2004 FPG Summer Project #00275

Last Modified: Mar 26, 2004

Name	College	Department or Division
Marsha Segerberg	Chandler-Gilbert Community College	Biology
Employee ID	E-mail Address	Work Phone
xxxxxxxx	marsha.segerberg@cgcmail.maricopa.edu	(480) 732-7098
Project
Title		Location
Summer Neurobiology Research at Barrow Neurological Institute		Phoenix, AZ
Group Application
This is not a group project

Project Dates and Amounts
	Summer I view timeline details	Summer II view timeline details
Timeline Dates	Jun 3 - Jun 29, 2004	Jul 1 - Jul 28, 2004
Hours	0	257.9
Wages	$0.00	$5,733.12
Registration Fees	0.00	0.00
Subtotals	$0.00	$5,733.12
Total Proposal Amount		$5,733.12

Details
Abstract Write a concise overview with descriptive information about your project (location, time span, etc.) not to exceed 120 words. To take advantage of spelling and word count tools, you can compose this in a blank Word document, copy the text, and paste it in below (all formatting will be reset to normal text).
The purpose of this project is to allow me to fully participate in ongoing neurobiological research at Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) in the laboratory of Dr. Ronald Lukas. BNI is a research institution affiliated with St.Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix. Dr. Lukas is a Senior Staff Scientist at BNI, and Chairman of the Neurochemistry Division. My project will be of 4 weeks duration, from July 1 through July 30, 2004, although I am only requesting salary support through July 23. This work will extend and continue experiments I carried out during the last 5 summers at BNI, for which I received partial FPG funding. Briefly stated, these experiments will employ techniques in electrophysiology and molecular biology in cultured cells to examine the pharmacology of genetically modified acetylcholine receptors in these cells. In addition to carrying out experiments, I will also be attending laboratory meetings and journal clubs, and performing data analysis for publication of results.
Purpose Explain your purpose in depth and include relevancy and components of the project. Include a statement of goals and objectives. This is what you want to do and why.
The purpose of this general research project in the Lukas laboratory is to understand the molecular structure and function of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. The nicotinic receptor is the cellular recognition site for acetylcholine and nicotine and is widely studied because of the diverse roles played by these receptors in chemical signaling in the brain and body, and because of current interest in health problems related to nicotine. The laboratory of Dr. Lukas has a national and international reputation for its leadership role in this field. In his lab, I will be in a particularly advantageous position in which to update my skills and understanding. The experiments I will carry out will extend and complement the information we acquired in previous years, but using different techniques and cell lines, and aimed at different aspects of receptor structure and function. My goal this summer is to construct a “hybrid” receptor from genes for two different receptors; the new hybrid receptor will be transfected into cells and their function studied using the whole-cell and, if possible, the single ion channel patch clamp electrophysiology techniques. I currently teach Anatomy and Physiology and have taught Microbiology and other biology courses. This opportunity to keep current in my field will allow me to provide the most up to date information in my teaching curricula. Additionally, my affiliation with the Lukas lab and with BNI gives my (eligible) students access to the resources of BNI in the form of opportunities for lab technical and research internships and seminars. Because of my involvement with research at BNI, my students have gained unprecedented access to tour and witness some of the work that is underway at Barrow Neurological Institute.
Professional Growth Your own professional growth is a large part of your project. Your professional growth is important to you, your students, and possibly other colleagues. How will this project affect you professionally? What skills will you learn? What environment will you be working in, and how will it influence your teaching or other responsibilities?
This outstanding research opportunity will afford me valuable professional growth in the biological sciences, including anatomy, physiology, molecular biology, biophysics, protein chemistry, and neuroscience. I will work closely as a colleague with other scientists and scholars in a world-class research setting. My knowledge in the fields of neurobiology, electrophysiology, molecular biology, cell biology and immunology will be updated. I will acquire details of technical innovation and the latest conceptual breakthroughs which are even newer than the information in our most recent textbooks.I will grow professionally as a research scientist by learning new skills and gaining new understanding of the most current developments in these areas. This is particularly important to me because of my desire to retain, extend, and update research skills gained in my previous career as a research scientist. Moreover, my work as a research professional may enhance my credibility in students’ eyes. Such a close connection to the research community may increase their own self esteem in knowing that their professor is a part of the research community outside of the college.
Benefits
Select the primary area of benefit:	Benefits for students
What benefit is this project to the group checked above? What new information, ideas, attitudes, skills, appreciation, etc. will you bring back?
Dr. Lukas has extended a gracious invitation to my students to tour science research at BNI/St. Joseph’s Hospital under my guidance. We were able to take advantage of this opportunity. Each semester for the past five years I organized tours, for my students and for college faculty and staff, through the facilities at BNI. During these tours we observed live neurosurgery being performed by Dr. Robert Spetzler, reputed to be the foremost brain surgeon in the United States. We also visited the MRI facility and several research and clinical labs within the BNI/hospital complex. I have also been able to make connections on behalf of my students who may be thinking about research and/or medical careers. For example, four of my students received offers for summer internship positions at BNI; two of these students will be working at BNI this summer. These internships are competitive among all students applying state-wide, including students from ASU and the U of A. One student is now enrolled in medical school. One student subsequently went on to hold a part-time job during the 2001-2 academic year at BNI, and has now been accepted into medical school. I also became a teaching mentor for a UofA graduate student who functioned as a laboratory technician in my Microbiology course, thereby providing the College with much needed technical support during the F2001 semester.