Summary
The Science Education Alliance is announcing the inclusion of its tenth cohort of 15 institutions in the US, as well as the University of Lagos, Nigeria, and Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Mexico.
The Science Education Alliance is announcing the inclusion of its tenth cohort of 15 institutions in the US, as well as the University of Lagos, Nigeria, and Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Mexico. The schools are new participating members of the Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) program.
SEA-PHAGES is a two-semester course-based research experience or CRE designed to replace the traditional introductory biology lab sequence in the undergraduate curriculum. SEA-PHAGES students begin with isolating bacteriophages from local soil samples, progress through a variety of microbiology techniques to purify and characterize their own viruses, isolate genomic phage DNA, and engage in the bioinformatics analysis and annotation of their phage genomes. Students name their phages, and have the opportunity to present their findings at their local institution, regional meetings, and at the annual SEA-PHAGES symposium.
Collectively, the data generated by the SEA-PHAGES students lead to new insights about the genetic complexity and evolution of bacteriophages. And students have also uncovered novel mechanisms underlying the interactions between viruses and their host bacteria. Developed in 2008 by HHMI Professor Graham Hatfull at the University of Pittsburgh with support from HHMI, the SEA-PHAGES program has been implemented at over 120 colleges and universities and has produced more than 70 peer-reviewed publications, many including SEA-PHAGES students and faculty as co-authors. In the fall of 2016, 4,329 students, primarily freshmen and sophomores, participated in the program.
The Science Education Alliance, Cohort X, includes:
Aaniiih Nakoda College - Harlem, Montana
Bowling Green State University - Bowling Green, Ohio
Coastal Carolina University - Conway, South Carolina
Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Indiana, Pennsylvania
Iowa State University - Ames, Iowa
Northwest Indian College - Bellingham, Washington
Salish Kootenai College - Pablo, Montana
St. Louis Community College - St. Louis, Missouri
SUNY Old Westbury - Old Westbury, New York
Tarleton State University - Stephensville, Texas
United Tribes Technical College - Bismarck, North Dakota
Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León - San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico
University of Central Oklahoma - Edmond, Oklahoma
University of Lagos - Lagos, Nigeria
University of Nevada Las Vegas - Las Vegas, Nevada
University of South Florida - Tampa, Florida
Virginia Western Community College - W. Roanoke, Virginia
Applications to become a member of the Science Education Alliance are accepted annually, with a deadline of November 1 to begin offering the course in the following academic year. More details about the program are available at www.hhmi.org/SEA.