Grad Students Sharpen Lab Skills, Scientific Know-how  in Jackson Laboratory Teacher Program

Date: April 13, 2005

Bar Harbor, Maine - Three University of Maine graduate students have spent the last few months immersed in scientific research, as part of an innovative program that places them under the guidance of a Jackson Laboratory scientist-mentor.

Maine natives Megan McOsker, Michael O'Brien and Adam Zukowski are students of the Master of Science in Teaching (MST) program, a content-rich, research-based master's degree program for secondary science and mathematics teachers. The students have undertaken research projects that involve mapping a genetic mutation, studying epilepsy in mice, and applying computer science to biological data in the field known as bioinformatics.

The students will conclude the research component of the program by presenting their findings at the MST Research Symposium to be held in The Jackson Laboratory Auditorium on Tuesday, April 19.

Ms. McOsker, a resident of Bar Harbor, says that she is excited to gain first-hand knowledge of microbiology and genetics while working in a laboratory setting. "The people I interact with in Dr. Lenny Shultz's lab have been so supportive and have gone out of their way to include me in the life of the lab," she said. "If I become a high school teacher, I want to be able to bring the flavor of an actual lab into the school setting. The experience I've gained at The Jackson Laboratory will allow me to do that."

UMaine Assistant Professor in Geological Sciences Molly Schauffler, Ph.D., has found that many science teachers lack confidence in guiding students through scientific projects because they have never experienced scientific research themselves. "We are helping teachers to make deliberate choices about how to include inquiry, discernment and higher-order thinking skills in their teaching of science, and not just base their curriculum on repetition of static concepts and lab procedures." As part of the MST Program Dr. Schauffler teaches a weekly class entitled "Research-Related Curriculum Development in Mathematics and Science."

Funding for the program is provided by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and The Lloyd G. Balfour Foundation, Fleet National Bank, A Bank of America Company, Trustee. The Howard Hughes and Balfour grants were announced in 2003.

More information about Master of Science in Teaching opportunities is available at http://www.umaine.edu/center/mst.htm, and other educational opportunities at The Jackson Laboratory at http://www.jax.org/education/index.html.

The Jackson Laboratory, founded 75 years ago, is the world's largest mammalian genetics research institution. Its research staff of more than 450 investigates the genetic basis of cancers, heart disease, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, glaucoma, diabetes, and many other human diseases and disorders. The Laboratory is also the world's source for nearly 3,000 strains of genetically defined mice, home of the Mouse Genome Database and many other publicly available information resources, and an international hub for scientific courses, conferences, training and education.

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Contact(s): Jade Harmer, 207-288-6051, jade@jax.org

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Email: news@jax.org