At Glendale Community College, science faculty has created opportunities for students to participate in hands-on scientific research. Ever since the program has been established, there is an incredible body of evidence showing its benefits for our students include enhancement of logical, analytical, and technical skills.

In Organic Chemistry Research, students leave the program knowing how to responsibly build a compound and characterize it, and its properties. The goal is for each student to become a molecular architect and engineer. Since the start of the Organic Chemistry Research program the
following results have been noted:

• More than 90 students have been trained through the program.
• Four of the alums are currently enrolled in Ph.D. programs in chemistry and biochemistry.
• Five of the alums are completing their M.S. in chemistry and biochemistry.
• 35 of the alums chose chemistry or biochemistry as their major field of study, and are currently completing their B.S. in reputable four-year universities.

The program is led by Dr. Asmik Oganesyan, Chemistry professor.

Students use microbiology and molecular techniques in addition to bioinformatics to search and identify genes that govern motility and attachment in a bacterium that promotes plant growth and has agricultural importance. Students work collaboratively and independently on all aspects of research, from making growth media to cleaning the glassware to isolating genomic DNA. Since its
inception, over 95 students have participated in the research project, and together, they have isolated over 100 genes, some novel with unknown functions. They have attended and presented their work at several regional, state, and national conferences. One student won the Outstanding Research Award at the Southern California American Society for Microbiology, two won the national microbial agar contest sponsored by the American Society for Microbiology. Recently, three
students have their work published in the Proceedings from the Bay Honors Research Symposium.

This program is led by Dr. Shelley Thai, Biology professor.

In the Natural History Research Internship, GCC offers a paid research internship in partnership with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, one of the largest natural history museums in North America. GCC students engage directly with museum researchers under the supervision of GCC faculty mentors. The students learn some of the modern techniques used in collection-based research and management, including electron microscopy, clearing and staining techniques, DNA extraction and sequence analysis, energy dispersive X ray spectroscopy, fossil preparation, and X-ray photography and analysis. Since 2015 more than 50 students have participated in this research program. Significantly, two students have published scientific papers as co-authors in peer-reviewed journals, and others are waiting for manuscripts to be submitted for publication. More than 90% of these GCC students are completing their bachelors in STEM and 68% have already transferred to prestigious 4-year universities. Many are now starting Ph.D. or M.S. programs in the biological sciences, while others have begun programs in medicine and other health sciences.

This internship program is led by Dr. Javier Gago, Biology professor.