Research Projects
Past junior research symposia (PDF):
MANDATORY meeting, Thursday, October 9, 4:00 p.m., CNS Front Foyer.
The following are projects being conducted by students for Research in Biology (BIOL-30200-xx*). There are both academic year and summer research opportunities available. (Note: projects may change without notice.)
*xx represents the faculty members' section number.
SUSAN ALLEN-GIL (section 9)
- the effect of habitat degradation and toxic compounds on reproduction of freshwater fish
MARINA CAILLAUD (section 13)
- Differential gene expression in the pea aphid. Microarray analysis revealed that several candidate genes are differentially expressed between two host races (alfalfa and clover). Undergraduate Research students will use RT-PCR and qRT-PCR to verify differential expression and identify genes involved in the feeding behavior of aphids.
ED CLUETT (section 11)
- mechanisms and pathways of cholesterol transport inside cells
- effect of the cholesterol environment on protein function and its relation to diseases: NPC1 and processing of Amyloid Precursor Protein
- lab activities for high school biology classes
JASON HAMILTON (section 12)
On sabbatical in Spring 2009. Lab space is open for Fall 2009
- Ouch!: Plant responses to being bitten
- Bad News: Climate change and endangered insects
- Carbon and Caffeine: System ecology and a local coffee company
- The Power of the Sun: Development of a solar fountain on I.C. campus
- Magic Mushrooms & Herbs: Non-timber forest products in the Finger Lakes
- Ecology Meets Society: Creation of I.C.’s natural reserve system
JEAN HARDWICK (section 8)
- regulation of parasympathetic neurons
JOHN HOPPLE (section 17)
- understanding evolutionary relationships of species in the genus Coprinus (the inky caps) from molecular and morphological characters
- reconciling biological and phylogenetic species concepts in fungi
- reconstructing a fungal taxonomy congruent with phylogeny exploring macroevolutionary changes in spore dispersal in basidiomycetes
LEANN KANDA (section 16)
- Activity patterns and space use of mink
- Relationship between social status and movement behaviors in dwarf hamsters
- Behavioral syndromes in muskrat
KIRWIN PROVIDENCE (section 15)
- Effect of bacteria infection on tissue repair (Project with relevance to Human health and Medicine)
- Effect of bacteria gene products on neutrophil motility (Project with relevance to Human health and Medicine)
- Design and use of micro-fabricated devices to study cell motility (Project with relevance to Human health and Medicine)
- Determining the composition of soil microorganisms (Project with relevance to Environmental science)
- The role of proteins and protein secretion in Eukaryotic biofilm formation (Project with relevance to Environmental science)
PETER MELCHER(section 14)
- Determining factors that affect the biomechanical properties of bordered pit membranes in plants
- Evaluating how xylem-wounding affects the measure of stem hydraulic resistance
- Determining a method to measure the hydraulic resistance in tissue that contain multiple ears of growth
- Assessing the impact of leaf extract on soil microbial activity
ANDY SMITH (section 10)
- Using biochemical and mechanical experiments to characterize the cross-linking mechanism of gel-based biological glues
- Identifying factors that control the mechanical properties of biological glues
BRUCE SMITH (section 5)
- Pheromone communication in water mites
- Mating behavior: female choice and male-male competition in water mites
- Sex-ratio skew in mites: how & why specialize in producing male or female offspring?
- Photopositive response of water mites: spectral sensitivities, relevance in nature
- Summer research at Queen's Univ. Biological Station in Canada
SUSAN SWENSEN (section 7)
- Evolutionary history of plants and insect parasites
- Projects in sustainability science
