Hill District Students Get Research Experience in Search for New Antibiotics
High school students from Hill District schools who are interested in the sciences will participate in the Drug Design Intensive initiative, a five-week program at The Citizen Science Lab. Duquesne and economic development nonprofit Urban Innovation 21 launched the community life sciences lab in 2014.
Sixteen students have signed up for the initiative to gain hands-on computational and wet lab experience as they study protein structure weekdays from Tuesday, July 5, through Wednesday, Aug. 3. They will learn how to conduct research via simulations and live work with real materials.
“The goal is to expose these students to the same process used for drug development in the pharmaceutical industry and provide them with an experience that will increase their interest in the life sciences,” said Dr. Andre Samuel, director of The Citizen Science Lab, who earned his Ph.D. in biological sciences from Duquesne in 2014.
“The students will also get some exposure to the professional world by being compensated for their work in the form of a stipend.”
The students will learn how to screen for protein inhibitors because they will return to the Citizen Science Lab during the school year and contribute to a true research project with lab scientists who are searching for new antibiotic compounds.
The Citizen Science Lab developed the Drug Design Intensive initiative with support from a $50,000 grant from McAuley Ministries.
Pittsburgh’s first and only community life sciences laboratory, The Citizen Science Lab works to enrich the scientific appreciation of children and teens through hands-on experiences in after-school, weekend and summer programs. In addition, it encourages college students in their science and technology career preparations and welcomes adult learners.