A Joint Seminar of HSE Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology and George Mason University, USA

On June 10, 2020, first-year students of the Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology of HSE took part in the online seminar at George Mason University (USA). The seminar was part of the 'Coronavirus Research Update' summer course, conducted by Professor Ancha Baranova.

Ancha Baranova is well known to the domestic audience for her wonderful lectures on COVID-19, which scored tens and hundreds of thousands views on YouTube. Students of HSE Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology reported the results of the work that they conducted during a research seminar led by Dean A. Tonevitsky, as well as faculty and staff of the International Laboratory for Microphysiological Systems at HSE Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology - scientists who involved students into the real scientific work. The reports were united by a common topic, which is now relevant for everyone: the research on SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

 Daria Dobrovolskaya and Ulyana Kashcheeva talked about the features of the genome of the coronavirus, Anna Chechenina, Olga Chechekina and Veronika Shatalina - about using a microfluidic chip with intestinal cells to study the pathways of the virus into the cell. Alexandra Gorbonos, Ksenia Kirdei and Milena Chekova - on the interaction of the virus with microRNA cells. Finally, Ivan Antipenko and Alina Pokryshchenko presented their design of a test system for SARS-CoV-2 detection using the fast and cheap method of isothermal amplification of nucleic acids.

 The seminar took place during the session, so the guys had literally to 'cut' time between exams. Good level of English allowed them not only make excellent presentations, but also answer questions from American colleagues.

'I’ve got an invaluable experience in real scientific work, it’s incredible - right away, in the 1st year, to understand what we are preparing for, what for we are really studying. This is very motivating,' says Alina Pokryshenko. - 'It was also interesting to make a report in English. Moreover, 4-year students who is older than we are, listened to us. And they asked questions. It turned out like in real international conferences.'

Following the results of this joint seminar, students will receive personal certificates, and most importantly, they will be able to continue their research in the International Laboratory of the faculty.