The Partnership in Research and Laboratory Learning pairs McCallie students with UTC faculty in a university laboratory environment.
“The program’s purpose is to allow a select number of McCallie students in upper-level science classes to conduct undergraduate-level research under the mentorship of UTC faculty and McCallie faculty,” explained Dr. Elizabeth Forrester, an adjunct professor in the UTC Chemistry Department as well as a teacher at McCallie School. Dr. Forrester began working with Dr. Manuel Santiago, assistant to the dean for Curriculum and Special Projects in the UTC Chemistry department, in the fall 2014 semester to develop the partnership.
Students selected for the program are part of the daily lab experience including meetings, seminars, research discussions and other appropriate education opportunities.
Interested McCallie students applied for the educational science program and were selected based on grades earned in their upper-level science courses and their dedication to a long-term research project. Approximately a dozen McCallie students were chosen for the program. This program will ultimately develop student skills and prepare them for entry into undergraduate science programs.
“The hope is to have students complete the experience and then publish an abstract demonstrating to universities that they student can do undergraduate research. The research performed may then lead to a presentation at a conference,” Dr. Santiago said.