Initial Publication Date: October 24, 2006

SMaRT Course2006


Created by George Rice, Montana State University


Participant and instructors in the SMaRt course in the summer of 2006.

This intensive, project-oriented course is taught at the Center of Marine Biotechnology (COMB), University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, Baltimore, with participation by scientists from Indiana University.

The course is for Undergraduate Students with a strong interest and some familiarity with microbiology. This NSF-funded course is targeted to students from groups traditionally underrepresented in science. 

Ten day intensive training in microbiology and molecular microbial ecology will be given. Teaching and hands-on research will focus on microbes in sponges although the principles and skills covered are generally applicable in microbiology. Students isolate microbes from sponges, identify isolates by 16S ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) sequencing, extract total DNA from sponges and perform PCR on this DNA to amplify microbial genes. Microscopy, fluorescence in situ hybridization and detection of signaling compounds from microbes are covered.
 

Gamola Fortenberry from Florida A & M University
Gamola Fortenberry from Florida A & M University.



SMaRT2006 instructors, graduate student Naomi Montalvo and Visiting Professor Soad Abou-El-Ela from Suez Canal University, Egypt.
SMaRT2006 instructors, graduate student Naomi Montalvo and Visiting Professor Soad Abou-El-Ela from Suez Canal University, Egypt.



Instructor Elisha Cicirelli (graduate student, Indiana University) and Tiara Moore from Baltimore City Community College.
Instructor Elisha Cicirelli (graduate student, Indiana University) and Tiara Moore from Baltimore City Community College.



Jinjun Kan (seated) demonstrating scanning of DGGE gels.  Left to right: Saffie Bangura, Eman Soliman, Mona El Sayed, Russell Hill and Soad Abou-El-Ela.
Jinjun Kan (seated) demonstrating scanning of DGGE gels. Left to right: Saffie Bangura, Eman Soliman, Mona El Sayed, Russell Hill and Soad Abou-El-Ela.



Water sampling on the Chesapeake Bay.
Water sampling on the Chesapeake Bay. Left to right: Gamola Fortenberry, Sherril Leon Soon and Saffie Bangura.



Instructor Matthew Anderson (left) and Mona El Sayed.
Instructor Matthew Anderson (left) and Mona El Sayed.



Research cruise from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.
Research cruise from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. Left to right: Gamola Fortenberry, Tiara Moore, Mona El Sayed, Lisa Hutchinson and Saffie Bangura.



Copyright on all images and material by Russell Hill, 2006. 


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