When Nadia Orlowski began researching how starch impacts dental plaque formation, she knew meticulous planning and careful experimentation would be crucial. She conducted experiments introducing the sugar maltose to bacteria prevalent in the human mouth, comparing the results from two different individuals.
Surprisingly, this scientific experimentation wasn’t taking place in a university lab. Orlowski, a Galileo Magnet High School senior, planned and executed the project with guidance from Dr. Chuansheng Mei, Chief Scientist at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR).
“Dr. Mei has helped me actually do the experiment,” she said. “It’s one thing to have it on paper and research it, but to actually do it is a whole different thing.”
Orlowski was one of nine students in the dual-enrollment Senior Research course from the Piedmont Governor’s School for Mathematics, Science and Technology (PGSMST) who received support from scientists in IALR’s Applied Research division.
Students spent months researching and planning their projects. During the spring semester, IALR researchers helped the students complete them, sharing their expertise and assisting them with using high-end equipment and labs.
“We identified topics that were of interest to them and their future fields of study, and we helped them design and perform experiments in our labs.” – Scott Lowman, Ph.D., Vice President, Applied Research, IALR
Rigorous Preparation Leading to Research Presentation
PGSMST provides rigorous, technology-driven learning experiences for academically talented juniors and seniors across Southern Virginia. Half of the students (those in Danville and Pittsylvania County) attend IALR; students in Martinsville and Henry County attend Patrick & Henry Community College.
In the research class, students perform extensive literature reviews over the summer and early fall to plan their data collection effectively. This rigorous groundwork flows into several months of hands-on experimentation supervised by mentors.
“Many of our students are working with expert-level researchers. Having that experience to work with a professional researcher is invaluable to them.” – Monica Hatchett, Instructor, Governor’s School
Finally, students analyze their data and craft comprehensive scientific papers.
“The culminating activity for them is at the end of the semester when they will present their research to the general public in a symposium,” said Hatchett.
The symposium, which will be held from April 31 to May 2 at the IALR Conference Center, will feature nine student researchers each evening. They will share their methodology, results and lessons learned.
Hands-On Learning and Expert Mentorship
Students benefit significantly from the hands-on mentorship and professional laboratory access IALR researchers provide.
For instance, Cora Liggon, a senior at Chatham High School enrolled in the Governor’s School, worked closely with Dr. Sajeewa Amaradasa at IALR after encountering his research during her literature review.
“He walked me through it,” Liggon shared. “It was definitely a new experience, but it was fun.”
The following IALR researchers worked with students on projects ranging from biotechnology to chemistry to indoor agriculture to physics.
- Chuansheng Mei, Ph.D., Chief Scientist
- Sajeewa Amaradasa, Ph.D., Senior Scientist
- Yimeng “Jack” He, Senior Analytical Chemist
- Amy Turner, Laboratory Research Associate
- Scott Lowman, Ph.D., Vice President, Applied Research
“We are happy to help improve their learning and give them professional labs and scientists to support their research,” Lowman said.
