2007 - 08 GK12 Fellows
Mark Betnel (itmeson@bu.edu)
The Engineering School, Hyde Park
Headmaster: Mweusi Willingham
Teacher: Erica Wilson
Mark Betnel is a Ph.D. student in physics doing research that uses computational physics techniques to study Alzheimer's disease and other conditions caused by the aggregation of proteins. He is working with Erica Wilson in her two 12th grade physics classes and one 12th grade engineering class at The Engineering School -- a new "small school" in Hyde Park that was founded three years ago through the efforts of students. Mark's goals for the year include the development of an active lab curriculum for the physics classes and helping facilitate the students' entries into the Science and Engineering Fair for their senior capstone projects. In addition, Mark is developing an extensive series of short lecture demonstrations, using cheap reusable components, to spark student interest in the physics material.
click here for Mark's curriculum activities.
Jason Costa (jcosta@bu.edu)
Quincy High School
Principal: Frank Santoro
Teacher: Pakamas Tongcharoensirikul
Jason Costa hails from Kingston, Rhode Island. He received his B.S. in Chemistry from Brandeis University, and is currently working in the lab of John K. Snyder, as a second year Ph.D. student in organic chemistry at Boston University. Jason is partnering with Mrs. Tongcharoensirikul, or "Mrs. T" as she is affectionately known by her students, in her standard and honors Chemistry I classes. Together they are working to instill a deeper enjoyment and appreciation of chemistry, and science in general, by suplementing the standard curriculum with demonstations of phenomena, illustrative hands-on activities, and presentations on the manner in which chemistry has improved human life.
Click here for Jason's curriculum activities.
Timery DeBoer (tsdeboer@bu.edu) 
Timilty Middle School , Boston
Principal: Valerie Lowe-Barehmi
Teacher: Darren Wells
Timery DeBoer Timery DeBoer is a third year PhD student in the Boston University Marine Program, using molecular genetic techniques to study the symbiosis between giant clams and zooxanthellae. She is working with Darren T. Wells in his 8th grade science classes at Timilty Middle School in Roxbury. The Timilty uses the FOSS curriculum to teach students using an inquiry-based approach in three major units: Chemistry of Life, Planetary Science, and Populations & Ecosystems. Darren and Timery plan to bring a diversity of live animals and plants into the classroom to spark student interest in biology. Additional areas of focus include increasing relevance and rigor of student scientific notebooks and increased problem-solving skills.
click here for Timery's curriculum activities.
Rachele Dominguez (erdomi@bu.edu)
Boston Latin Academy
Principal: Maria Garcia-Aaronson
Teacher: Denis Allen
Rachele Dominguez is a third year PhD student in Physics at Boston University. Her research focuses on the kinetics of phase transitions. She is paired with Denis Allen who teaches 10th grade physics at Boston Latin Academy. Rachele is working to develop curriular materials that promote active learning for all students. These materials include various technological tools such as web resources, computer simulations, and personal response systems which give teachers immediate feedback on student understanding.
click here for Rachele's curriculum activities.
Morteza Lahijanian (morteza@bu.edu)
Chelsea High School
Principal: Joseph Mullaney
Teacher: Addison Chrystie
Morteza Lahijanian is a Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering. His research involves the development of a control system for a group of robots that will cooperate with each other autonomously without any sorts of communication to execute a task. He is working with Mr. Addison Chrystie at Chelsea High School in his 11th and 12th grade Physics and Engineering classes. Together they are developing a curriculum for Introduction to Engineering class and supplementing it with projects such as the complete construction of a robot. To expose the students in physics and engineering classes to college level material and research, Morteza will give lessons and perform various meaningful demonstrations of different physics concepts such as energy, electricity and magnetism, waves, and fluid mechanics throughout the year.
Click here for Morteza's currciulum activities.
Olga Sazonova (sazonova@bu.edu)
Health Careers Academy
Principal: Caren Walker
Teacher: Kevin Robin
Olga Sazonova is originally from Russia, and after moving to the US with her family in the 1990s, settled in Washington DC. She studied Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern University for her undergraduate degree, and is now a 3rd year graduate student in the Biomedical Engineering department at BU. Her research focuses on how extracellular matrix mechanics affect cellular communication between the cells and the matrix, and neighboring cells. Olga is partnered with Kevin Robin at Health Careers Academy in Boston, teaching 10 th grade Biology and 9 th grade Chemistry. Her main role is to design a new laboratory curriculum for the Biology classes that encompasses new city and state requirements. She will also be advising students in experimental design, data analysis, and project presentation for the 2008 Science Fair, in which all students must participate. Olga and Kevin's goals for their collaboration are to enhance students' understanding of Biology and Chemistry beyond a typical high school approach by combining real-life applications of the material with activities that encourage the students to develop a scientific approach to learning and inquiry. Click here for Olga's curriculum activities.
Jonathan Winkler (jwinkler@bu.edu)
Monument High School, South Boston
Principal: Jonathan Pizzi
Teacher: Ledilla Bokas
Jonathan Winkler is a third year graduate student in Boston University's Program in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry. He works in Jim Collins' lab in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, where he is attempting to identify new bacterial targets for antibiotics. Jon is teaching at Monument High School in South Boston with Ledilla Bokas. They are team teaching three Chemistry courses and a Biology course. Some of the objectives for this year are to develop more hands-on activities to engage the students in active learning and to develop a student team of researchers that can develop competitive science projects for the science fair.
Click here for Jonathan's curriculum activities.