Advanced Biochemistry Laboratory: Collaborative Research and Practical Applications

CHEM323
Closed
Albion College
Albion, Michigan, United States
Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry
(1)
2
Timeline
  • March 26, 2025
    Experience start
  • April 30, 2025
    Experience end
Experience
1/1 project matches
Dates set by experience
Preferred companies
Anywhere
Any company type
Science

Experience scope

Categories
Biotechnology Scientific research
Skills
scientific reasoning lab notebooks gel electrophoresis presentations protein crystallization biochemistry laboratory techniques polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis structural biology scientific literacy
Learner goals and capabilities

Students in this advanced biochemistry laboratory course have hands-on experience with a variety of biochemical and molecular biology techniques, instrumentation, and data analysis. They are skilled in using classical and modern techniques such as:


  • Enzyme purification and kinetics
  • Chromatography (ion exchange, size exclusion)
  • Gel electrophoresis (agarose and SDS-PAGE)
  • Protein crystallization and characterization
  • Mammalian and bacterial cell culture
  • Bioinformatics and structural biology tools​


Learners also excel in scientific literacy, including maintaining comprehensive laboratory notebooks and preparing formal reports and presentations. Their ability to collaborate in teams ensures effective project execution and problem-solving​

Learners

Learners
Undergraduate
Advanced levels
17 learners
Project
20 hours per learner
Educators assign learners to projects
Teams of 4
Expected outcomes and deliverables

Expected Outcomes:

Students will engage in project-based learning that reinforces their understanding of biochemical laboratory methods and scientific inquiry. This includes:

  • Developing and executing experimental plans
  • Utilizing a broad range of biochemical techniques
  • Collaborating to troubleshoot experiments and interpret data
  • Presenting findings in a clear, professional manner​


Deliverables:

  1. Scientific Figures and Data Analysis: High-quality plots, tables, and diagrams summarizing experimental results, accompanied by concise captions explaining the methods, results, and significance.
  2. Comprehensive Lab Reports: Detailed, journal-style reports compiling multiple weeks of experiments, including objectives, methodology, results, and conclusions.
  3. Group Presentation: A professional presentation summarizing the outcomes of a capstone project, such as the "Brew Competition" for biochemical applications​
  4. Laboratory Notebook: A complete and accurate record of experimental work, including protocols, observations, and data analysis​


Project timeline
  • March 26, 2025
    Experience start
  • April 30, 2025
    Experience end

Project Examples

Requirements
  1. Protein Purification and Analysis: Isolation of lysozyme from chicken egg whites, followed by purification using ion exchange chromatography and analysis via SDS-PAGE and Western blot​
  2. Bioinformatics and Structural Biology: Using computational tools to analyze protein structures and predict functions​
  3. Enzyme Kinetics Studies: Designing and executing assays to measure reaction rates and determine enzyme parameters​
  4. Mammalian Cell Culture Applications: Culturing and analyzing HT29 liver cancer cells for biochemical studies​
  5. Innovative Biochemical Projects: Projects such as the "Brew Competition," which integrate biochemical techniques into creative problem-solving and real-world applications​