The Biotech Remote Research Summer course is an award-winning, competitive admissions program that represents a prestigious credential. Boston Leadership Institute loans students state-of-the-art lab equipment to be used at home for the course that they then ship back at the end of the program.
Your instructor, Dr. Lazebnik, holds a Ph.D. in Genetics from Tufts School of Medicine. She has conducted research at the NIH, Brandeis, and the Tufts Molecular Oncology Research Institute. The teaches at Bentley University. She has been working non-stop to create an amazing experience for our students this fall.
Below are a few examples of what you might do in class. Note the final activity – students will complete individual research projects genetic diseases of their choice. You will then present and attend an official ceremony on the last day of the program, earning a certificate from the Boston Leadership Institute.
Bacterial Transformation Lab
What is genetic engineering? What are designer proteins? Learn how you can manipulate an organism’s DNA by introducing a new gene into their bacteria! You’ll pour your own plates at home, observing the bacteria alter form over time after introducing a plasmid. Will you switch the correct gene on, creating an exciting reaction? This process introduces students to the CENTRAL premise of molecular biology! DNA -> RNA -> Protein -> Trait.
Micropipetting
Pipetting is an essential skill if you’re going to enter Biotech, Molecular Biology, Biological Research, or any similar area of study. Impress your future mentors by gaining experience now. You’ll need to master micropipettors to carefully and accurately transfer very small volumes of liquid from one place to another. This requires practice. You don’t want to be the one who interferes in the outcome of a critical step. A failure to pipette correctly results in false or no results, invalidating an entire experiment. These tools are expensive, so you’ve likely never had the opportunity to practice. But don’t worry! We’ll lend you ours, and you’ll get a leg up on the competition.
Simulation Antibody Test
Learn about antibody-based detection techniques in a wildly topical lab. In this simulated medical test, students use ELISA to identify anti-SARS CoV-2 antibodies in a patient’s blood sample. Students will learn how to administer the test, interpret the results, and identify the defining characteristics of today’s novel coronavirus.
Genetic Disease Research Project
Which genetic diseases interest you the most?! Muscular Dystrophy? Progeria? Down Syndrome? Choose your area of interest and complete a deep-dive research project to present to your fellow students during a special ceremony! Dr. Lazebnik will guide you through your questions, point you to the most solid academic research, and provide college-level feedback. At the end, you will have completed research projects and developed your own independent project! This is great material for college admissions essays and interviews. Showcase your initiative and drive. Explore a research career.
