Cisco College is partnering with McMurry University on a US Department of Education Title V Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Grant.
Cisco is Partnering to Encourage to encourage more students to get involved in high-quality STEM learning opportunities. Cisco currently has a research team studying the development of biofermentors to generate biofuel. The team is working to Optimize efficiency for a process that can minimize the carbon footprint. The team will present their findings this Spring at the McMurry Research festival!
Students may take a 2-hr course for credit for learning how to do the research, or they may participate in the research without taking the course. The primary goal is to introduce students to "STEM research" earlier - teach the research process at the introductory level - and increase the numbers of students pursuing degrees in the STEM fields.
Research Teams support collaboration between the Cisco and McMurry science departments. Cisco research teams will have access to McMurry science facilities, plus Cisco students can also apply to join a McMurry research team.
WHY RESEARCH TEAMS?
A college STEM education these days is typically filled with broad coverage of many science fields intended to give a general understanding of what science is and how it works. This approach lacks in one fundamental way - it ignores the need for a focused, lasting experience in some area of study. Such a "deep dive" study enhances critical thinking skills, gives greater understanding of the complexity of science , and develops skills wanted by employers and graduate/professional programs. Think deeply, work intentionally, analyze critically, communicate effectively. Research Teams were created for this! Visit the research team blog to see current progress.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, CONTACT:
Research Team Coordinator
Justin Ceniceros
justin.ceniceros@cisco.edu
(254) 442-5163
2021-2022 RESEARCH TEAMS
See the full list of Cisco and McMurry Teams on the STEM Success Research Team Blog.
-
Team Backyard Bats
Professor of Biology Rachel Ritchie
Team Backyard Bats will be studying the bats that live in Abilene and the surrounding area. Since bats' echolocation calls are too high for our ears to hear, Team Backyard Bats will be using specialized acoustic monitoring devices, or “bat detectors,” to record the echolocation calls of bats. We’ll use the calls we record to determine where bats are active. This will help us select locations to place bat houses, which provide a dark, safe place for bats to sleep during the day. In doing this, we will learn more about the bat population in the area and help build and promote good habitats for bats.
-
Terry's A.I. Experts
Professor of Agriculture Terry's A.I. Experts research how to maximize the viability of semen samples used in artificial insemination of livestock. There is great variability in the protocols used from different suppliers for the defrosting of samples to be used in livestock production. Team Terry’s AI Experts will compare protocols and do in vitro studies to find the most effective strategy to use for maximizing the success rates for artificial insemination.
SPRING 2019 RESEARCH TEAMS
-
TEAM CISCO SUSTAINABILITY
Dr. Nirmala Chandrasekharan
Dr. Nirmala Chandrasekharan has experience in teaching Chemistry for many years, which has led her to research using chemistry to find environmentally-sound solutions to problems arising from society. Her research team is studying the production of biogas from local farm waste. Living a more eco-friendly lifestyle starts with renewable resources. This project uses animal waste to generate biofuel, and the team will work to optimize efficiency for a process that can minimize the carbon footprint.
Team Cisco Sustainability is in its second year and is currently using a digester to produce and capture biogas!
-
TEAM O'CONNELL ONCOGENIUSES
Dr. Malaney O'Connell
Dr. Malaney O'Connell's Research Team is exploring the tremendous challenges found in breast cancer research, specifically the role of collagen X in breast cancer metastasis. Students on this team will help develop cancer cell culture lines with engineered traits, then use the strains to study the role played by collagen X expression in the metastasis of breast cancer. Students working in research with her have made significant progress in developing strategies and tools for studying metastasis, some of which have been reported at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
-
TEAM BRANT SCOUTS
Dr. Joel Brant
Dr. Joel Brant is a mammalogist whose research has centered on the distribution and ecology of small mammals in west central Texas. His research team will survey small mammal populations at Camp Bowie, TX. Students will participate in trapping small mammals, evaluate their distribution and number, and determine how human activity and environmental factors impact numbers and distribution. Previous students have presented their research at regional scientific meetings.
-
TEAM CRAB BOYLE
Dr. T.J. Boyle
Dr. T.J. Boyle studies invasive crab species that are found in lakes of our region. The research team will focus on the history and ecology of invasive invertebrate animals found in area lakes. Students will help with live trapping in regional lakes, transport of specimens back to campus, and analysis of the results. The team also studies the behavior and ecology of the species encounters.
FALL 2019 RESEARCH TEAMS
-
TEAM AI EXPERTS
Brandi Terry - Agriculture Professor
Ms. Terry's students have completed literature reviews and artificial insemination certification training. The team will use their knowledge and training to test the efficacy of thawing procedures on bovine semen, seeking to identify the optimal thawing protocols by understanding the effects of temperature and thawing on the specimens. The team will be the first students to utilize new equipment in the Agriculture lab!
-
TEAM SHARP SCALPEL
Dr. Sharp's team will develop educational resources for McMurry's new 3D digital dissection lab.