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New research tool developed at Tech achieves success on International Space Station
Two months after technology developed by Dr. Gergana G. Nestorova, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at Louisiana Tech University, was launched into space, Dr. Kate Rubins, an astronaut on the International Space Station (ISS) validated that the technology worked.
The new tool that featured a microscopic pin for rapid extraction of RNA was launched on SpaceX CSR-21 Dec. 6, and the test of the equipment was completed in the early hours of Feb. 16.
Nestorova’s tool prevents genomic contamination of the sample and enables repeated sampling of the biological specimen multiple times. The study was a collaborative project with the WetLab-2 team at NASA Ames Reasearch Center. The work on this project provided NASA research training opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students in Louisiana Tech’s School of Biological Sciences and Molecular Sciences and Nanotechnology program.
In the pandemic classroom, less proved more except when it didn’t.
Dr. Joel Stake, senior lecturer in Louisiana Tech’s School of Biological Sciences, shared early in winter quarter his experience concerning the challenges and successes of teaching in a virtual classroom during the pandemic.
A takeoff on a song by The Offspring, his webinar was titled “The Kids Are Not Alright: Applying Lessons Learned from Fall 2020.” His goal in the presentation was a challenging one: how faculty can convey a Virtual Presence or how to effectively engage and influence students in an online course.
He presented through Top Hat at the invitation of Kelly Cronin, Manager of Faculty Engagement Programs for the student engagement platform professors use both inside and outside the classroom. Top Hat provides a lecture tool that tracks attendance, asks questions, features interactive slides, and manages classroom discussions. Outside the classroom the platform features an interactive Text pla