Student Work | Mass STEM Hub

High School | Biomed | PBS | Activity: Blood Evidence | Presentation Award

Check out the student work submitted for real-world industry feedback! Learn more about submitting student work to receive real-world feedback here!

Grade: High School

PLTW Course: Principles of Biomedical Science

Submission type: Activity: Blood Evidence

Project overview: In the Principles of Biomedical Science course students explore the vast range of careers in biomedical sciences. They develop skills at the core of working in the life sciences, as well as transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, and critical thinking, which are critical in life and in any career. In this blood evidence activity students act as medical examiners to conduct an investigation at the scene of a death. Students determine if all red stains are in fact blood, and complete additional testing to determine whether the blood belongs to the victim or someone else who was at the scene. 

Selected student submission materials:

Link to full project: click here

Select judge feedback: 

“I am a physician who works in the pharmaceutical industry, developing vaccines to help prevent infectious diseases.  I enjoyed reviewing your documentation of the laboratory work that you did.  I thought that you were able to clearly describe the limitations and advantages of the three tests you used to study the blood samples.  There are no perfect tests, meaning that there is no test with perfect sensitivity and specificity so we use the tools available to us.  However, by understanding how the tests work we can do a better job of interpreting the results of our experiments.  I am also glad that you used color pens to illustrate the difference in the antibody responses to the blood surface antigens.  The figure you created was a good visualization of the basis for the Landsteiner reaction.  I am not sure why you did not answer the analysis questions on the subsequent page.  In any case, I hope that you remain interested in science.  In my opinion a career in science is the best way to use your mind to help the world.”

-Head of Clinical Development, Public Health Vaccines at Moderna

 

“I am a Research Associate II – Med. Chem. at Jnana Therapeutics. I have to say, I am incredibly impressed with your organization and understanding of the assignment and topics at hand. If I had a lab notebook with your handwriting, I would be a very happy scientist! You have a clear understanding of the material assigned to you and have been able to thoroughly go through the assignment as instructed. My feedback would be to be a bit more thorough coverage of the cell types as those cells have so much to them! In a biological sciences lab, there are tons of amazing uses from using membranes and radioactive compounds for physical property measurements to growing infinite amounts of cells. The controls of the project are extremely necessary to the integrity and thorough understanding of the assay, but I think you’ve nailed it. 

Having analysis skills like such will allow you to go far in the sciences world, and I commend your work you’ve submitted today. Nice job!”

-Research Associate, Jnana Therapeutics

 

“Hello!  I’m a process development scientist for a gene therapy company. My role is to create a process to purify viruses that are used to change DNA of our patients to treat rare genetic disorders. My background is in biochemistry, but I often use a range of disciplines and learned skills and techniques to accomplish my goals.

I found your report to be clear and concise. The part I like most about your report is that in ruling out those who do not have blood type A, you also include the fact that it doesn’t eliminate them as persons of interest entirely. In the reports I have read thus far, no other groups have done this and it shows a clear path of critical thinking.

In the future, I would suggest keeping your hypothesis clear and direct. You state that you do not believe Anna’s cause of death was hitting her head, but do not state a reason or hypothesize what the CoD could have been.  Overall, very well done.”

-Senior Research Associate, Ultragenyx

Industry Award: Presentation Award

School: Narragansett Regional High School

Teacher: Amy Duplessis

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