Research Projects
Collecting Mites with Bruce Smith
Research Symposia
Fall 2009 Sysmposia:
December 9 & 10
CNS 112
4:00 p.m.
Past junior research symposia (PDF):
Registration Forms are due by 1:00 October 30
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.
MARINA CAILLAUD (section 8) On leave 2009-10
- 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 6) 2009-10 Opportunities
- 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 7) 2009-10 Opportunities
- Maple syrup production: climate correlates for a tasty treat
- Non-Timber Forest Products: how to grow an edible mushroom
- Non-Timber Forest Products: can we grow paw paws here?
- Citizen Science: “New” ways to monitor wildlife range changes
- The Power of the Sun: Development of a solar fountain on I.C. campus
- Ecosystem complexity in practice: let’s build a wetland
- Sustainable food systems: let’s eat a bug
JEAN HARDWICK (section 3) 2009-10 Opportunities
- regulation of parasympathetic neurons
JOHN HOPPLE (section 12) 2009-10 Opportunities
- 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
MAKI INADA (section 13) 2009-10 Opportunities
- Investigation of SR protein splicing and regulation in Schizosaccharomyces pombe
LEANN KANDA (section 11) 2009-10 Opportunities
- Activity patterns and space use of mink
- Relationship between social status and movement behaviors in dwarf hamsters
- Behavioral syndromes in muskrat
KIRWIN PROVIDENCE (section 10) 2009-10 Opportunities
- Determining the mechanism used (by two different species of bacteria) to inhibit proper skin-wound healing. (Project with relevance to Human health and Medicine)
- Design and use of micro-fabricated devices to aid in studying skin cell motility (such as observed during wound repair). (Project with relevance to Human health and Medicine)
- Identification of specific algae proteins that mediate initial cell adhesion and subsequent biofilm formation. (Project with relevance to Environmental science)
PETER MELCHER (section 9) 2009-10 Opportunities
- 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 5) 2009-10 Opportunities
- 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 1) 2009-10 Opportunities
- 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?
- Summer research at Queen's Univ. Biological Station in Canada
SUSAN SWENSEN (section 2) 2009-10 Opportunities
- Evolutionary history of plants and insect parasites
- Projects in sustainability science
