Research Experience for High School Students
Amaris Lewis won the Grand Award at the 2018 Greater New Orleans Science and Engineering Fair for her research on mesenchymal stem cells that was supervised by Prof. Russell and designed by Prof. O'Connor. In 2018, Amaris was a high school junior in the New Orleans Charter School System. In addition to the Grant Award, Amaris won the 1st Place Category Award in Senior Division for Cellular and Molecular Biology, 1st Place Special Award from the Society for In Vitro Biology, 1st Place Special Award from the U.S. Air Force, and 1st Place Special Award from Yale Science & Engineering Association, Inc. When Amaris competed in the Louisiana Science and Engineering Fair, she won 3rd Place in the Biomedical & Health Sciences category. Amaris' poster can be viewed here.
Spring 2018: Amaris Lewis presents her research at Greater New Orleans Science and Engineering Fair
Girls in STEM at Tulane
This program was established by the School of Science and Engineering at Tulane for local middle-school girls to foster interest in STEM. The O'Connor lab developed for the program a laboratory workshop entitled "Healthy Bones for Life: Your Stem Cells at Work." The workshop provides instruction on mesenchymal stem cells, their differentiation into bone, and the prevention of osteoporosis, which is prominent among older women. Girls perform experiments in groups of 3-4 supervised by the Prof. O'Connor and her research team in a one-hour workshop of 12 girls.
Homecoming Lab Tours
Prof. O'Connor hosts tours of her lab annualy during the School of Science and Engineering's Homecoming Open House for students, their families and alumni. The visitors learn about stem cells through discussions with research assistants and demonstrations with stem cell cultures.
