PLTW students from Hamilton Career present research projects

Students were Laine Lyles, Hannah King, Karina Bravo, Olivia Smink, Julia Elder, Ryan Williams, Madison Peirce, Jody Baker, Hannah Fletcher, Celeste Wearing, Cameron Constance, Shania Wright, Ashlynn Hill, Mallory Lehr, Thad Estes, Alysa Chirillo, Sarah Wilson, Christine Martin, Andrea White, Morgan Fisher, Jess Moses, Sidney Littleton, Marques Angel, Anna Eades, and their teacher Erin Drennon.

PLTW students from Hamilton Career present research projects

PLTW Biomedical Innovations students from Hamilton Career Center presented their final independent research projects May 2. This was the first year that students had the opportunity to partner with Clemson University Bioengineering Department and Greenville Health System.

Professors in the bioengineering department, along with graduate students and post-graduate assistants, served as mentors for the high school students as they conducted their individual projects. They learned cell culture techniques, the process of tissue engineering, the development of an app on android devices, how to use CAD for 3D printing, the engineering design process, how to conduct live/dead assays, tissue biopsy, but most importantly, they learned the process of research.

The 8-week project culminated with a final symposium where the 13 groups presented alongside senior bioengineering students from Clemson University at Greenville Health System Medical University campus. There were over 200 medical doctors, university professors, clinicians, local business representatives and researchers in attendance. Projects included: A Novel 3D-Printed Cast for Rolandos Fracture, The Effect of Vitamin D on MCF7 Breast Cancer Cells, The Effect of Vitamin C on Adipose Stem Cell Differentiation, Novel Personal Oxygen Concentrator.

Also, Dental Pulp Stem Cells Differentiation into Neuron-like Networks, Low-Cost Arm Splint for the use in Developing Countries, Mental Health Management App for Android Devices, Knee Cartilage Repair using Novel Hanging Drop Culture Technique, Cartilage Repair using Stem Cells, Effects of Hydrogen Peroxide on Dental Pulp Cells, Suitable Casting Innovation for Clubfoot Correction, Study of African Sleep Sickness T-brusei brusei pathogen, Adipose Stem Cells for Vascular Tissue Engineering.

It was an amazing experience for each student. Not only were they exposed to post-secondary education and medical professionals, but they were given the opportunity to be treated as professional researchers contributing to the future of biomedicine.

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PLTW students from Hamilton Career present research projects