Six Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) students and two faculty members spent a week this summer at the University of Maine in Orono, taking part in a Biology Research Experience Short Course designed to give community college students real-world laboratory experience and exposure to advanced research techniques. 
The five-day course was led by Dr. Karissa Tilbury, associate professor of biomedical engineering at UMaine, with assistance from Abraham Fadahunsi, a doctoral student in biomedical science and engineering. Students focused on testing materials for cytotoxicity, determining whether substances are safe for living cells.
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Working with living mammalian cells—cells derived from animals, that share many of the same biological structures and functions as human cells—students learned how to handle and grow cells, design experiments, and analyze data in a clean, controlled lab environment. Mammalian cells are essential tools in biomedical research because they provide a realistic model for understanding how the body’s tissues respond to materials, drugs, or environmental factors. Using advanced equipment such as plate readers and fluorescence microscopes, students tested material safety and practiced essential skills like pipetting, staining, and cell counting.
“Having the opportunity to be part of this Research Experience was one of the best things that has happened to me,” said SMCC student Dornica Gimbi. “I learned so much about good laboratory techniques. In one week, I gained experience of the ups and downs of what it is like being a scientist. One word I can say about scientists is that they need resilience.”
For some students, the experience opened new academic interests. For others, it helped clarify their career paths.
“Even though I learned that research may not be for me, I am glad that I opened myself up to learning about conducting experiments,” said Maia Hall, a Health Science major. “The hands-on aspect of cell culturing was especially enjoyable for me.”
“Before the class, I had trouble pipetting, but now I feel more confident,” said Tatiana Muteba, a Health Science student. “I learned how to seed cells, perform cytotoxicity tests, and analyze cell viability. I am really grateful to be a part of this research course.”
Faculty from SMCC’s Science Department, Dr. Daniel Moore, department chair, and Erin Adams, adjunct instructor, joined the UMaine team to co-teach the short course and guide students through the experience.
“Students taking this short course have a week to experience what it is like to do the work of scientific research,” Moore said. “It is a great opportunity for a student to see if this is the career path that they would like to pursue, as well as having a chance to learn and observe research techniques that are not available at the community college.”
This collaboration was made possible through SMCC’s sub-award from the Maine SMART grant, funded by the National Science Foundation. The program supports efforts to strengthen Maine’s research ecosystem and build pathways for students through strategic capacity building. In addition to the short course, the grant has enabled SMCC students to participate in summer research fellowships at institutions including Bowdoin College, the Roux Institute, the University of New England, and the University of Maine.
Participating SMCC students were:
- Emma Dionne, visiting student from Central Maine Community College
- Dornica Gimbi, Health Science
- Kristina Roscoe, Health Science
- Lidiany Silva, Marine Science
- Maia Hall, Pre-Nursing/Health Science
- Tatiana Muteba, Health Science