SSTTAARRSS NNOOTTEESSSCIENCE TEACHER ACCESS TO RESOURCES AT SOUTHWESTERN• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

ll STARS activities and events are offered free of charge to teachers in the state of Texas.

STARS symposia consist of a series of lectures given by scientists and physicians currently doing research at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and affiliatedinstitutions. The science symposia and inservice sessionsare excellent resources for teachers to learn about cutting-edge research in the biomedical sciences, to discover newclassroom activities, and to obtain professional develop-ment credit at the same time. If you wish to attend any up-coming events, please pre-register by calling 214-648-9505 or visiting our online registration page atwww.utsouthwestern.edu/stars.

Mini-Symposium: Neural Development & Disease– Jan. 9, 2006Neural Development: Lessons from the Spinal Cord by JaneJohnson, Ph.D., Associate Professor of the Center for BasicNeuroscienceNeurodegenerative Diseases: Alzheimer & Parkinson byDwight German, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry

Teacher Inservice:Biotechnology inthe Post-GenomicAge – Feb. 4, 2006This inservice focusedon a series of activitiesthat used genomeresources to identifymutant yeast strains.By: Joel Goodman,Ph.D., Professor of

Pharmacology, and members of his lab, Derk Binns, Ph.D.,and Kimberly Szymanski.

Mini-Symposium: Drugs & Bugs – Mar. 6, 2006Antibiotics by Joel Goodman, Ph.D., Professor ofPharmacologyAnti-malarial Drug Discoveryby Jeff Baldwin, Ph.D., Instructor of Pharmacology

WHAT’S INSIDE

STAFFJoel Goodman, Ph.D.Professor of PharmacologySTARS DirectorJan and Bob Bullock Distinguished Chair for Science Educationjoel.goodman@utsouthwestern.edu

Jeannie HanProgram Coordinatorjeannie.han@utsouthwestern.edu

5323 Harry Hines Blvd.Dallas, Texas 75390-9137(214) 648-9505(800) 81-STARSFAX: (214) 648-9508Homepage: http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/stars

UT Southwestern is an equal opportunityinstitution. Core funding for the STARSprogram is provided by the state of Texas.

Visit our web site athttp://www.utsouthwestern.edu/stars

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STARS NotesSeptember 2006Volume XI, Number 2

hanks to a grant from Citigroup and space providedby the Department of Pharmacology, STARS and

DISD were able to partner for a two-week programdesigned to give teachers an opportunity to practiceand learn various techniques, laboratory activities,

and units that caneasily be imple-mented into theclassroom. Inorder to facilitatethe implementa-tion of these labsand activities,each teacher wasgiven an allottedamount to funds

to order supplies for their classes. They were alsoexposed to the numerous opportunities and resourcesavailable through STARS, UT Southwestern, andDallas ISD. The participants were required to presenta modified or original lesson at the end of the work-shop. When asked to comment about how theywould describe their experience, this is an excerpt ofwhat a few of them had to say…

“The program was a learning experience, which I

enjoyed. The information is useful and very helpful for my classroom labs. We have developed long termrelationships that will benefit us in the future.” “The labs were outstanding and provided me withthe opportunity to know what to expect when I dothe labs in class with my students. This is a musthave, must attend workshop; the best staff develop-ment opportunity available to DISD teachers.”“The STARS workshop was a wonderful opportunityto learn from other teachers and create a better expe-rience for students. The program itself allows theteacher to use resources to aid in learning.” Participants: Don Porter, WT White High School – Instructor for STARS workshopSusan Attebury, Bryan Adams High SchoolGay Bingham, Seagoville High SchoolKamilah Crouch, Skyline High SchoolEbun DeBase, Lincoln High SchoolJennifer Martinez, WT White High SchoolMaria Spencer, Roosevelt High SchoolTimothy Spencer, Carter High SchoolAidan Raniere, Irma Lerma Rangel High SchoolMary Rivers, WT White High SchoolRudolph White, Skyline High School

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Continued on Page 5

Summer Yearbook...................3 & 4Fall Calendar...................................5Spring & Summer Events cont’d.....5Eastfield/STARS Summer Cohort.....2Staff & Programs...........................6

PROGRAMSSYMPOSIABasic Science SymposiaMini-Symposia

OUTREACHBureau of Science Fair JudgesDistance Learning InitiativeResearch AssistanceScience AmbassadorsStudent Mentoring

SUMMER RESEARCHSummer Research Program for TeachersSummer Research Program for Students

TOURSUT Southwestern Allied Health Sciences SchoolUT Southwestern Medical CenterParkland Health & Hospital System of DallasChildren’s Medical Center DallasZale-Lipshy University HospitalSt. Paul University Hospital

INSERVICE SESSIONSCell-ebrationBiomechanicsKidney Under PressureGeneticsBiotechnologyExercise PhysiologyGel ElectrophoresisHuman Physiology in SpaceMuscle PhysiologySuturing Techniques

STARSNonprofit Org.U.S.POSTAGE

PAIDDallas, Texas

Permit No. 12335323 Harry Hines Blvd.Dallas, TX 75390-9137

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Spring 2006 STARS Events

Summer Stock2006 AvailableA compilation of the class-room activities developedby the participants in theSTARS Summer ResearchProgram for Teachers isavailable free of charge. Theactivities range in level ofapplicability from middleschool science to AdvancedPlacement classes. You mayobtain a FREE copy ofSummer Stock 2006 by contacting the STARS office.

Streaking plates

STARS/DISD Two-week Summer Workshop for New Biology Teachers

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Basic Science Symposium: The Immune System –April 1, 2006Good Fences Make Good Neighbors by Lora Hooper, Ph.D.,Assistant Professor of the Center for ImmunologyCells of the Innate Immune System: Soldiers on the Front Line byMichelle Gill, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of PediatricsEven T Cells Need to Go to School by Nicolai Van Oers, Ph.D.,Assistant Professor of the Center for ImmunologyGenes That Control Autoimmune Diseases by Edward Wakeland,Ph.D., Professor & Director for the Center for Immunology

Special Family Event: Forensic Pathology – April 27, 2006STARS and the Dallas Museum of Nature & Science had anoth-er successful collaboration with this Special Family Event onForensic Pathology. The teachers and parents learned abouthow and what medical examiners really do from ReadeQuinton, M.D., Assistant Professor of Pathology.Simultaneously, students were in a session with Melinda Ludwigfrom the Dallas Museum of Nature & Science, working onhands-on activities that took them through an adventureregarding Wildlife CSI.

Spring 2006 STARS Events–Continued from Page 1 Mark your Calendars!

Fall 2006 Sept. 11, 2006 Monday 5:30 pm - 8:00 pmMini-Symposium: Gene SilencingLecture Hall, D1.502

Oct. 14, 2006 Saturday 9:00 am - 3:00 pmBasic Science Symposium: MembranesLecture Hall, D1.502

Nov. 6, 2006 Monday 5:30 pm - 8:00 pmMini-Symposium: Antibiotic ResistanceLecture Hall, D1.502

Dec. 2, 2006 Saturday 9:00 am - 3:00 pmTeacher Inservice: Proteins & EnzymesMeeting Room, NG3.202Limited EnrollmentNOTE: Room located at 6001 Forest Park Blvd.Dallas, TX 75390

Other Important Dates to RememberJan. 19, 2007 Friday Deadline to submit requests for Science Fair Judges

Feb. 2, 2007 @ 4pm Friday Application Deadline for the SummerResearch Program

June 4, 2007 Monday Summer Research Program Begins

All events are held on the UT Southwestern South Campusat 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. Dallas, TX 75390. For directions, call the STARS office or visit the STARS web page.

Missed it or Want to See it Again?If you missed a STARS Basic ScienceSymposium / Mini-Symposium or want toshare it with your students and/or colleagues, you can order a FREE video ofthe event(s). Just give us a call or email.

astfield College and UT Southwestern selected four ofEastfield’s top science and mathematics students to

participate in the STARS Summer Research Program forstudents. A $1.4 million grant from the National ScienceFoundation to Eastfield is funding the $3,000 stipends,college credit, and year round access to research opportunities in the new scanning electron microscopylaboratory at Eastfield.

Eastfield College and UT Southwestern program officialsselected these students based on an evaluation of essays,faculty recommendation letters, academic records, andpersonal statements and interviews. The following stu-dents comprise the Summer 2006 Eastfield-UTSouthwestern STARS Cohort:

Funmi Afolayan, Pre-Med sophomorefrom Nigeria who is a recipient of thePhi Theta Kappa STAR Scholarship for2005-2006 and member of the EastfieldPresident’s Honor Roll from 2004-2006.Ms. Afolayan worked with Dr. Jerry

Shay, Professor of Cell Biology at UT Southwestern. Dr.Shay is a pioneer in the field of telomere biology andhis research has broad, direct applications to cancerpathology and treatment. Afolayan, a resident ofGarland, is seeking a career in medical research andbelieves that the STARS program and mentoring byEasfield and UT Southwestern faculty will help her“unlock her potential.”

Dang Huynh, sophomore fromMesquite, is a Science major who plansto transfer to a four-year university inpharmaceutical research. Huynhworked with Dr. J. R. (Camille) Falck,Professor of Biochemistry at UT

Southwestern. Dr. Falck’s research focuses on thechemistry and biochemistry of small organic moleculesthat have broader implications in pharmacology andoncology.

Jordan McHone, sophomore fromRockwall, is majoring in Science.McHone is a member of Phi ThetaKappa International Honor Societyand plans to pursue a degree in biology.McHone worked with Dr. Carole

Mendelson, Professor of Biochemistry at UTSouthwestern. Dr. Mendelson mentored McHone inhis research assignment on the regulation of genesand proteins that trigger notification of labor inexpectant mothers. McHone believes that “thisopportunity will allow me to gain valuable researchexperience, helping to form my career path and giving me a better chance to succeed in the future.”

Katarina Solberg, is a sophomore fromSweden who currently lives inGarland. Solberg is majoring in scienceand plans to earn a degree in biology.She performed her summer researchunder the supervision of

Dr. Julie Pfeiffer, Assistant Professor of Microbiologyat UT Southwestern’s Center for Immunology. Dr. Pfeiffer’s research uses hepatitis C and poliovirusto study viral genome evolution and drug resistantmutations and the effect of viral diversity on pathogenesis.Solberg sees this research opportunity as “a major step-pingstone to let me experience the world ofresearch.”

A Special Thanks:

STARS is thrilled to have the help ofStuart Ravnik, Ph.D., Assistant Deanof the graduate school, for several ofits programs. In particular,

Dr. Ravnik was crucial to the success of the summerresearch programs. He was responsible for support ofthe Eastfield initiative on campus, and was very helpfulin working with the other students and teachers inthe summer programs.

Summer 2006 Eastfield-UT Southwestern STARS Cohort

Physiology at the Extremes: Four years ago, Dr. Shane Kanatous went toAntarctica to conduct research and kept in touch with hundreds of students

across the US by sending photos and messages about his research and personal observations. He will be departingfor his fifth trip to the one of the world’s coldest places in October 2006 to continue his research.

Check Out his website to learn more about his project and get your students involved in this scientific adventureby learning about his journey, trying to answer his weekly questions, and submitting questions for him to answerduring his stay in Antarctica. (http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/stars)

Teachers & Parents Session

Testing the cloth to see if it’s really blood or just colored red.

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STARS

Summer 2006 Yearbook“Nothing ever becomes real till it is experi-enced -- even a proverb is no proverb to you tillyour life has illustrated it”

- John Keats

nstead of taking advantage of their welldeserved summer break by resting andrelaxing, a group of 8 teachers, 16 DallasISD high school students, and 4 EastfieldCollege students embarked on a summerof opportunities and embraced the challenge of working with world-classresearchers at UT Southwestern MedicalCenter at Dallas to learn about and gainperspective on how science is done “inthe real world.” The eight-week programconsisted of activities, presentations, andan individualized research project thatcontributed to the advancement of science. These experiences suppliedthem with a newfound confidence intheir abilities to rise to the challenge anda rejuvenation of their love of science.

The program is open to all secondaryTexas teachers and Dallas IndependentSchool District juniors.

Applications for the 2007 SummerResearch Program will be available inDecember and will be due on Feb. 2,2007, at 4 pm.

Marguerite Bagwell ofAlvin High School, Alvin.Host: Zhi-Ping Liu, Ph.D.,Internal Medicine

"It isn't often in life that one is givenunique opportunities for growth, notonly professionally, but also personally.The STARS Summer Research Program forTeachers has blessed me with that gift.Working in Dr. Zhi-Ping Liu's lab hasreminded me of what it is like to be a student again. Certainly, the excitementof learning and working with the latestlaboratory protocols and geneticadvances is thrilling. More importantly,however, I also experienced the frustrationof not knowing all the answers, the meritof researching and learning on one’sown, and the significance of working ona team where everyone's thoughts arevalued. Being the student again remindedme that as a teacher, I am not called tojust pass on information. I am called tomake education an experience. I knowthe STARS program has made that kindof experience for me. I hope to do thesame for my students.”

Benjamin Cruz of Inspired Vision Academy II,Mesquite.Host: Kim Orth, Ph.D.,Molecular Biology

“During my summer research, I workedon cloning sequences of genes that areassociated with virulence in a bacterialspecies (Vibrio parahaemolyticus). Aftercloning, I would take these cloned genesand perform a knockout to observe phe-notypic changes. When I started thisprogram, I was a bit unsure of how Iwould fit in with everyone in the lab.The caliber of work that was going onwas way out of my league, and I wasstruggling to keep up. Once I started ask-ing lots and lots of questions and learn-ing from all of my mistakes (and boywere there a lot), I started to see the bigpicture. I was able to talk with everyoneabout their individual project and listenin on weekly lab meetings. I really sawhow important collaboration is not onlyto individuals in the lab, but with otherlabs in the department or in other depart-ments. I think as teachers we get caughtup with all of our work and forget to seehow important collaborating with otherteachers of other subjects can be. Also, I am now more aware of how studentscan feel when they are bombarded withso much information and we expectthem to keep up. There were times whenfelt overwhelmed, but everyone in thelab made every possible effort to help meout and make sure I understood. I had somuch fun with everyone and looked forward to going into the lab everyday. I am very grateful that the STARS pro-gram gave me the opportunity to work insuch a high tech facility with top notchresearchers. I will always remembereveryone I worked with and recommendthis program to everyone.”

Tony Dickensheets of Dealey International Academy, Dallas.

Host: Mounir Erami, Ph.D.,and Harold Garner, Ph.D.,McDermott Center for Human Growth & Development

“I had a very productive and enjoyablesummer working in the McDermottCenter for Human Growth. Skip Garnerand Mounir Errami were great hosts andmentors and made me feel as if I was partof the lab team. My research project wasworking with mice and 2 drugs that are

currently being tested as possible remediesfor those suffering from hypertension andpathological cardiac hypertrophy. In myexperiment, I had to regularly administerdrugs to the mice, make them swimtwice a day, measure their heart ratesweekly as well as monitor their weight.Coming from a family that has a historyof hypertension, I took this research per-sonally. I am very thankful to the STARSprogram for giving me an opportunity towork, study, and learn in a world-renowned science and medical institu-tion like UT-Southwestern MedicalCenter. It is truly a university thatexudes confidence, competence, and adedication to making the world a betterplace through the miracle advances ofscience and medicine.”

Tabitha Gaudet of BishopLynch High School,Dallas.Host: Rob Rawson, Ph.D.,Molecular Genetics

“I am grateful to the UT SouthwesternSTARS program for choosing me to be apart of this great program. I have beenable to be a part of a research lab inMolecular Genetics. I have learned a greatdeal about fruit flies, the genetics of fruitflies, and fatty acid synthesis in mammals.I had the ability to use tools that I didn’trealize existed and was able to brush up onmy Chemistry. Being part of this programmade me feel like a student learning newskills. I feel that I understand how my stu-dents may feel at times about learning sci-ence. I am excited about getting back intothe classroom and sharing my experiencewith my colleagues and students. I havegained valuable experience in a lab setting,met wonderful people, and learned a greatdeal in the process. Every science teachershould want to be a part of the uniqueexperience offered by the STARS program.”

Christian Gehman ofLamar High School,Arlington.Host: Helmut Kramer,Ph.D., Center for BasicNeuroscience

“The STARS program at UTSW hasafforded me an opportunity to experi-ence science as it is actually beingpracticed. It is quite different in waysfrom the artificial environment of thehigh school classroom. What stoodout to me the most is the “messiness”of real-world science. I often design(continued on other side)

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Summer 2006 Yearbook (continued)labs to teach a specific concept; in order for this to happen, I am dependent on the lab turning out exactly as expected. This summer, thelab work I did rarely turned out exactlyas we expected. Nevertheless, we wereable to move forward because wegleaned what we could, tried to learnfrom the unexpected outcomes, andadapted to circumstances. Even moresurprising to me was how little myprincipal investigator seemed botheredby the anomalies—in fact, he was oftenquite interested in them, thinking theymight reveal something new. It is this unpredictability of practicingscience that I would like to take back tothe classroom. There is a tremendousopportunity for honing analytical skillsand creative thinking when studentsare confronted with an unexpected outcome.Rather than treating malfunctions or surprisedata as an annoyance, I want approachthem as additional opportunities forteaching and learning.”

Randall Harris ofGrapevine Middle School,Grapevine.Host: Helen Wood, Ph.D.,and Tony Babb, Ph.D.,Internal Medicine

“I have been fortunate to work at the Institute for Exercise and Environmental

Medicine under Dr. Helen Wood and Dr.Tony Babb through the STARS programthis summer. The experience has been atremendous educational opportunity forme as a teacher of life science. To see andparticipate in the dynamic of research inthe studies around me everyday at theIEEM (Institute for Exercise &Environmental Medicine) is invaluable.The cooperation and coordination of somany working together to answer thequestions of the ever-changing science ofexercise physiology is an exciting experience.I am so appreciative of the time andresources afforded me through this time.I will be able to bring to the classroom adifferent perspective of how science worksin the research setting. Students in myclassroom will gain a better understandingof inquiry moving to experimentation,resulting data communicated to others,and conclusions of one study being onlya spring board to initiate the next.”

Ken Mitchell of BoydMiddle School, Boyd.Host: John Abrams,Ph.D., Cell Biology

“I am very excited to return to my classand share all I have learned with my students.This was an awesome opportunity to research science. It has been awhilesince I have worked in a lab and there

were several new methods that I had tolearn. I try to make science educationaland exciting for my students and thisopportunity allows this. I want to thankthe STARS program and my host lab forthis experience.”

Heather Skelton ofFerguson Junior HighSchool, Arlington.Host: Spencer Brown,Ph.D., Plastic Surgery

“This summer through the STARS pro-gram I have had the privilege of workingin the Plastic Surgery research lab underthe direction of Spencer Brown, Ph.D.Dr. Brown has been an incredible mentorand made this summer experience veryworth while. Not only was I able to workwith Dr. Brown, there were also severalmedical students who were working inthe lab for a summer program. It wasgreat to be able to understand theirschooling and work ethic so I can sharethat with my students. I am pleasedthere is a program available that allowsteachers the opportunity for lab research.I now have more information to encouragemy students to pursue a career in science. I would like to thank the STARSprogram and Dr. Spencer Brown for suchfantastic summer.”

2006 Summer Research Program forStudents Participants

STARS PARTICIPANTS SCHOOLS HOSTSCindy Camacho Townview Health Professions High School Ray MacDonald, Ph.D.Gypsy Gavia Townview Talented & Gifted High School Yuh Min Chook, Ph.D.Richard Gomez Thomas Jefferson High School Vanessa Sperandio, Ph.D.Tanya Hendricks James Madison High School Nancy Monson, Ph.D.Jay Hennig Booker T. Washington High School

for Visual & Performing Arts Alexander Pertsemlidis, Ph.D.Eneida Male Townview Science & Engineering High School Paula Ulery, Ph.D.Elianne Ortiz Townview Science & Engineering High School Jenny Hsieh, Ph.D.Andrew Palacios Townview Health Professions High School Michel Saint-Cyr, M.D.,

Spencer Brown, Ph.D.Jorge Pereda Roosevelt High School Kristine Kamm, Ph.D.Nevena Rakonjac Hillcrest High School Zbysek Otwinowski, Ph.D.Chris Renard Townview Talented & Gifted High School Skip Garner, Ph.D.Flor Rojas Roosevelt High School Vidu Garg, M.D.Neri Sandoval Molina High School Dominika Borek, Ph.D.Pooja Sarkar Townview Science & Engineering High School Jef De Brabander, Ph.D.Thuy Tran WT White High School Michael Roth, Ph.D.Patrick Ward Townview Talented & Gifted High School Diana Tomchick, Ph.D.

ASSOCIATES SCHOOLS HOSTED BYHonoria Bush Parish Episcopal High School Peter Antich, Ph.D.Catherine Gibson Greenhill School Robert Toto, M.D.Charles Koshy TAMS Mala Mahendroo, Ph.D.Jonathan Lee Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas Jim Thornton, M.D.Xavier McCullough WT White High School David Mangelsdorf, Ph.D.Alyssa Pazandak The Hockaday School Kim Orth, Ph.D.Emily Rowan The Hockaday School Hiromi Yanagisawa, M.D., Ph.D.Aatman Shah Plano Senior High School Jerry Shay, Ph.D.Lindsey Smith Bishop Lynch High School Dean Smith, M.D., Ph.D.April Tipton Kaufman High School Eric Nestler, M.D., Ph.D.,

Lisa Monteggia, Ph.D.

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2006 Summer Research Program Associates