with the artificial heart laboratory, biomaterials, tissue engineering and cancer related topics.
James Dent, a bioengineering graduate from Carnegie Mellon University and aspiring cardiologist, is a second-year participant. He chose to participate in the Penn State BBSI because of the hands-on interaction; he was especially interested in the artificial heart laboratory.
"I was looking for a research experience that (would give) me an opportunity to present my findings and help me prepare for my future," Dent said.
The weekly seminars included an overview of lab activities presented by the faculty mentor, as well as the research progress to date presented by second-year students. The students also enjoyed breakfast with the speakers and group discussions.
At the end of the BBSI program students were required to participate in a research symposium, which gave them the opportunity to present their finalized research projects to fellow students and faculty.
"The BBSI opens many doors for its student participants," Butler said. "In the past we've had students invited to present at national meetings and many students have also had journal articles published."
Participation in the institute is a 40-hour-per-week commitment and is only available for upper-level undergraduate students and first-year graduate students. It is funded collaboratively by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.
There are 13 other BBSI programs at academic institutions across the country.