Week 1: June 1-2
Thursday (06/01/17)
Exciting first day orientation and safety training off-Base for the newly assembled crew. The mentors and students bonded as work started towards a common goal.
Friday (06/02/17)
On the second day, the students began learning and overviewing basic lab
techniques. These techniques include: conversion factors, serial dilutions,
micro pipetting, and creating and pouring plates of LB agar. Under the
tender supervision of knowledgable mentors, the students learned to accurately
master lab techniques that would prove invaluable once lab work began.
Week 2: June 5-9
Monday (06/05/17) and Tuesday (06/06/17)
The first two days of this week were spent on Wright Patt Air Force Base
(WPAFB). The team members toured the two labs that they would be
working in and received safety training in both. The student researchers
were very excited to tour the world-class facilities on base. Multiple brainstorming
discussions were also held to finalize the project idea. After the week of training, the
group of students split up into 2 groups: one to work in the 711th Human
Performance Wing, and one to work in the Materials Directorate. The young
researchers at the 711th Human Performance Wing were tasked with sensing and
response while the researchers at the Materials Directorate were tasked with
packaging.
Wednesday (06/07/17)
On the first day in the lab the members made LB broth, (formula in
protocol tab). Although a simple procedure, this was the first hands-on
experience for the students in the lab. They then did a plasma
transformation protocol using E.coli JM109 and the plasmid PRhl_GFPa1. The
bacteria created was plated onto LB chloramphenicol and left in incubator (37°C),
overnight. If there was growth on the plates in the morning there would a greater
probability that the E. coli absorbed the plasmid. The tired but excited young
researchers went home with fingers crossed.