John Castorino

Science is a product of the society in which the work is conducted. Every political administration in the United States has influenced science, but the acuteness with which the current administration is impacting the direction and dissemination of scientific research is unprecedented. Areas of science including agriculture, health and disease, technology, environment, and energy are all being shaped by the Trump administration. We will review this administration's specific reports, policies, orders, and laws that will affect scientific research. We will review the published science that supports or refutes those reports and policies. Each student will be responsible for adopting a particular area of science of their choosing and documenting how that type of research is being impacted. Students will learn to use scientific primary sources to help differentiate fake science from what has been supported by data. Keywords:scientific research, politics, social media, scientific publication, science communication

This introductory laboratory-intensive course will explore the process of doing scientific research in a molecular biology lab (which is relevant to many fields of science including neuroscience and other types of biomedical research). Students will learn numerous techniques in the lab, including DNA isolation, PCR, gel electrophoresis, restriction enzyme digests, cloning, and basic microscopy. Students will engage in a semester-long laboratory research project within a cancer biology gene cloning context. Students will perform protocols, collect and analyze data, and report their conclusions in written and oral formats. This course is intended for students with little or no experience in a biology lab, and it will help prepare students for other laboratory courses such as Cell Biology. Students must be able to come into the laboratory to complete work 10-12 hours per week in the laboratory, including coming in outside of designated class time. Keywords:Laboratory research, genetic engineering, cloning, neuroscience, cancer

Exercise Science 101 with Certified Personal Trainer Certification

Cell biology laboratory skills are the core foundational skills for all biomedical research. Students will maintain mammalian cell lines throughout the semester and conduct experiments using their cells using techniques such as transfections, fluorescence microscopy, proliferation assays, migration assays, and transwell invasion assays. The end of the semester will be reserved for students to design and conduct their own cell biology experiments. Students must also enroll in Cell Biology (NS-247), the main course component. Keywords:Biomedical research, neuroscience, cancer, stem cells

Cells are the foundation of all life. The structures and processes inside cells determine how life functions (or dysfunctions). We will discover what is known about how cells work through a combination of primary literature, laboratory research, and textbook readings. We will also discuss what is still not known and how scientists work to find the answers. The class structure will be divided into one day of lecture and one day of problem set review. Students that take Cell Biology will also be enrolled in Cell Biology Laboratory (NS-246), the laboratory component of the course. Keywords:Biomedical research, neuroscience, cancer, stem cells