Scott Troy, Robert Ferguson, Sergio Figueroa and Fran Groff-Gonzales

The team’s innovative teaching idea, “DNA Sequencing for All,” is designed to help Career Technical Education (CTE) students engage in real-world genomic research by sequencing the DNA of potentially undiscovered bacterial species. In collaboration with the DNA Learning Center at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, students in three CTE pathways — biotechnology, engineering and cybersecurity — will safely extract bacterial DNA, prepare samples for sequencing and analyze genomic data using bioinformatics tools. This hands-on experience introduces core bioscience, engineering and computer science techniques, while contributing to an ongoing scientific effort to catalog microbial diversity. The teaching team hopes that through this authentic research, students will develop critical thinking, data analysis and lab skills, while also gaining insight into careers in genomics and microbiology. They believe the project fosters scientific curiosity and provides students with opportunities for making meaningful contributions to the broader scientific community. The Voya grant funds will be used to purchase nanopore rapid sequencing kits and DNA preparation and viewing items.