Psychological Science Research: Solving the Human Puzzle
Meeting Time: Mondays and Thursdays, 6:00PM CST to 8:00PM CST
Instructors: Zach Stuckelman, PhD

Would you say yes if someone asked you to work on the world’s greatest, most perplexing puzzle for a living? Psychological science researchers have asked this question! What is this puzzle? Humans! Psychological researchers study how humans think, learn, feel, and why they act in a certain way. If the human puzzle intrigues you, you may be interested in studying psychology and becoming a psychological science researcher. This mini mentorship experience will allow you the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of researching within psychological science so that you have the knowledge to develop a research proposal that interests YOU the most (cognitive, social, or developmental) while receiving a personalized mentorship to make your introduction to psychological research successful and impactful. The final project will be your own research proposal that reflects what psychological researchers are asked to do at the career level. Together, we will learn how to view, interpret, and critique others’ research by studying existing scientific literature and studies. We will then use our budding understanding of psychological research to write research questions, form hypotheses, and design a novel study!

Dr. Zachary Stuckelman received his doctorate at Vanderbilt University in 2022 in Developmental Psychology. With a focus on how young children learn from digital media and technology, Zach has gained experience working with companies like Duolingo, Lovevery, and YouTube, among others. He is currently a Senior Research Scientist on the Impact and Innovation team at Great Minds, an organization dedicated to developing meaningful curriculum for teachers and students. He is very excited at the opportunity to teach PTY students!

The Hidden Chemistry of Sea Turtles: Protecting the Ocean’s Gentle Giants 
Meeting Day/Time: Monday and Thursdays, 5:00PM CST to 7:00PM CST
Instructor: Hannah Richards, Ph.D.  

Have you ever wondered how scientists keep track of an animal that spends nearly its entire life hidden beneath the ocean’s surface? Or how chemistry can help veterinarians save endangered sea turtles? In this Mini Mentor Immersion, you’ll dive into the fascinating world of sea turtles to discover how chemists, marine biologists, veterinarians, and conservation scientists work together to protect one of the ocean’s most extraordinary animals. Guided by a medicinal chemist and insights from leading sea turtle veterinarians, you’ll uncover the hidden chemistry that influences marine animal health, from blood chemistry and nutrition to pollution, disease, and environmental change. Throughout this mentorship, you will investigate the biology of sea turtles while learning how scientists ask research questions, analyze evidence, and solve conservation challenges. Using authentic case studies, veterinary records, scientific literature, and research data, you’ll examine why sea turtles become sick, how veterinarians diagnose and treat injured animals, and what chemistry reveals about their health. Together, we’ll explore marine pollutants, plastics and chemical contaminants, nutrition, ocean ecosystems, and the effects of temperature on endangered species. Along the way, you’ll practice interpreting scientific data, evaluating conservation strategies, and communicating evidence based solutions to real-world problems. Through collaborative discussions and interactive activities, you’ll discover how chemistry, biology, veterinary medicine, and conservation science work together to protect marine wildlife. You’ll also gain insight into careers in these fields while developing the critical thinking and scientific communication skills used by researchers and conservation professionals every day. By the end of the mentorship, you will complete your own research project, selecting a challenge facing sea turtles and developing an evidence-based solution supported by scientific literature, evidence, and research. With personalized feedback from your mentor, you’ll present your findings in a professional scientific format, gaining experience communicating science just as researchers and conservationists do. If you’ve ever dreamed of protecting endangered wildlife, exploring the chemistry hidden beneath the ocean’s surface, or discovering how science can make a difference for our planet, this mentorship is for you!

Hannah A. Richards received a B.S. in Chemistry from Austin Peay State University in 2022 and is a 2026 graduate of Vanderbilt University with a Ph.D. in Chemistry. Her research investigates inflammatory responses using newly developed electrochemical biosensors, with focus areas spanning electrochemistry, microfluidic organ-on-a-chip models, cell biology, and complex reproductive systems. She has over six years of experience teaching and mentoring youth in science and is passionate about educating rising scientists while fostering welcoming and collaborative learning experiences. In her personal time, she enjoys activities with her family and playing with her two yorkies. She is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in STEM.

[Course Status: Full] From Lab to Life: The Science of Drug Discovery
Meeting Day/Time: Monday and Thursdays, 5:30PM CST to 7:30PM CST
Instructor: Samika Joshi

Did you know that bringing a single drug from initial research to patient use can take over a decade and cost billions of dollars? In this course, you'll journey through the full arc of drug development — from the moment of scientific discovery to the patient's bedside. Through interactive case studies, real-world research analysis, and simulated drug development scenarios, you'll uncover how pharmaceutical breakthroughs are actually made. We'll examine the critical steps in drug discovery: target identification, preclinical testing, clinical trials, regulatory approval, and market introduction. Along the way, you'll wrestle with the scientific, ethical, and business challenges that shape the development of new medicines. By the end of this course, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of how laboratory innovations become life-saving treatments — and you'll think critically about the ecosystem that makes it all possible.

Samika Joshi is a Ph.D. candidate in Biochemistry at Vanderbilt University, originally from India. During her undergraduate years at Emory University, she discovered her passion for molecular research while investigating genetic mechanisms in RNA exosome subunits — an experience that shaped her scientific trajectory. Now in Dr. Neil Osheroff's laboratory, Samika investigates how type II topoisomerases interact with antibacterial compounds in Acinetobacter baumannii, contributing to our understanding of bacterial enzyme interactions and potential new approaches to combating antibiotic resistance — the very kind of barrier-breaking science at the heart of this course. Beyond the bench, Samika is passionate about mentoring students and making science accessible through outreach. In her free time, you'll likely find her reading fiction with a strong cup of tea or spending time with her close-knit group of friends.