Ibrahim Tulla
Curie Metropolitan High School
About
I currently serve as a Biology Teacher at Curie Metropolitan High School teaching Next Generation Science Standards aligned Skyline Freshman Biology. I do actively participate in professional development activities, attending Chemistry PLC curriculum sessions and ongoing PLC Skyline Biology Curriculum training to stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in the field.
I am a dedicated science educator and originally from Mandera City, Kenya. From an early age, I was captivated by the intricacies of science, particularly biology, and possessed a deep curiosity about the inner workings of the human body. The fascination fueled my ambition to become a doctor, but eventually, I discovered my true calling as a science educator.
During my internship at ARS-USDA Research Labs in Peoria, IL, in January 2012, I had the opportunity to engage in fascinating scientific experiments. I extracted penicillin from Penicillium mold and purified it into an antibiotic. I also conducted research in the NEIU Biology Lab in Chicago, IL in September 2011 where I extracted DNA from cheek cells of my classmates, amplified the cells with PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), and performed gel electrophoresis to determine the whole class genotypes.
My commitment to promoting STEM education extended to my role as a Graduate Intern in the UIC STEM Scholars Program from August 2019 to December 2019. Here I developed and implemented a comprehensive STEM curriculum resulting in seven students qualifying for paid internships and STEM scholarships
As a BEST Fellow,I am assigned to Dr. Tolou Shokuhfar’s In situ NanoMedicine lab (ISNL). I am tasked with observing and learning the delicate process of synthesis of Graphene Liquid Cell ( GLC) and Transfer electron microscopy (TEM) . After learning about the the nano biosynthesis process then will I be trained by PhD student lab colleagues on how to prepare and write manuscripts of about research interests that are applicable to my grade level classroom teaching - the Nanoparticle Drug Delivery System and TEM of Gold Nanoparticles internalized in Human cells in Biocompatible GLC.
This research is applicable to my classes at ‘Condor’ High in the sense that Students will first be introduced to the initial idea of nanotechnology . Students will have an actual experience of what is meant by nanotechnology through measuring different and known physical objects and converting the measurements into nanoscale and comparing the measurements to what will be a nano . The overarching objective of activities students will engage in and learn and most likely elicit the student’s interest in Biomedical Engineering will be how a nano scale of nano liquid will be designed and iterated to be used to deliver drugs to melanoma cells as a drug therapy.