ROCKLAND — Rorie Short, a student in biology at the UMA Rockland Center, has been accepted to the Bridging Disciplines: The Impacts of Environmental Chemicals on Aging and Physiology research program at the MDI Biological Laboratory (MDIBL) in Bar Harbor. The MDIBL offers a week-long undergraduate course during the UMA March break, focusing on research in biomedical sciences.

The 2020 research topic is Toxicology and Aging. This week-long course will provide the fundamental concepts of toxicology and aging biology via lectures, discussions, reading current news articles and scientific publications, and critical thinking exercises. The course will also offer hands-on research experiences. Students will examine the toxicity of arsenic exposure using nematode C. elegans in i) developing toxicological testing methodologies, ii) assessing several biomarkers of health-span and lifespan, and iii) interpreting research data for scientific communities as well as for the general public.

Rorie Short learned of the research opportunity during his Rockland biology course with UMA faculty member, Marta Frisardi.

“Such a research experience is greatly beneficial to UMA students, especially those who would like to advance to graduate school or health professions,” said UMA Rockland, in a news release.

Rorie Short is a full-time student in UMA’s Bachelor of Arts in biology and a father of two.