Future Workforce Development in Regenerative Medicine at University of New Hampshire

Dr. Young, Assistant Professor from New England College teaching at UNH Tech Camp
Dr. Young, Assistant Professor from New England College teaching at UNH Tech Camp 

Matt Young, Ph.D., Assistant Professor at New England College, taught The Molecular Dynamics Project at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Tech Camp for students in grades 9-12. The summer camp experience showed students, all young women, how molecules connect and how they interact with a focus on regenerative medicine. Students learned molecular geometry, bonding, structure and dynamics through multiple modes of hands-on activities including virtual reality using Oculus Quest 2 VR headsets, to develop visual special identity skills. The instructor will use the experience to collaborate and develop the curriculum for high school and college students.

Photo of a laptop computer with a heme model image on the screen
Students modeling a heme, an iron-containing compound of the porphyrin class which forms the nonprotein part of hemoglobin and other biological molecules.

The UNH College of Engineering and Physical Sciences runs Tech Camp each year directed by Dr. Carmela Amato-Wierda. The instructor, Young, is also a 2023 NH BioMade educational seed grant recipient funded by a National Science Foundation Award # 1757371 administered by NH EPSCoR at the UNH. As part of the seed grant award, Young will use feedback from teaching at summer camp to facilitate further development of the molecular dynamics curriculum for multiple grades levels at Seacoast School of Technology, UNH Manchester and New England College over the upcoming academic year. Coursework will address skills gaps in critical thinking and problem solving, computational molecular bioengineering, and mechanical behavior of biomaterials to promote future workforce development in biomanufacturing.

NH BioMade is an NSF EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Track-1 project (#1757371).

UNH Tech Camp Director, Dr. Amato-Wierda, interacting with a DNA model using the Oculus VR headset
UNH Tech Camp Director, Dr. Amato-Wierda, interacting with a DNA model using the Oculus VR headset.

Written by: Jennifer Baker, NH EPSCoR
Photos: Jennifer Baker, NH EPSCoR