A Toast of Praise to Dominican’s Science Teacher/Biotechnology Club Moderator Mrs. Janine Koenig ’82! Mrs. Koenig, who holds a Master of Arts in Science Teaching, was one of five high school teachers from the New Orleans area who spent the summer at Louisiana State University School of Medicine’s state-of-the-art research labs through the GeneBIORETS Grant from the National Science Foundation. Only two grants were awarded nationally in 2024.

The teachers spent four days each week conducting research in the labs, with an additional day focused on enhancing their curriculum for the school year. At Dominican Mrs. Koenig teaches advanced biology and is examining how tropical Leishmania parasites infect their hosts. “I was attracted to the program for the opportunity to bring research into the classroom because students learn best by doing. It has been an incredible experience to work in a research capacity alongside scientists and to see their passion for finding cures for diseases,” she shared.

Mrs. Koenig with Saheba Cuccia, ’19, a past Dominican Biotechnology Club officer.

Mrs. Koenig with mentor Dr. Ben Kelly, LSU Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology and his graduate student Isabel Stephany-Brassesco.

On the final day of the summer program, Mrs. Koenig with Dr. Fern Tsien, Director and Principal Investigator of the Program; Dr. Richard DiCarlo Interim Dean School of Medicine; Dr. Kelly Jean Sherman, Co-Director; and Dr. Arnold Zea, Co-Director of the GeneBIORETS Program.

LSU Health Sciences Center Web Article