COVID-19 has changed the way many students learn, but a group of Athens State University students are receiving hands-on training as they pursue careers in the life sciences. Each Friday, the Athens State University students meet in the Teledyne Training Lab on the HudsonAlpha campus as part of the PORTALS (Principles of Research Techniques and Lab Skills) program to learn and improve lab skills. 

“We are so thankful to have students back in the TeledyneTraining Lab using professional equipment,” said Michele Morris. “We may be wearing masks and spread out at the lab benches, but we are grateful for the in-person opportunity to provide students tools for their success. It is important for the development of tomorrow’s workforce.”

The students echoed the same feeling that hands-on research projects and lab experience are vitalsteps of their career paths. Alex Taylor, twice retired and pursuing a biology degree for a third career as a physician’s assistant, said that PORTALS has given him research experience.

“This gives you practical experience,” said Taylor. “School is a whole other ballgame. The program is high-speed and multi-tasking and it opens your eyes to what the world is about.”

The PORTALS class at HudsonAlpha provides undergraduate students at participating institutions with skills and confidence for success in a research lab setting. Students enrolled in the course typically earn three hours of elective science credit over one semester. Students in PORTALS spend more than 120 hours in a laboratory setting learning skills such as solution preparation, DNA extraction, PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) and primer design. Also included in the programming is instruction in cell culture, bioinformatics and sequence analysis. 

Hannah Mueller, a biology major who will graduate next year, came to Athens State University for opportunities like PORTALS and bioinformatics.

“College labs are typically facilitated by instructors,” said Mueller. “In the PORTALS program, the lab work is independent and we are in charge of our own experiments. I am very glad to have in-person instruction because the hands-on experience and lab skills are difficult to teach virtually.”

Since HudsonAlpha opened more than a decade ago, education has been an integral part of its mission. The Educational Outreach team prepares students for a modern workforce, equips teachers with important skills and engages the community in science learning. To date, over 7.9 million students, educators, practitioners and members of the general public have utilized HudsonAlpha’s educational programs and content. 

For more information about the PORTALS program, visit hudsonalpha.org/portals.