Summer research puts biology students ahead

By MAHITA GAJANAN

This summer, two biology students are spending their summer conducting research that will set them apart from the competition and put them ahead in their careers.

The first, Selma Sosic, is a sophomore at the campus in Pittsburgh, the other, Nashwan Jabri, is 2015 biology graduate of the Bradford campus.

Both are working with Dr. Om Singh, associate professor of biology. Sosic is working on two different research projects. For the first project, Sosic is working with a microorganism that has a reddish pink pigmentation. With Singh's help, Sosic extracts and measures the intensity of the colors produced by the microorganism.

The measurements allow her to find out more about the microbial characteristics, Sosic said.

For her second project, Sosic has extracted microorganisms from the root nodules of a clover plant to determine their identity. After taking out the cells, Sosic said she isolated their DNA and sent the results for gene sequencing. Once they return to Sosic, she can determine what makes up the organisms.

Although she hasn't decided if she will take a pre-med or pre-dentistry track in her studies, Sosic knows she wants to work in a health-related field after graduating from college, which often requires publications in scientific journals. As Sosic finished her freshman year at the Pittsburgh campus, she said she realized how difficult it would be to find hands-on research opportunities, since most in the Pittsburgh area are highly competitive and often taken by upperclassmen.

Originally from Bradford, Sosic came home for the summer and took on the research opportunity with Singh, who works one-on-one with students in research throughout the year. So far, she loves it. By working in the lab full time this summer, she will gain a unique experience in scientific studies - and publish two papers.

"The research helps me in lab technology and learn the concepts of microbiology," she said. "It's hard to get research as a freshman and to find something hands-on."

For 2015 graduate Nashwan Jabri, summer research comes as an extension of a project he worked on throughout the school year. This summer, he is finishing up his experiment, which requires extra time due to a number of variables.

Jabri is currently working on two species of bacteria in hopes of eventually creating a way to produce bio-methane. By observing the properties of the bacteria and their growth at different temperatures, and by changing the different concentrations of inorganic salts within them, Jabri will find whether the bacteria will grow and produce methane.

If the experiment succeeds, and the bacteria produce methane, Jabri might have hit upon an efficient way of medium composition to use in bio-methane production. He said they will help curb the imports of fossil fuels and provide an "energy independent" way of methane production.

Jabri echoed Sosic in the effectiveness of working in a lab in a hands-on environment.

"This experience will help a lot, in learning how to research, understanding the scientific method and obtaining data," he said.

Jabri hopes to go back to school to study engineering, with the eventual goal of combining both biology and engineering in his work. On working with Singh, Jabri said: "It's a lot of work, but it's always interesting. It's fast-paced work."

The experiment involves collaboration with other professors to obtain accurate results, Jabri said.

"As an undergraduate student at Pitt-Bradford, it is easy to seek advice from other professors in matters that are related to their field of specialty," he said.

Since beginning his professional career, Singh has realized the importance of research to undergraduate students because it prepares them for work in the post-grad world. As long as he is in town for the summer, he takes students and gives them opportunities to research and publish their results.

He said it's a great chance for students to independently conduct research, as well as rely on him for advice and guidance.

"Our students not only flourish in research, but are also given hands-on practice in the broader areas of biological sciences within the biology department," he said.

Not only do students learn the fundamentals of scientific aspects in research, but they also learn how to be disciplined as researchers. Such discipline is important to develop in any field that requires long hours and dedication to experiments that do not have guaranteed results.

"We try to propagate this foundation from undergraduate toward graduate school," Singh said. "Research is the key to any student's success."

Most experiments Singh assigns to students involve microorganisms that have the ability to thrive under adverse environmental conditions, such as UV radiation and temperature changes. Other experiments involve looking at the microbiome of rare earth sites, such as Sosic's study of clover root nodules.

Singh said he emphasizes that student-based research projects should yield results that can be used to benefit the environment and help the planet.

Students are also encouraged to publish their research in peer-reviewed journals. Publications in such journals prove that students have "outstanding training toward medical or graduate school," Singh said.