Studying alligators, chemistry and biology will be the focus of a three-week summer internship program for high school students July 16-Aug. 3 at McNeese State University.

"McNeese has one of the world's most knowledgeable and experienced Crocodilian biochemist on faculty and this is the second summer that Dr. Mark Merchant is working with high school students to investigate the immune system of American alligators," said Dr. Nikos Kiritsis, dean of the McNeese college of engineering and engineering technology.

Students, accompanied by faculty members, will explore the marshes to capture blood samples from alligators and learn about the unique immune system of these reptiles.

"Dr. Merchant grew up hunting and fishing in the swamps of Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana," Kiritsis said. Merchant holds a doctorate in biochemistry and biophysics from Texas A&M University and teaches biochemistry.

His current research is focused on the immune system of alligators and other crocodilians. He has traveled to many countries including Australia, Gabon, Brazil, Panama, Costa Rica, Columbia, Mexico and Belize to study the different species of wild crocodilians. He has been featured on four National Geographic and two Discovery Channel documentaries, as well as other international appearances on Korean, Japanese and Russian television. His collaboration with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists was featured in the January-February issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine.

Cost for the internship program is $1,500 and includes all transportation, lab supplies, on-campus housing and meals. Day trips are scheduled to the NASA Space Center in Houston, Creole Nature Trail, Avery Island and a canoe trip on the Ouiska Chitto.

For more information, contact Kiritsis at nikosk@mcneese.edu or at 337-475-5875.

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McNeese offers summer biochemistry internship program on alligators