The LLNL Biotechnology Summer Experience is a two-week program that engages high school students in an authentic research project in molecular biology and bioinformatics. It focuses on the isolation, characterization, and DNA sequence analyses of genes from the duckweed species, Landoltia punctata. Duckweed is a fresh-water aquatic plant that is of interest to the scientific community.
High school students are expected to work to isolate and purify plasmid DNA and perform PCR (polymerase chain reactions), restriction digests, and gel electrophoresis. Students analyze gene sequences with the same bioinformatic tools used by scientists worldwide.
Students' DNA sequences are submitted for publication in the international DNA repository, Genbank, with each published sequence acknowledging the student by name. Students must bring their own laptops to the workshop.
Students must be a U.S. citizen and 16 years or older by the start of the workshop and have their own transportation to and from the workshop. Applications are competitive and space is limited. Lunch is not provided. Students may bring lunch or purchase onsite. Students are supervised through the lunch hour. There is NO cost to attend. The workshop is free.
When:
Weekdays, July 17–28, 2023
8:30 am to 4 pm
Where:
LLNL Discovery Center
2500 Greenville Road
Livermore, CA 94550
* Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher to apply
All materials must be submitted to stem-education@llnl.gov by May 26, 2023 to be considered and include the following:
1) Application
2) Most recent high school transcript; unofficial copy will be accepted
3) Letter of recommendation from a high school biology or chemistry
teacher from the current or previous school year should be emailed separately to:
stem-education@llnl.gov