A better way to detect hard-to-find mold that grows in homes and businesses is the ultimate goal behind research conducted this summer by SELF Scholar Liam Moore.
Moore, a second-year civil engineering major, took a turn this summer at The Ohio State University's Environmental Quality Lab working on the long-term research project.
His first hands-on experience in a laboratory setting was an eye-opener for Moore, who called it "a big learning curve." Nonetheless, Moore said the program was a great opportunity for him. "The whole program was really well structured so I feel like it really encouraged students to learn," he said.
In the lab, Moore's job was to incubate dust in glass jars containing a salt solution. "It changes the humidity level that the dust is exposed to...then we can take the dust out and extract the RNA which is similar to the DNA of the dust," he explained.
The goal is to eventually develop a product that gives consumers a reliable test for indicators of mold that they could use to test their basements or other places where mold often grows unchecked. "There's still a lot of testing that needs to be done before a product could come out," said Moore. "I find the research really interesting, and I'm thinking about continuing it on into the fall."
Moore's summer research experience was just one aspect of the SELF program housed in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. The program is aimed at cultivating the next generation of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) leaders by strengthening pipelines through and into careers in STEM for students who have experience living or working in diverse environments or who have overcome substantial educational challenges.
Moore said his first time conducting research has left him more confident in his abilities. "I think big picture, it just shows you that when you put your mind to it you can do about anything," he said.