Huntington Science Research Program Gains Steam
The Huntington High School science research program is headed in an exciting direction as teacher Lori Pyzocha has two classes of students developing challenging projects. This marks the first year that Ms. Pyzocha has led the program and she has big plans for it.
Students can enroll in the research program on either a full-year or one semester basis and earn academic credit accordingly. The course is “recommended to students with an interest in doing science research in an area of choice, such as the biochemical sciences, psychology, genetics, environmental field work and material science,” according to the high school bulletin.
Students are selected for participation through an application process. “This course revolves around developing and completing a science project to compete in local, state, or national science competitions,” states a course description. “Development of real-world skills, such as oral and written communication, statistical analysis, and technology will be a part of the curriculum. Students will be assessed by a portfolio that includes written work, project proposals, research analysis, and log data entry. Students are encouraged to take this course for successive years.”
“It is truly my hope that I can, with the engagement of the community, offer young minds the opportunity to explore their interests in science by applying their learned knowledge,” Ms. Pyzocha said. “It is at such a young age we learn not to listen to our inner being but maybe if we are given opportunities to further explore them it will enhance our likelihood that we will continue adventure as a life long exploration.”
District officials have high hopes for the research program and would like to see it move into the elite circle of similar courses on Long Island.
“My ultimate dream for the science research program is to have a Westinghouse Finalist,” said David Casamento, Huntington’s director of science. “My first hope is that we will be able to enter the students in a wide variety of science competitions throughout the year and that they will have success in these competitions. My second hope is that as these students succeed in the program and that more students will be interested in the program and the program will grow and flourish. I think it would be truly spectacular if the faculty at Finley Middle School starts entering some competitions at their level. This would mean that our students would start realizing success in this program at an even earlier age! My final hope is that the community will continue to support this program through their generosity and volunteerism. So far, the outpouring of public support for this program has been tremendous.
The number of community volunteers has overwhelmed Ms. Pyzocha and me. This has validated what I always knew; that Huntington is truly a science community.”
The district has longed for a successful science research program, where participants utilized scientists and facilities at the Cold Spring Harbor Lab, Brookhaven National Lab, Stony Brook University, local hospitals and other state and local facilities, including those on the waterfront.
“With the program being led by Ms. Pyzocha, there is no way this program or these students will not succeed,” Mr. Casamento said. “She is exactly what this program needs and we are proud of her and the accomplishments she has achieved in such a short period of time.”
After meeting specific criteria, juniors and seniors can earn college credit for the research course through SUNY Albany. The field of scientific research is one that fascinates Ms. Pyzocha. “As a race against the world, a need for advancements in science and a genuine love for the sciences, I have dreamed of a world where we can explore what we truly find intriguing and help make life what it was meant to be – fascinating,” she said.
Ms. Pyzocha has worked in Huntington as a science teacher since December 2005. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology at St. Michael’s College in Vermont in 1998 and obtained a Master of Science in biology at Adelphi University 2000. She also studied wildlife and ecology at the School for International Training in Africa and holds graduate teacher’s certification from Long Island University – C.W. Post College.
She completed her student teaching requirements in the Half Hollow Hills school district. In addition to the science research program, she also teaches courses known as Living Environment- Honor’s and Introduction to the Living Environment.
Prior to coming to Huntington, Ms. Pyzocha worked at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory as a lab technician in the department of neurobiology from 1998 to 2005. In this position she conducted collaborative and independent behavioral and molecular genetic experiments, identifying and characterizing genes involved in learning and memory; maintained the inventory of lab reagents and materials, gained highly developed behavioral genetic and molecular skills such as genomic prep, PCR, digests, primer development, brain histology, lax Z and other staining techniques; trained visiting scientists to perform behavioral analysis and performed website development.
In late 2001, Ms. Pyzocha represented the Cold Spring Harbor Lab as a teacher at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, lecturing on background material and various techniques, directing the set-up and training of lab technicians on a large-scale forward mutagenesis project and ordering and arranging the shipment of all supplies.
Ms. Pyzocha has also worked as a research assistant at St. Michael’s College, in the Adelphi University animal care facility and as a field biology teaching assistant in Colchester, Vermont. As a student in a study abroad program in Tanzania, she developed a project that involved researching giraffes in Arusha National Park. By photo identification and extensive study of behavioral patterns, records were developed for means of protecting endangered animals.
In addition to being proficient in numerous computer software programs, Ms. Pyyzocha has a working knowledge of Swahili, sign-language and Spanish. She has also contributed to several published scientific papers.
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