Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi,
My name is Chaya Iyengar. I'm doing a project dealing with Streptococcus mutans, so it's considered a restricted project. In order for me to do it, I need a qualified mentor. I've called VCU and they've put me on a VERY long waiting list. My science teacher said that I need to have all my forms in by next week. Can anyone help me get a mentor please? Thank you very much.

hello there

where is it that you are situated?...any mentor that is qualified can be a doctor or laboratory technician and that can be found at hospitals or clinics near you. it can also be a family member who has a degree in the field of what your are going to research so if your mom or dad has an occupation as a research scientist then that will also be accepted as a qualified mentor as far as i believe

Hi Chaya,

Do you need a mentor who can let you use their lab or train you in person about how to perform some of the microbiology techniques? Or are you looking for someone to bounce ideas about with and it could be someone who can email you?

Best of luck,
Caroline

Hi Caroline.
I need a mentor who can supervise my project, provide a lab, and provide the bacteria, Streptococcus mutans for me. My teacher said that if I don't have a mentor by next week, I'll have to switch projects which would be a major bummer. If you know anyone, could you please give me their contact info.? Thank you!

-Chaya (I like these smileys!)

Hi Chaya,

I am sorry that you are having difficulty finding a lab. It does take a lot of effort and paperwork for professors to allow trainees into their labs (especially the very junior trainees) and everyone's budgets are very tight at the moment so try to be understanding. Its good that you have got on a list at VCU. Hold onto your ideas for that project until next yeat and hopefully by then you will be at the top of the waiting list.

In the mean time maybe you could come up with a project that relates to your interest that doesn't require someone to provide a lab. There is a genome sequencing project for Streptococcus mutans where you can access DNA sequences - perhaps you can come up with a genomics project that would only need a computer and not a lab? Or perhaps you could work with an organism that is safer but could be a model for what you really want to test - this happens a lot in science that researchers can't do the first experiments on humans because they are not safe or too difficult to control for or too expensive and so they use another simpler organism to start their project and find out some basic answers.

The experts would be happy to help you develop a new project idea.
Post back with your thoughts and interests,

Best of luck,
Caroline

I have a different project idea that I don't think will need a mentor: The Effect of Temperature on Viscosity. Does that sound like a high school level project? My teacher just told me that I need to redo everything! (inculding the research plan). I need to find a fast, easy project that I can do, but will still get me an A. I like to work with pH and physics. If you have any project ideas, I would be SO HAPPY!!! Thanks for your time!

~Chaya~

PS: Caroline, thanks for your help!