Co-PIs: Drs. Mara Motriuk-Smith, Scott Burt and Dino Madsen
PIs: Drs. Suki Smaglik and Steve McAllister
PI: Dr. Tina Christinck
PI: Dr. Ami Wangeline
PIs: Drs. Elise Kimball and Allan Childs
PI: Dr. Ami Ericson and Jacki Canterbury
PI: Dr. Bud Chew
Casper College and the University of Wyoming/ Casper College Center (UW/CC) work together to award associates degrees in a variety of life science related disciplines and baccalaureate degrees in Biology and Math and Natural Sciences. Selected community college and University of Wyoming students have worked on several projects incorporating techniques and concepts commonly used in biomedical investigations including microbial identification, DNA fingerprinting, PCR, electrophoresis, protein expression, microscopy, data analysis, diagnostic parasitology, taxonomy, molecular systematics, and disease ecology/epidemiology. Since the start of the INBRE program INBRE supported research at Caser College and UW/CC has resulted in 8 publications in peer-reviewed journals, 50+ presentations at INBRE, regional, national, and international scientific meetings, and multiple presentations at Wyoming Undergraduate Research Day.
At Central Wyoming Community College research projects have, and will continue to, pursue two main lines of inquiry. The first is an investigation into the microbiota of hot springs in Thermopolis, Wyoming. This is a metagenomic study that involves the use of several basic molecular biology techniques that students can apply to other areas of biomedical research. The second study is investigating the prevalence of West Nile Virus in the local community. Equipment purchased with INBRE funds has allowed faculty to introduce molecular biology techniques into biology and microbiology teaching labs including ELISA, PCR, and PAGE. A major improvement has been the addition of a permanent molecular biology research facility.
The Eastern Wyoming College INBRE Network proposal is based on a research project that would focus on extracting DNA from several sagebrush species that grow in eastern Wyoming. Students would follow the necessary steps to send the DNA to a facility to sequence common "housekeeping" genes from the plants' DNA using the model available from Bio-Rad. This sequence would then be published in the Gen-Bank database, according to Bio-Rad. This project would help to fulfill the needs of our science curriculum, particularly for sophomore students, and would serve as a separate research assessment for biology and pre-professional students. We would make this a required two-hour credit class, to be utilized much like a capstone class, and the discovery and published information would serve as a project evaluation tool. Bio-Rad will host a conference in Denver, Colorado in November which would be a valuable resource for both students and instructors of this course, particularly students who belong to the related Range and Wildlife Club.
Laramie County Community College joined the INBRE Community College Research Network in 2007. During the initial year support was provided to install 2 biosafety cabinets so that the microbiology laboratory is now a level II biosafety lab. With this enhancement LCCC was able to offer a course in microbiology research spring 2008 in which students participated in a lichenometry project. During the summer 2008 six students are participating in a paleozoological study comparing fossilized and fresh bone histology and porosity. These students will encourage more student research by presenting their research findings at the first LCCC Science Club meeting in fall of 2008, and by displaying their posters within the science building. The addition of LCCC to the network is considered one of the milestones achieved to date.
At Northwest Community College selected students will gain laboratory experience by working on projects that incorporate techniques and concepts common in biomedical research such as imaging/microscopy, molecular biology, microbiology, BLAST searches, data organization and analysis, and presentation and discussion of results within a small research group. Current work focuses on isolating bacteria from soil, extracting DNA, PCR amplification of the 16S ribosomal subunit gene and submission of PCR product for sequencing. Sequences are subjected to a BLAST search for tentative identification of bacteria species/strains present. Students then test soil bacteria for ability to inhibit growth of Escherichia coli as a representative Gramnegative and Staphylococcus aureus as a representative Gram-positive bacterium.
At Sheridan Community College INBRE support has allowed increased coverage of biomedical techniques in core courses in biology and chemistry. The biology department has developed a research course in biology and chemistry where students focus on biomedical techniques and are exposed to the research process and selected students pursue independent studies with mentor faculty. Students have reported their findings at the University of Wyoming Undergraduate Research Days on an annual basis. Students have also presented at the Western IDeA States Symposium on Evolutionary Medicine in Albuquerque spring 2007 and at the American Institute of Biological Sciences Annual Meeting in spring 2008. Faculty and institutional interest has stimulated planning for a multidisciplinary Certificate in Biotechnology and a program proposal will be submitted to the Curriculum and Standards Committee fall 2008, with a projected start-up date of fall 2009.
Last, research at Western Wyoming College will continue to focus on cardiovascular and neurological changes that result from iron deficiency. Students and mentor faculty have presented findings at the Experimental Biology conference, have published a paper in cooperation with INBRE PI Ren, and have a manuscript in preparation with Dr. Bruce Culver's lab at the University of Wyoming. A Science Journal Club has been established that is attended by research group members, a few invited students, and other science faculty. Each week, a faculty member chooses a paper, and two students are tasked to present a PowerPoint as a discussion outline. The Journal Club has been highly successful and noticeable improvement has been observed in student's ability to read, understand, and present the key points of scientific papers. The program at Western Wyoming College will continue to build on achievements to date.
