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July 7, 2014

Last month, 32 students completed the Life Sciences Summer Institute (LSSI) pre-internship “bootcamp” training at Miramar and Grossmont colleges. The one-week training is designed to provide San Diego County students hands-on laboratory research experience prior to starting their seven-week, paid research internships at Salk Institute, The Scripps Research Institute, the Sanford-Burnham Institute for Medical Research, Verdant Therapeutics, Buster Biofuels, ThoughtSTEM or the UCSD-Research Scholars Program.

Some of the topics covered during bootcamp sessions and labs included:

  • Polymerase chain reactions
  • Aseptic technique
  • Cell culture
  • Protein assay
  • pH meters
  • ELISA plates
  • Bioinformatics
  • Lab safety

Students also learned about communications in the lab environment and common internship mistakes to better prepare them for their upcoming work experiences.

LSSI connects high school students and science teachers to San Diego’s life sciences industry. Students apply to participate in summer-long, paid research internships.
Students are mentored by a scientist, exposed to real-life
science practices, and increase their scientific knowledge and experience.

Also part of LSSI, 21 teachers from San Diego County and surrounding areas will participate in a 12-day professional development program that exposes them to new biotechnology lab curriculum using the Amgen Biotech Experience (ABE) as well as several half-day externships with biotechnology companies in San Diego. Teachers are able to make connections to the curriculum learned, hear about career pathways, and meet with science researchers. Once teachers complete the program, they have access to loaner equipment and supplies through the Southern California Biotech Center at Miramar College.

For more about LSSI, visit https://workforce.org/grants/2010/04/01/life-sciences-summer-institute.

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