2016 Contributors

Four previous participants returned for a second year in the program. Six were participating for the first time. In addition, ten high school students were invited to participate in research projects as part of a new Research Experience for High School Students (REHSS) program. Each student was matched with one of the RET teacher-participants. Students and teachers alike presented posters at our annual RET/REU Research Symposium. Teachers, in addition, created lesson plans while the high school students wrote formal research papers on their topic.

 

Omari Baines

Omari was born and raised in Pensacola, Florida, but moved to Tampa to attend the University of South Florida in 2010. She graduated from USF with a Bachelor's of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Chemistry. After receiving her Bachelor's, she continued at USF and earned a Master's in Medical Sciences with a concentration in Aging and Neuroscience. Currently Omari teaches chemistry at Tampa Bay Technical High School. She enjoys playing her trumpet and guitar, and listening to all different genres of music. This was Omari's first summer in the RET program.

 

Here is a link to her research poster, Industrial 3D Printing Alternative

 

Here is a link to her lesson plan, Can You Help Save the World?

 

 

Robert Herzog

Rob graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Biology from the University of South Florida (USF) in 2012. After completing 3 years of graduate level work with a focus on ecosystem ecology and working as a teaching assistant in the Integrative Biology Department at USF he began teaching biology at Strawberry Crest High School in Dover, Florida in 2015. He has just completed his first year of teaching and his first summer participating in the RET program at USF. He attributes his passion for and success in science and teaching to his amazing wife who helped open up the fascinating world of plants and ecology to him. Rob looks forward to many years of encouraging young students to ask questions about the natural world around them so they can develop a deeper understanding of how nature works and how they are connected to every part of it.

 

Here is a link to his research poster, Rate of Sorption of Chloroform into Polymers using a Quartz Crystal Microbalance

 

Here is a link to his lesson plan, Diffusion

 

Jesse Hope

Jesse Hope graduated from the University of South Florida with a BS in Biomedical Sciences. He currently teaches at Tampa Bay Technical High School as an instructor for Biology and Veterinary Assisting. In his free time, Jesse likes to spend time with his family, engage in outdoor activities and sports, or work on automobiles. This was his second summer in the RET program.

 

Here is a link to his 2016 research poster, Investigation of a metal-metalloporphyrin framework with Lewis-acid sites for CO2 chemical transformation

 

Here is a link to his 2016 lesson plan, Save the Planet

 

 

Stephanie Hunter

Stephanie Hunter will be starting her seventh year of teaching high school chemistry this fall. In 2010 she graduated with a master's degree in Science Education from the University of South Florida. Prior to teaching, she worked as a transplant coordinator with the Lion's Eye Institute. There she restored vision to over 500 people through the successful recovery of cornea tissue. Stephanie earned her bachelor's degree in Neuroscience and Art History from Tulane University in 2008. Through college she interned in a lab studying chronic pain. In addition to being a science geek, she loves to tell lame jokes and bake for her students and friends. This was her second summer in the RET program.

 

Here is a link to her 2016 research poster, Synthesizing Catalysts for Conversion of Landfill Gases into Fuel

 

Here is a link to her 2016 lesson plan, Gas Chromatography & Biofuel

 

Nicholas Hutchinson

Nicholas recently completed his second year of teaching Physics and Chemistry at Jefferson High school in Tampa. He received his Bachelors of Science in Secondary Science Education with a specialization in Chemistry. As a first time RET participant this summer, he worked with Dr. Brian Space on MOF (Metal Organic Framework) simulations.

Here is a link to his research poster, Quantum Mechanical Point Charges to Analyze Adsorption Differences Between MOF-505 and MOF-1

 

Here is a link to his lesson plan, Shifting Molecules in 3 dimensions

 

 

Nigel Jagoo

Nigel received a B.A. in Biological Sciences from the University of Tampa, an M.S. in Medical Sciences from the University of South Florida, and is working towards his M.S. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Florida. Currently, he is an instructor at Hillsborough Community College, where he teaches Microbiology, Human Anatomy and Physiology, and Drugs and Nutrition. He is also currently an EET Peer Evaluator of science teachers for Hillsborough County Schools. This was his first summer participating in the RET program.

Here is a link to his research poster, Understanding 'Structure to Function Epistemology' in evolutionary concepts via the use of 3D printing technology in a secondary high school classroom

 

Here is a link to his lesson plan, 3D Printing in Evolution

 

Carey Lam

Carey Lam currently teaches biology and zoology at Tampa Bay Technical High School. This is the first summer she participated in the RET program. She has found that the RET program provided her experience that is invaluable and she is excited to bring it back to the classroom.

 

Here is a link to her research poster, Effects of Bi2O3 Doped Ni-Zn Ferrite

 

Here is a link to her lesson plan, Can we avoid becoming cyborgs?

 

 

Gwendolyn Martin-Apostolatos

Gwen has been a teacher for 5 years - the last 4 of those at Jefferson High School. She received a BA in Anthropology from USF in 2010. Gwen currently teaches Earth Space Science and Anthropology. Always striving to learn new things and better herself as a teacher, Gwen recently completed her second summer in the RET program through the Chemical Engineering department and plans to continue to bring her new experiences back to the classroom. Gwen lives in Lutz with her husband and son.

 

Here is a link to her 2016 research poster, Titania Coatings Doped with Ytterbium and Erbium for Cultural Heritage Preservation

 

Here is a link to her 2016 lesson plan, Microgravity Research Proposal Project

 

 

Erica O'Rourke

Erica moved to Tampa, Florida two years ago and is a first time participant in the Functional Materials RET. She grew up in Kings Park, New York and earned her Bachelors of Science in human biology at the University at Albany. Erica was part of the Five Quad V.A.S. where she volunteered as an EMT throughout her college career. After she graduated, she participated in relief work in Port au Prince, Haiti where she did check ups at local orphanages and taught local Haitians basic first aid responding skills. When she moved to Tampa she became a biology teacher at Sickles High School. She has been teaching for two years and loves teaching all 9th grade biology classes. In addition, she is the first teacher sponsor for the Sickles Interact Club, associated with the Rotary Club. Recently they earned two national awards, the Zone 34 award and the Presidential Citation award. Erica looks forward to supporting her students who are interested in the STEM related fields and sharing her exciting experiences with her students.

 

Here is a link to her research poster, Fibrin Gel Strength Modulated by Dip Coating Technique

 

Here is a link to her lesson plan, Crime Investigation

 

 

 

Erica Wilkes

Erica Wilkes is one of the few, but growing number, of native Floridians. She is a proud graduate of the University of South Florida where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Biology. She has always had a love for the sciences and discovering how things work. This interest stems from a family background in pharmacy and in the medical field. She hopes to pass this interest and enthusiasm on to her students at C. Leon King High School where she engages young minds as an AP Biology, Biology and Chemistry teacher. Being certified in Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry, she has also previously taught Physical Science and Algebra. Her experiences at both the 2014 and 2016 FMRI – RET have inspired her to incorporate the Engineering Design Process and research experience into her classroom, thus equipping her with additional tools to guide her students into STEM careers.

 

Here is a link to her 2016 research poster, Nanofibers Used as Tissue Scaffolds for Wound Healing

 

Here is a link to her 2016 lesson plan, Ecology in Tissue Engineering

 

 

 

Below we will profile some of the high school students who participated in the REHHS (Research Experiences for High School Students) program during the summer of 2016. We will provide links both to their research posters and the research papers they were required to write.

 

Sruthika Baviriseaty

Sruthika is a rising junior in the IB program at King High School. She enjoys chemistry and hopes to learn more about the field in the future. Sruthika participated in this program this summer to gain more experience in research that can help solve some of today's problems. She plans to take the knowledge she gained and apply to her future with chemistry.

 

Here is a link to her 2016 research poster, Rare Earth Metal Doped Titanium Dioxide UpconversionPhotocatalysisfor Floridian Historical Building Preservation Applications

 

Here is a link to her research paper of the same title

 

 

 

Sharan Poonja

Sharan Poonja is a 16 year old and going to be senior this fall at King High School in the IB Program. He is a varsity athlete for the King High Tennis team and a Black Belt in Shotokan Karate. Sharan has worked this past summer at University of South Florida for the REHSS (Research Experience for High School Students). He worked on a research project with Professor Toomey and Gallant dealing with Blood Coagulation and Fibrin Gel formation. He really enjoyed working with the various different experienced people and had a great time understanding different concepts and having the opportunity to work in the research lab.

 

Here is a link to his 2016 research poster, Fibrin Gel

 

Here is a link to his research paper of the same title

 

 

Clarice Su

Clarice will be starting her senior year at King High School this fall. Her favorite subject is Chemistry, and the REHSS program has given her an amazing experience in research and lab work. In her free time, Clarice enjoys reading and playing the piano. This was her first summer participating in the REHSS program.

 

Here is a link to her 2016 research poster, A Metal-Metalloporphyrin Framework Featuring Lewis-acid Centers for CO2 Chemical Transformationibrin Gel

 

Here is a link to her research paper of the same title