Exploring the function of the HEF1 protein
in human ocular cells
Drs. Laura Hecker and Shaun Bowman, Biology;
up to two high school students will be chosen
Abstract
An important risk-factor for the development of
glaucoma is elevated intraocular pressure (IOP).
IOP is determined by a balance between the
production and drainage of fluid in the eye. Failure
to lower IOP leads to degeneration of ocular cells,
visual impairments, and irreversible blindness.
Therapeutic agents used in the management of
elevated IOP include prostaglandin analogs (PAs).
Previous studies from our laboratory have
determined that expression of the HEF1 protein
increases in ocular cells following treatment with
PAs. It is currently unknown whether HEF1 is
involved in the regulation of IOP. The proposed
research project will explore the role of HEF1 in
ocular cells by inhibiting its expression using small
interfering RNA technology. As part of the project
students will perform basic cell culturing and
protein detecting techniques.
Project Details
The project will be two weeks in length, beginning
on June 12th and concluding on June 23rd. Student
participants will work in a laboratory under the
supervision of the faculty participants for
approximately 3 hours per day (9:00am-12:00pm;
Monday-Friday). Additional hours (1-2 hrs) may be
required on a few afternoons.
Applicants must meet the following criteria
Must be an entering junior or senior high school
student fall 2017 in good academic standing with a
GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Applicants are requested to provide a resume, a
brief statement of interest, and the name and contact
information for a current or former teacher to serve
as a reference.
Applications must be received by May 1st for
consideration. Selected applicants will be invited by
May 15th, and will have until May 31st to accept or
decline the offer.
Special Dissection: Head and Neck
Dr. Michelle Slover, Biology; up to four high school
students will be chosen
Abstract
Special dissection of the head and neck will be
performed in Clarke University’s cadaver lab.
Dissection techniques will be taught along with key
head and neck structures, including but not limited
to the muscles of mastication, branches of the
external carotid artery and suprahyoid muscles.
Students will participate in an intense week of
dissection focusing on the head and neck. Ideally,
these prosections involving neck muscles and the
muscles of mastication will be used as models in
biology anatomy lab classes.
Project Details
The proposed time commitment for the students
will be 10am – noon, Monday through Friday,
August 7-11, 2017 with an expectation of
independent work.
Applicants must meet the following criteria
Must be an entering junior or senior high school
student fall 2017, and have successfully completed
an A&P course in high school. Applicants must also
possess a high level of maturity and excellent fine
motor skills.
Applicants are requested to submit an application
including a brief statement of interest including a
letter of recommendation from their high school
A&P instructor. Students selected must be willing
to follow all lab safety protocols
Applications must be received by May 1st for
consideration. Selected applicants will be invited by
May 15th, and will have until May 31st to accept or
decline the offer.
Synthesis of Cell Membrane-Targeted
Chemical Modulators of Membrane Proteins
Dr. Anthony Breitbach, Chemistry; 2 students will
be chosen
Abstract
The cell membrane is one subcellular compartment
of considerable interest for drug-targeting as it is an
important site for many proteins (i.e., membrane
proteins) of therapeutic value. Membrane proteins
play a vital role in a wide variety of functions
required for normal cellular processes and when
disrupted lead to a range of diseases. More
importantly, this subset of proteins actually
represents 60% of the known existing and future
drug targets. Despite the biological and therapeutic
relevance of this class of proteins, membrane
proteomics is traditionally understudied. This
project will focus on the development of a solidphase peptide synthesis of novel cell membranetargeted chemical modulators of membrane
proteins, which can be used broadly to probe
membrane proteins and, more specifically, used to
help guide the design of more efficient therapeutics
targeting this class of biomolecules
Project Details
The project will be two weeks in length, beginning
on August 7th and concluding on August 18th.
Student participants will work in a laboratory under
the supervision of faculty for approximately 3 hours
day (9:00am-12:00pm), five days a week (MondayFriday).
Applicants must meet the following criteria
Must be an entering junior or senior high school
student fall 2017, and have successfully completed
a Chemistry course in high school with a letter
grade of A.
Applicants are requested to submit an application
including a brief statement of interest including a
letter of recommendation from their high school
Chemistry instructor. Students selected must be
Applications must be received by May 1st for
consideration. Selected applicants will be invited by
May 15th, and will have until May 31st to accept or
decline the offer.
Game Development with Virtual Reality
Professors Mike Dempewolf and Josh Moris,
Computer Science; up to 6 students will be chosen
Abstract
Gaming Development with Virtual Reality
introduces students to not only video game
development but also user experience in virtual
reality. The development team consisted of six
individuals will research and identify a theme to
rapidly prototype in the field of video games and
determine the expected user experience in virtual
reality. Upon creating a theme, the team will then
utilize the Unity Game Engine to deliver a
functioning game. User experience will be tested
and adjusted as need be by the development team
prior to delivering the final solution.
Project Details
Students will participate in a three-week project
(June 13th – 29th) whereby they will do sample
prototyping, game development, and user
experience testing. Student participants will work
in a computer laboratory with a virtual reality
device for 2 ½ hour days (1:00 pm – 3:30 pm) on
Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Applicants must meet the following criteria
Must be an entering junior or senior high school
student fall 2017 enrolled in or completed a
computer science course if applicable. Interest in art
design and/or computer programming is desirable.
Applicants are requested to submit an application
including a brief statement of interest.
Applications must be received by May 1st for
consideration. Selected applicants will be invited by
May 15th, and will have until May 31st to accept or
decline the offer.
Music Theory and Composition
Spanish Pedagogy in Practice
Dr. Amy Dunker, Music; up to six high school
students will be chosen
Dr. Evelyn Nadeau, Spanish; up to eight high
school students will be chosen
Abstract
Creativity and the arts are rapidly being added to
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics) creating STEAM. It is now being
recognized that skill without imagination and
creativity leaves a void in a student’s skill set,
employability and leadership ability. Music
composition is a field that joins skill (music theory,
orchestration and arranging) and technology
(computers, software and audio equipment) with
creativity.
Abstract
High school students develop learning activities for
teaching local youth in grades 3-5 the basics of
Spanish and showing them how much fun it can be
learn another language with faculty supervision.
Invited students will then deliver these Spanish
lessons to local youth with faculty supervision and
the supervision of the Dubuque Multicultural
Family Center staff.
Project Details
Students will participate in a weekly seminar
beginning in mid-June and ending in mid-August.
They will compose works for Clarke University
faculty and students to perform on a September
recital. Guest artists (alumni and former students) as
available. Students will complete one work for
performance on a public recital. Faculty and
musician friends will be involved in the
performance process.
Applicants must meet the following criteria
Must be an entering junior or senior high school
student fall 2017 with music interest and
experience.
Applicants are requested to submit an application
including a brief statement of interest.
Applications must be received by May 1st for
consideration. Selected applicants will be invited by
May 15th, and will have until May 31st to accept or
decline the offer.
Project Details
Students will participate in a week of lesson
planning at Clarke University with Dr. Evelyn
Nadeau, June 12th-16th (times TBD), and then offer
the lessons at the Dubuque Multicultural Family
Center the weeks of June 19th-23rd, and 26th-30th, 12:30pm.
Applicants must meet the following criteria
Must be an entering junior or senior high school
student fall 2017.
Applicants should have completed a minimum of
two years of high school level Spanish with a grade
of B or higher, and demonstrate passion for the
language and the appropriate proficiency level in
the language.
Applicants are requested to submit an application
including a brief statement of interest, and letter of
recommendation by their current Spanish teachers,
or someone else who is equally qualified to attest to
their proficiency level and interest.
Recommendations should also address the
applicants’ ability to successfully work with others
and to accept direction.
Applications must be received by May 1st for
consideration. Selected applicants will be invited by
May 15th, and will have until May 31st to accept or
decline the offer.
Spoken Word as Civic Engagement
Professor, Anna Kelley, English; up to six high
school students will be chosen
Abstract
Some of the most powerful politically- and sociallyminded voices today are millennial voices, and they
artfully and loudly advocate for justice in social
issues that are directly impacting their generation.
Students in this program will write impact
narratives/slam poetry that address an issue that is
relevant to them and their community. A workshop
format will allow students to receive feedback on
their own work and critique their peers’ work. They
will then perform, record, and share these narratives
online. In doing so, students will be participating in
a form of civic engagement through the pervasive
medium of digital discourse. All impact narratives
will be inspired by an issue(s) relating to the
Dubuque community in some way.
Project Details
Students will meet from 9-12, M-Th, for two weeks,
June 12th-June 22nd, and will be expected to do
some work outside of meetings with the professor.
Applicants must meet the following criteria
Must be an entering junior or senior high school
student fall 2017.
Applicants are asked to submit a minimum 1-page
letter of interest and minimum 1-page writing
sample. The letter of interest should address their
interest in the project and include an issue they
think impacts their local community in some way.
The writing sample does not necessarily have to be
creative writing, though that is preferred (if
submitting poetry, the 1-page minimum does not
apply, but please supply 3 poems minimum). There
is no requirement for prior related coursework
completed.
Applications must be received by May 1st for
consideration. Selected applicants will be invited by
May 15th, and will have until May 31st to accept or
decline the offer.