Charles Jervis

Jervis' unique program idea, "Natural Products Biochemistry Through Laboratory Experimentation", is a multidisciplinary integration of biology, chemistry and bioinformatics. Approximately 100 students in the 10th through 12th grades at Auburn High School each year will explore extremophile biochemistry by developing the competency to investigate, extract and characterize various molecules. The goal is for students to gain a comprehensive understanding of the life story of an extremophile cyano bacterium and associate the function of the organism's molecules with technological applications. For the study, students will work with local college and university researchers in their investigations. From their scientific findings, participants will prepare reports and present them at various seminars and poster sessions. Jervis resides in Christiansburg.