Students from SMCC explore research opportunities at the MDI Biological Laboratory

Twelve SMCC students and two faculty members spent their winter break diving into hands-on scientific research at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory (MDIBL) in Salisbury Cove. The immersive short course, held from January 5-10, 2025, focused on using fruit flies as a model for understanding human disease.

Led by MDIBL researcher Dr. Travis Carney, the intensive five-day course introduced students to the genetic tools and techniques that make Drosophila melanogastera vital organism for studying human health. Participants gained practical experience handling fruit flies, used immunofluorescence to observe neural cells in fly larval brains, and created three-dimensional images using spinning disk confocal microscopy. They also learned to analyze the images with advanced software.

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"The research short course is an excellent way for students to experience what it is like to work all day in an actual research setting," Dr. Daniel Moore, Professor and Chair of the SMCC Science Department, said. "The students learn just how much research is a team effort."

Dr. Moore and Dr. Liz Mann, Assistant Professor, co-taught the course alongside MDIBL experts.

"Oh my God, it was so amazing! I'm so lucky to have been able to go. I 1000% recommend to anyone interested in science to apply. Life-shaping experience," Neviana Fogg, a Marine Science major, said.

"It was a truly rewarding experience to share my passion for fruit fly research with such an engaged and curious group of students," said Dr. Carney. "We explored fly genetics through classroom discussions followed by practical lab work conducting an experiment directly relevant to my own research, making for a successful week of fun and flies!"

The course, supported by an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) from the National Institutes of Health, also included discussions on laboratory safety, responsible research practices, and career pathways. This funding has supported opportunities for SMCC students for more than 15 years, including summer fellowships at institutions such as Bowdoin College, University of Southern Maine, and the MaineHealth Institute for Research.

"To really learn scientific material, it helps immensely to have a chance to apply the skills you have learned in the classroom to real-life research-where the outcome is not predetermined, and no one knows the answer," Dr. Mann said.

"This was such a fun experience! If I wasn't sure about going into research before, I definitely am now," Natalie Styles, a Liberal Studies Science Concentration major, said. "The short course was so affirming for my career goals, and I had so much fun being with everyone and learning all week!"

SMCC Students

• Robin Bell- Liberal Studies Science Concentration
• Augusto Cardenas Rojas- Health Science/Pre-Nursing
• Emma Dionne- Visiting Student from CMCC
• Neviana Fogg- Marine Science
• Dornica Gimbi- Health Science
• Emily Granholm- Biotechnology
• Will Hughes- Marine Science
• Allison Kearney- Marine Science
• Missy Littlefield- Health Science
• William Nickerson- Health Science/Pre-Nursing
• Zach Stillman- Marine Science
• Natalie Styles- Liberal Studies Science Concentration

The IDeA grant that supported the course continues to create pathways for SMCC students to explore scientific careers, providing funding for participation in summer fellowships at leading research institutions across Maine and beyond.

To learn more about SMCC's science offerings and pathways, visit https://www.smccme.edu/academics/pathways/sciences-engineering-mathematics/.