The MBRS- RISE Teaching Lab is available to all
graduate students at PSMHS.
The RISE Lab: Resources and
Equipment for you!
Open to all graduate students at PSMHS the MBRS-RISE
Teaching Lab offer:
A full time laboratory
technician for technical assistance and
support in the operation of the equipment.
Training and assistance
in basic laboratory techniques such as
preparation of solutions, pipetting, lab
management, etc. Training sessions in
molecular techniques like cloning, Western
Blot, PCR, qPCR, RT PCR, RNA, DNA and
protein purification, plasmid preparation
and transformation.
A Practical Approach to Molecular Biology (BSG
774) is a 2-credit elective course that will
provide first-year graduate students with
specific technical skills that (regardless of
their final field of research) will benefit them
throughout the duration of their graduate
education. The course’s “hands-on” nature will
promote good general laboratory skills from the
outset, ensuring that those who attend will be
better able to contribute and adapt to their
current research laboratories. Among the skills
students will learn are making clear written
laboratory reports, reading and interpreting
relevant scientific papers, and predicting
experimental outcomes. Students will perform
multiple techniques in a laboratory setting
while gaining an understanding of the theories
behind those techniques—including technical
limitations. As a result, they will be better
prepared to participate in and learn from the
small group discussions in other courses and in
the journal clubs within the rotation
laboratory. These activities will augment their
critical thinking and analysis skills as well as
result in improved English writing and oral
presentations; in addition, attendees will
profit by improvements in their proposal writing
skills, an increase in publications, and an
enhancement of their overall competitiveness.
This new research course complements the existing
Ph.D. curriculum and will further the goals of
the RISE Program “to provide continuing new and
enhanced professional development and career
skills training for MBRS-RISE trainees at PSM in
order to strengthen their future
competitiveness”. As science moves towards an
ever greater use of multidisciplinary research
approaches, such cross-training provides
essential skills for future scientists.
Upon satisfactory completion of this course, the
students will be able to:
Demonstrate fundamental safe laboratory
practices
Relate the general knowledge of the
techniques learned in the course to specific
experimental studies
Handle and manipulate nucleic acids and
proteins employing basic laboratory
techniques
Use standard procedures to analyze
nucleic acids and proteins
Set up laboratory equipment safely and
efficiently
Plan and carry out experimental
procedures and, when necessary, identify
possible sources of error
Interpret data and report (both orally
and in writing) the experimental data and
results
Utilize their newly acquired
foundational knowledge of general laboratory
practices and molecular biology to develop
and/or further their careers in biomedical
research
Use and apply technical skills with a
high level of competence, leading to long
term success in their future careers in
biomedical research
Communicate effectively with others
Recognize the value of commitment to
professional responsibilities and research
integrity
