Amanda Outhouse participated in Iowa State University's Science with Practice program.

2015 May 6

Amanda Outhouse, majoring in Animal Science at #IowaState, was a participant of Science with Practice. Science with Practice is a learning and work experience program in research and related laboratories for undergraduate students. Students work closely with faculty and graduate students to gain experience in their field of study.

Students are able to conduct research and form mentoring relationships with faculty while earning money and academic credit. The program allows students to develop an understanding of the links between research and practical real-world situations and problems.

Outhouse was advised by Dr. Steven Lonergan, professor, on a project titled Immune system stimulation by repeated lipopolysaccaride injections alters longissimus dorsi sacroplasmic protein profile in pigs. This project determined the impact of immune system stimulation and selection for feed efficiency on the sarcoplasmic protein profile of the longissiumus dorsi muscle in pigs using two-dimensional differences in gel electrophoresis. Proteins were identified through mass spectrometry. Data were confirmed by one and two dimensional western blots.

In total, 30 students and 23 faculty participated in the program during Spring 2015. As part of the program, students establish individualized learning agreements, create a final portfolio and complete biweekly journals of their semester progress. The semester concludes with a public poster presentation where students share their projects and experiences.

The Science with Practice program has linked students with faculty research for 10 years. Students may participate in the program multiple semesters. For more information visit www.ageds.iastate.edu/SWP.

This program is funded by the ISU Agricultural Endowment Board, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Van Wert Family Endowment.