Our lab participates in Outreach programs within the University of Michigan and the Ann Arbor area.
Summer Research Internships for High School Students |
|
 |
Zaid KhatibJunior, Ann Arbor Pioneer High School |
RESEARCH INTERESTS:I have always been interested in the medical field and becoming a biomedical engineer or a medical doctor. It is this interest that particularly excites me about the opportunity to work this summer at the CENT LAB, as one of the focuses of the lab is researching the effectiveness of certain medicines/therapeutic activities against cancer cells. I am very excited about this, because it will give me a chance to learn more about how cancer attacks the body and about the research relating to the medicines and procedures that work to combat the effects of cancer on a patient. | |
HONORS, AWARDS & PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:
| |
PERSONAL INFO: |
|
|
I love learning, particularly in the areas of math and science, and would like to study engineering or medicine once I start college. I also love music, and I compose and produce my own music in my free time. I am also a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and have competed in several state and local competitions. I am very excited to spend this summer working at the CENT lab! |
|
Supporting FIRST Competition
Dr. El-Sayed met with a team of young, smart, and very motivated students named themselves team "The Chocolate Chunks of Doom" from Crissman Elementary School, which is part of Utica Community School District in Shelby Township, Michigan to discuss their idea of developing a new diagnostic/therapeutic particle for treatment of lung cancer. Team members, Lukas Gjelaj (6th grade), Tori Motloch (6th grade), Robbie Scrivano (5th grade), Alex Roy (5th grade), and Jessica Czapla (5th grade) represent their school in FIRST Program, which promotes science and technology to the young generations. This year, the theme of FIRST Lego League is "Body Forward" where each team is expected to pick a body part and come up with a new idea to address a health problem associated with this body part and also build a well-functioning robot. The team chose lung cancer as the topic for the research project because of the high death toll associated with this disease. They visited with Dr. El-Sayed to discuss their idea to develop nanoparticles coated with a contrast agent that allows early detection of lung cancer cells during annual checkup exams for people with high risk of developing cancer. The team also visited the CENT LAB where they met with Dr. Durmaz who explained different sections of the lab and the use of different equipment. We wish the best for the team. Below are few pictures of the visit to the University of Michigan, the Biomedical Engineering Department, and CENT LAB.
Click a picture to see a larger view.
The Michigan Mentorships Program
The Michigan Mentorships Program is a collaborative effort through the Washtenaw County Alliance for Gifted Education and the University of Michigan that aims to match high school students with a graduate student mentor in their field of interest during the summer. Mentors teach students about graduate school and help to foster interest in their respective fields. The CENT Lab participated in the Michigan Mentorships Program during Summer 2010. Graduate Students Layla Houshmand and Matthew LaVelle mentored Rose Wall (Skyline HS, Ann Arbor MI) and Lisa Miller (Dexter HS, Dexter, MI) and instructed them in liposome fabrication, analysis, and testing.
Click a picture to see a larger view.
