By Alan Fischer
TNAZ Senior Writer

A five-week University of Arizona summer laboratory internship program continued to help produce future scientists.

The 21 southern Arizona high school students and college freshmen gained hands-on research experience working in labs around the UA campus as part of the third annual KEYS – Keep Engaging Youth in Science – internship program.

UA's Bio5 Institute and the Southwest Environmental Health Science Center at the UA College of Pharmacy sponsor the program, which recently completed its third year.

"It really opens up the world of science as a career for all these students. It gives the students hands-on experience to see if science is something they want to pursue as a career," said Kevin Hall, director of research training and career development at Bio5 and co-director KEYS. "This program is helping prepare the next generation of scientists."

Jonathan Ferng, 16, worked in the lab of Terrence J. Monks, professor and department head of pharmacology and toxicology at the UA College of Pharmacy.

Ferng was involved in research to determine how serotonin transmitters in the brain function in the presence of MDMA, also known as Ecstasy, a recreational drug.

"We're trying to clarify the cellular mechanisms and exactly how they work, because when you inject MDMA or take the pills, there are various side effects that have recent become a major public health problem," said Ferng, an incoming senior at University High School in Tucson.

Ferng, who worked closely with mentors and graduate students Joe Herndon and Lucy Lizarraga in the lab, has gained experience doing bacterial transformation, DNA extraction, plating cell cultures, and analyzing samples using the lab's high-performance liquid chromatography – HPLC – instrument.

"The things they do are very interesting and the results could really impact treatments and be useful," Ferng said.

"I really like to do hands-on research which is actually my main priority in joining this program," he said. "I am going to take as much as I can from this process.

Brooke Moreno, 18, is worked in a lab studying if, and why, Type 2 diabetes impacts post-menopausal women more than pre-menopausal women.

The project looks at the glomerulus cells in the kidney, which are among the first affected when the Type 2 diabetes develops.

As estrogen levels drop after menopause, diabetes has a greater impact on the person, Moreno said.

Moreno, a Marana High School grad and incoming UA freshman, said her experience in the lab has opened her eyes to a possible career in research or medicine.

"I always had a stereotypical view of lab work – really boring," she said. "It has really opened my eyes. It has been such a wonderful opportunity."

Andrew Lettes, bioscience teacher at Pueblo High School, said programs like KEYS are instrumental in introducing youngsters to the world of real life science.

"It gets the kids going from a high school mindset to focused research," Lettes said. "They really get to become a researcher; they get to walk in the researcher's shoes.

"By actually working in the lab they see everyone who is involved." Lettes said. "It gives them a true sense of scientific work."

It also provides many of the participants with their first paid professional experience, Lettes said.

Each KEYS intern receives an $800 stipend, program co-director Hall said. The program's total cost per intern of $1,100 to $1,200 also includes supplies and materials, he added.

The program saw a funding shortfall this year alleviated by outside donations totaling $18,000, he said. Hall said he hopes to expand the program to include 40 students from across the state next year.

Interns are well equipped to leverage their KEYS experience to get paying research positions as university freshman, Hall said.

And the program's goal of attracting students to a career as scientists seems to be working.

"I hope to go to the UA and major in biochemistry, and to be a researcher," Ferng said. "I'm not sure which lab I'm going into but pharmacology and toxicology is really interesting for me right now. I'm really glad I got into this lab."

"My sense of Jonathan is like he is a kid in a candy story – once he gets into university and experiences a variety of research projects his interest may shift in certain directions," Monks said. "That's OK, science benefits by having kids like Jonathan involved whether he is in my lab or not. I'd love to have him, but to me the thing is science is still benefitting with students like Jonathan's interest, intelligence and enthusiasm. That's the key."