The innovation engine for new materials

Alena Kahn

School: 

Santa Barbara High School

Grade Level: 

High School

Teaching Position: 

Biology
AP Biology
Marine Biology

Supervisor: 

Kevin Plaxco

Department: 

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Mentor: 

Martin Kurnik
Gabe Quintanilla

Research Project Year: 

2017

Research Project Title: 

Protein Purification for Surface Application

Research Project Description: 

Protein based biosensors could be an advancement to currently available biosensors and a possible improvement for artificial implant success.  The Plaxco research group is studying the change in protein stability (denaturation) as a response to surface proximity, which can adversely affect the success of biosensors and artificial implants. The focus of this study is to show how proteins respond to these various artificial surfaces by developing a method to quantify the rate of protein unfolding (denaturation) on a surface. Currently, there is a method to measure the protein denaturation in solution, which can be used as a baseline for comparison. In order to measure protein denaturation on a surface, proteins are designed, expressed, and purified, using multiple, sequential chromatography techniques. Successfully purified proteins can be labeled with methylene blue, and the conductivity of the native and unfolded states of the proteins can be related to the percent of sample denatured. The ability to accurately measure the protein’s response to the surface will provide a basis for the development of successful protein based biosensors that can be used to detect antibodies or pathogens in vivo.

Curriculum Project Year: 

2018

Curriculum Project Title: 

Engaging all students in the Science and Engineering Practices: Authentic Science in the Classroom

Curriculum Project Description: 

The goal of the curriculum is to promote authentic science practices throughout the entirety of a science course. This curriculum is composed of 5 elements that are designed to engage, instruct and explain the Science and Engineering Practices defined by the Next Generation Science Standards. All the materials presented can be applied to a variety of science disciplines and levels, and the lessons provided here are solely to give examples of possible lab and activity modifications. A set of step-by-step instructions have been compiled into a “toolkit” that students will have as a resource for all investigations, and has been designed to be used in almost any science course. Investigations are taken from a high school college prep physics class are used as examples on activity modifications that the students will encounter with this re-designed course. The students will become familiar with each of the 8 practices through direct instruction and hands on investigations and labs. At the conclusion of the first half of the course, after engaging in all 8 practices, students will have the opportunity to show their understanding of the Science and Engineering Practices through a hands-on formative assessment, a version of which will be demonstrated at the MRL conference. As the final capstone project at the conclusion of the course, students will engage in all 8 Science and Engineering Practices as they carry out their own investigation, and share their findings with their academic community. 
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