Local students spend summer as researchers

LAB LIFE- Kelly McBride, an Agoura High School student, works with researchers at UC Davis as they search for a cancer biomarker. McBride is part of the university's summer scholar program that allows a select group of high school students to conduct research alongside practicing scientists. Austin Lo of Viewpoint School is also participating in the program.

While most high school students are lounging around the pool, playing video games or maybe working at the nearest mall, two local students are spending their offtime this summer doing research at UC Davis.

Austin Lo, a student at Viewpoint High School in Calabasas, and Kelly McBride, of Agoura High, are among a select group of students attending the UC Davis Young Scholars Program this summer.

The advanced science program, offered by the School of Education, introduces up to 40 high-achieving high school sophomores and juniors to the world of original research in the biological and natural sciences.

Participants work oneonone with research faculty in state-of-the-art laboratories for six weeks. Each student works on an individual project and prepares a professionallevel research paper and presentation about his or her work.

"Students work under the direction of realworld researchers," said Rick Pomeroy, program director and teacher educator in the School of Education at UC Davis. "These high school students are engaged in research that most college undergraduates don't have an opportunity to do."

Lo is conducting research on effects of salinity, pH and electrical conductivity on the competitive relationship between native and invasive plant species in environments with high levels of these factors, such as those found at the Alkali Grassland Preserve in Woodland, Calif.

McBride is part of a team of researchers searching for a biomarker for cancer, which could lead to the creation of an accurate and early blood test for cancer.

The program began June 24 and will end Aug. 4. During the first two weeks of the program, participants attended lectures on recent developments in biology and natural sciences in the mornings and conducted lab science every afternoon. During the last four weeks of the program, students worked full-time in their labs. Students lived in campus dormitories and took field trips every weekend.

To qualify for the program, students must have a strong academic record, have taken biology and two years of college preparatory mathematics and have recommendations from teachers. In addition, applicants must write a personal essay. The tuition is $4,500.

"All of the participants are highly qualified academically, take honors or advanced placement courses in high school and have high GPAs," said Pomeroy. "Most importantly, though, they have all demonstrated a desire and ability to conduct original scientific research and have the potential to contribute significantly to the field."