StarNet Research Program

StarNet Research Teachers


The StarNet Teacher Research Experience

What is StarNet?
StarNet is a program funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and administered by the High School Human Genome Program at the University of Washington.

What is the Teacher Research Experience?
The Teacher Research Experience allows high school teachers to learn more about drug abuse research by working for 6 - 8 weeks in a University of Washington laboratory. During the summers of 2001-2004, six high school science teachers were paired with University of Washington scientists whose research focuses on understanding aspects of drug abuse. During the 6 - 8 week period,  teachers were active members of the scientists' labs, learning about the experimental questions and approaches of the lab, carrying out a research project, and attending lab group meetings. In addition, the teachers and scientists attended weekly research seminars hosted by each scientist. At the end of the summer, the research teachers prepared posters that described their research project.

2004 Project Descriptions

Ken Mackie is a professor and Jim Wager-Miller is a Laboratory Manager in the Department of Anesthesiology. The Mackie lab is interested in how cannabinoids, the active ingredient in Cannabis, produce their psychoactive effects. Currently, the lab has a strong interest in understanding how tolerance to the effects of cannabinoids develops, and they are studying this at the level of the receptor. Dr. Mackie's lab has hosted teachers Bill Monahan (2001), Bryan Robles (2002), Jamie Cooke (2003), Connie Kelly (2003), and George Minson (2004).

Ken Thummel is a professor in the Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy.  Research in Dr. Thummel's lab is focused on understanding the biological basis for interindividual variability in drug metabolism and drug transport processes. Dr. Thummel's lab has hosted Mary Glodowski (2001), Toni Roberts (2003), and Kevin Stilwell (2004).

Debbie Nickerson is an associate professor and Mark Rieder is a research assistant professor in the Department of Genome Sciences. Their research interests include analysis of genetic variations across populations, with special focus on genes involved in common health issues like heart disease and hypertension. The Nickerson Lab will host one teacher during the 2004 Research Experience. Dr. Nickerson's lab hosted Jed Doyle (2001), Dan Gallagher (2002), Debby Jacobson (2003), and Lowell Thomson (2004).

Jeanette Norris is a Senior Scientist and Tatiana Masters is a research coordinator with the University of Washington's Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute. Their research examines the effects of alcohol consumption and beliefs about alcohol on women’s assessment of sexual situations and decisions about condom negotiation and safer sex. During this research project, a series of experiments will be conducted that focus on the complex interactions between alcohol and HIV risk taking related to sex. Interests that make a teacher a good match for this projects include socially relevant behavioral research, HIV, human sexuality, and alcohol’s social effects.  The teacher will be trained in the project’s specific experimental protocols, but skills and knowledge in the area of empiricism and the scientific method will be relevant.  Because of the nature of this project, the teachers accepted to this site had to be female. The Norris Lab has hosted Tia Thiel (2002), Samantha Ketover (2003), and Dana Levine (2004).

Roger Roffman, a professor in the UW School of Social Work, and his colleagues with the School's Innovative Programs Research Group, are conducting four federally-funded studies pertaining to substance abuse. The teacher placed in the Roffman Lab will be involved in assessing the efficacy of the Teen Marijuana Check up, a program presented to Seattle-area high school students. The Roffman Lab has hosted Ron Pearson (2001), Michael O'Byrne (2002), and Rachael Tarshes (2004).

Nephi Stella is an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacology, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. His laboratory investigates the medicinal uses of the marijuana plant for treatment of pathologies such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis, which are associated with inflammation of the central nervous system. Dr. Stella's lab will host one teacher during the 2004 Research Experience. The Stella Lab hosted Patricia Hunkins (2002), Martha Strachan (2003), and Karen Koenemann (2004).

To view the projects of all StarNet research teachers, in other laboratories as well as those above, visit:
http://hshgp.genome.washington.edu/research/star_teachers.htm
 

For further information on the StarNet project, please contact  mmunn@u.washington.edu.

Department of Genome Sciences
Education Outreach, Box 355065
Foege Building, Rm S334
Seattle, WA 98195

Phone: (206) 616-4538
Fax: (206) 685-7301

This page was last updated 12/01/04.