ENGAGE (2008-2011)
pioneered the implementation of a real-world chickpea DNA sequencing research project across the Houston Community College Biology curriculum. In collaboration with Dr. Michael A. Grusak of the USDA, HCC students have managed to submit 30 new chickpea cDNA sequences to the EST database of the National Center for Biotechnology Information. For more information, click on the "ENGAGE Chickpea Sequencing Progress" link in the left menu bar.
The ENGAGE Project has been supported by USDA-SERD Grant 2008-38422-19137.


IMPACT (2010-2012)
expands the ENGAGE model of in-classroom research into the Houston Community College Chemistry department with the purchase of a powder X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) machine. With this machine, chemistry students will be able to discover and compare the ingredients of many popular foods, supplements and over-the-counter products. Biology students meanwhile will embark on a brand-new pecan cDNA sequencing project, also in collaboration with Dr. Michael A. Grusak. We will also continue our efforts to verify the identity of local sushi by protein-barcoding. For up-to-date information, click on the "IMPACT XRD Research Progress" and the "IMPACT Pecan Sequencing Progress" links in the left menu bar.
The IMPACT Project is supported by USDA-SERD Grant 2010-38422-21209.