Haverford School's Advanced Laboratory Research Cooperative students present graduate-level work

Jan. 13 marked The Haverford School's 9th annual Research Symposium, during which seniors presented the results of their work with science labs at the University of Pennsylvania and Thomas Jefferson
University. This intensive, college-level research and analysis is the culmination of Haverford's Advanced Laboratory Research Cooperative.

"This program gives boys who are interested in science, engineering, and medicine a chance to see what really goes on in a lab," says Upper School science teacher Kara Cleffi. "All of the labs in which we have
placed our students have been impressed with the preparedness and abilities of our students. Research Symposium participants go on to study biology, bioengineering, neuroscience, and engineering. Many of
them find it much easier to obtain research internships during college because of their experience with our program."

This year's student-selected research topics included computer algorithms that could be used to ensure privacy in genetic and health records, the effects of traumatic brain injury on astrocytes in the brains of mice, and the differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells into Dopamanergic Neurons for use in studying Parkinson's Disease.

"This was a transformational experience for our son," says Dr. Peter Callegari, whose son, Chris, looked at the role of Dh44 and Hugin (circadian neural output) neurons in the circadian neural pathway of fruit flies. "The presentations were incredibly professional. Looking at the results, these young men have a depth of understanding and strong insight into the world of basic science."

Each year, juniors apply to be one of 7-10 students participating in the Research Symposium. After spending 6-8 weeks in the summer immersed in a lab, students learn how to write their research in the form of a scientific presentation in Cleffi's Advanced Laboratory Research Cooperative.

"I know the growth that occurs during a graduate student's first and second years," says Dr. Lorraine Iacovitti of Thomas Jefferson University. "These boys at Haverford? They're already there."

The students presented their findings to parents, faculty, past Research Symposium participants, and lab instructors.

"I was happy I worked in the lab that I did – it was open and welcoming, and I got to know everyone," says William McDevitt. "My mentor wanted me to know how to pursue knowledge on my own, rather than just giving me the information. The biggest takeaway of this experience was gaining a better understanding of how to approach different people and learn from them."

Below is a summary of each student's project.

Chris Callegari
The Identification of a Circadian Neural Pathway Between Dh44+ and Hugin+ neurons though Locomotor Activity Monitoring and Flourescence Spectroscopy of Ca+ in Drosophilia melanogaster

In association with Dr. Amita Sehgal, Howard Hughes Medical Institute/Department of Neuroscience Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Callegari looked at the role of Dh44 and Hugin (circadian neural output) neurons in the circadian neural pathway of fruit flies.

Caleb Clothier
Comparing the Robustness of 3D-printed Snap-fit Interfaces using DCB and tensile tests

In association with Dr. Kevin Turner, Professor, and MEAM Associate Chair for Graduate Affairs and Graduate Group Chair Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics (MEAM) Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) at the University of Pennsylvania.

Clothier looked at the strength of different types of connectors used in 3D printing.

Will Glaser
Dysregulation of the BMP Pathway in Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) Results in Poor Bone Strength in the Normal Skeleton and Increased Osteogenic Potential Found in Progressive Osseous Heteroplasia (POH) Mesenchymal Stem Cells

In association with Dr. Eileen Shore, Cali and Weldon Research Professor in FOP Department: Orthopaedic Surgery and Dr. Fredrick Kaplan, Isaac and Rose Nassau Professor of Orthopaedic Molecular Medicine in Orthopaedic Surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Glaser researched the effects of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) on skeletal bone strength and the effects of Progressive Osseous Heteroplasia (POH) on the differentiation of adipose stem cells into bone.

Dean Manko
The Comparable Effects of H9 and NEP Basal Media on the Rates and Results of h-iPSC Differentiation into Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons for the Treatment and Understanding of Parkinson's Disease

In association with Dr. Lorraine Iacovitti, Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Thomas Jefferson University.

Manko studied the differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells into Dopamanergic Neurons for use in studying Parkinson's Disease.

Will McDevitt
An Interaction between GABPɑ and HCF1 transcription is the Leading Candidate for the Unknown Regulator for Certain ETS motifs in Circadian Regulation in Liver Cell

In association with Dr. Mitchell Lazar, Chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, and
the Director of the Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism at the University of Pennsylvania.

McDevitt looked at how specific genes related to metabolism are regulated in a circadian manner. He researched transcription factors that bind to DNA and regulate the expression of these genes.

Jack McKnight
Animal Behavior Enclosure and Neural Circuit Dynamics Microscope: Building Tools for in Vivo Traumatic Brain Injury Experiments on Mus Musculus

In association with Dr. David Meaney and Dr. Matt Hemphill in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania.

McKnight engineered an experimental set up to test the effects of traumatic brain injury on astrocytes in the brains of mice.

David Niedzwicki
The Epigenetic Drugs SAHA and JQ1 Outperform XAV939 at Targeting the Hippo Pathway's YAP Protein in Sarcoma Cells

In association with Dr. Karin Eisinger Assistant Professor in Cancer Research at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine David researched possible mechanisms of epigenetic drugs on soft-tissue sarcomas.

George Rubin
Fabrication of Spherical Colloidal Crystals to Mimic the Light Scattering Properties of the Giant Clam's Iridocyte Cells

In association with Dr. Shu Yang in the Department of Materials Science Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania.

Rubin researched methods to create spherical colloidal crystals to mimic the iridocyte cells in giant clams that aide in the growth of symbiotic algae.

Chris Williams
The Application of Generative Machine Learning Algorithms to Allow Differential Privacy

In association with Dr. Casey Green, assistant professor in the Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Williams researched computer algorithms that could be used to ensure privacy in genetic and health records when they are used in bioinformatics studies.

Bill Wu
Examination of the Antagonism between Celf and Rbfox Proteins in the Alternative Splicing of Co-regulated Genes

In association with Dr. Yoseph Barash, Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania in the Department of Genetics in the Medical school, and the Department of Computer and Information Science in the Engineering School.

Wu researched RNA binding proteins that regulate the alternative splicing of genes.