Montville High School Seeks Science Mentors

Montville High School is in need of something unique: Mentors.

The Science Research course at Montville High School offers highly motivated students with a strong interest in science, the opportunity to explore science research in a genuine scientific setting, said MTHS science teachers Dorine Starace and Rachel Salazar.

Sophomores spend their first year of the course exploring different fields of research, gradually focusing on one particular topic of interest through extensive reading of cutting edge research work in scientific journals.  

By the end of the year, students must identify possible mentors and contact as many as possible to ensure a place to get laboratory research experience during the summers of their sophomore and junior years. 

“One of the most challenging and unpredictable elements of the Science Research course is finding mentors for our students.  Each student pursues their own interests and becomes an expert in their chosen topics.  It’s quite remarkable how much a high school student can achieve when motivated and passionate,” they said. “However, it is very difficult to find scientists or professors willing to mentor a high school student.”

In their final year, students will complete their research, prepare their results for presentation to a variety of audiences and submit their final projects to several local, regional and national competitions.  The 3-year course is an amazing opportunity for our students.

Although many of our first year students have found laboratories to start research in, many are still looking. “We are reaching out to the parent community of Montville for support.  If there are scientists in our community willing to talk to our students or help them make connections to research, we would appreciate it immensely.  Our student’s interests are very diverse,” said Starace and Salazar.

They added, “In the biological and biochemical fields, we have students interested in the molecular and genetic mechanisms of various diseases and disorders, the differentiation of stem cells, nanoparticle research, bioluminescence, tonic immobility in sharks, natural remedies for cancer, and bacteriophage life cycle.  In physics and engineering, there are students interested in particle physics, dark matter, optical engineering, optical quantum communication with lasers, microbial fuel cells, ion propulsion and hall thrusters, and the electronic applications of graphite.”  

Their students are very passionate about their interests, they work very hard, and they are self-motivated.  The opportunity to gain some research experience under the supervision of a mentor would be invaluable to them.  

If you would like to know more about the Science Research program or you are able to help connect a student to a science research mentor, please contact Dorine Starace (dorine.starace@montville.net) or Rachel Salazar (rachel.salazar@montville.net).