GPG: Collaborative Research: REU Pilot: Synthetic Biology Bootcamp

马萨诸塞州波士顿的西蒙斯学院和威斯康星州基诺沙市的迦太基学院被授予夏季合成生物学“新兵训练营”试点。这项奖励将支持2015年夏季在每个地点培训8名学生。接受该项目培训的学生将获得实验室研究技能，发展他们的批判性思维和解决问题的能力，了解科学的过程，并能够与他们的同龄人和普通公众交流他们的研究成果。学生们将有机会在全国会议上展示他们的成果。鼓励来自研究机会有限的学校和代表不足的群体的学生申请。这项合作提案将测试合成生物学跨学科领域强化教学的有效性，并询问新兵训练营是否为学生参与未来合成生物学的研究体验做好准备。这项建议的另一个目标是确定两个主要是本科生的机构之间分散的、合作的努力是否可以作为未来REU地点建议的样板。新兵训练营的重点将是讲座、计算机实验室和“湿实验室”研究，以设计生物体内的遗传电路。PIs在2013年夏天参加了GCAT合成生物学研讨会，他们将在这次研讨会之后模拟他们的计划。主要的研究问题将是设计能够从不同来源的水中感知碳氢化合物污染物的生物体。在为期四周的项目中，学生们将虚拟地参与包括生物伦理、实验室会议、期刊俱乐部和职业机会在内的活动。在计划结束时，学生将在虚拟海报会议上展示他们的研究。由生物基础设施部(生物科学局)资助的所有REU计划使用的通用网络评估工具将用于确定培训计划的有效性。学生必须在项目结束后被跟踪，并必须回复通过NSF报告系统发送的自动电子邮件。欲了解更多信息，请联系两位PI：Jennifer Roecklein-Canfield博士(电子邮件：jennifer.canfield@simmons.edu)或Deborah Tobiason博士(电子邮件：dtobiason@carthage.edu)。

An award has been made to Simmons College in Boston, MA and Carthage College in Kenosha, WI to pilot a summer "boot camp" in synthetic biology. This award will support training of eight students at each site during the summer of 2015. Students trained in the program will gain skills in lab research, develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills, understand the process of science, and be able to communicate their research results to their peers and the general public. Students will have an opportunity to present their results at a national conference. Students from schools with limited opportunities for research and from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.This collaborative proposal will test the effectiveness of intensive instruction in the interdisciplinary area of synthetic biology and ask if the boot camp prepares students to participate in future research experiences in synthetic biology. The other goal of this proposal is to determine if a dispersed, collaborative effort between two primarily undergraduate institutions can serve as a model for a future REU Sites proposal. The focus of the boot camp will be lecture, computer lab and "wet-lab" research to design genetic circuits in living organisms. The PIs participated in a GCAT Synthetic Biology workshop during the summer of 2013, and they will model their program after this workshop. The main research question will be to design organisms that can sense hydrocarbon contaminants in water from different sources. During the four week program, students will participate virtually in activities including bio-ethics, lab meetings, journal clubs, and career opportunities. At the end of the program, students will present their research in a virtual poster session.A common web-based assessment tool used by all REU programs funded by the Division of Biological Infrastructure (Directorate for Biological Sciences) will be used to determine the effectiveness of the training program. Students are required to be tracked after the program and must respond to an automatic email sent via the NSF reporting system. More information is available by contacting either of the PIs, Dr. Jennifer Roecklein-Canfield (at jennifer.canfield@simmons.edu) or Dr. Deborah Tobiason (at dtobiason@carthage.edu).