What do recombinant DNA, cell lysis, protein purification and gel electrophoresis have in common? BUSM SummerLab students know!
Since 1996 more than 600 students from myriad of countries including China, Germany, Nigeria and Spain as well as from many states across the US, have participated in Boston University School of Medicine’s SummerLab program.
Over the week-long 30-hour program, students participate in a series of laboratory experiments. Working in student-run teams, they learn to collaborate and negotiate to produce the best possible results for a variety of laboratory challenges. At the end of the week the student teams share their findings with each other, their families, and the greater BU community during a poster session.
Boston University CityLab Director Don DeRosa describes the SummerLab program as “an opportunity for students to explore the fundamentals of biotechnology in an authentic, hands-on laboratory setting.” CityLab educators guide students to become increasingly independent during a week of exploration and inquiry based lab work. This opportunity allows students to use scientific ways of thinking as they develop vital lab skills and experience work as research scientists.
While SummerLab may be seen as an individual educational experience, students who attend find working with like-minded peers enriching and rewarding.
According to Isabella a SummerLab 2010 participant, “Some people may say that spending a week at science camp is nerdy or geeky. Honestly, there’s nothing nerdy about it. It’s just a bunch of smart people in a room who are passionate about science. SummerLab just gives us the opportunity to expand that passion!”
“People thinking about signing up for SummerLab should know the basics of biology and that they will be in for an amazing and beneficial experience where they can learn more about biology, meet new people, and have fun,” explained Joe, a SummerLab 2010 participant.
Jordan, a former SummerLab participant who is majoring in pharmacy summed it up when she said, “SummerLab helped me to understand where I wanted to go in life, and it opened my eyes to how amazing science can be.”
SummerLab is open to students entering the 10th, 11th or 12th grades as well as recent high school graduates. The only pre-requisite is a motivation and desire to learn. For additional information and an online application, visit https://www.bumc.bu.edu/citylab/summerlab/ or call 617-638-5665.