Tag: Biology

Effects of Soil Warming on Woodland Salamanders (David Marsh)

Remote: this project is scheduled to begin on 6/2/2025 and run for 10 weeks, finishing on 8/8/2025.

Project Description

The goal of our project is to study how salamander behavior and habitat use is altered by soil warming. This study will take place within the Prospect Hill Soil Warming Experiment at Harvard Forest in Western MA, where students will live and work. The experiment consists of 18, 6m x 6m plots – 6 which are experimentally warmed with heating cable buried in the soil, 6 disturbance controls where cables are buried but not turned on, and 6 controls with no heating apparatus. We will survey 3-6 plots per night during periods of salamander activity. During these surveys we will catch salamanders and note their location of capture, as well as their height above the forest floor (e.g. if they are climbing) and their body temperature. The following morning, we will collect data on salamander weight and size, how many eggs they are carrying, and we will individually mark them with small colored dots injected beneath the skin. We will then release them at the site of capture. Over the course of the summer, we can determine if salamanders forage more frequently or over wider areas in the warmed plots. In addition, we can determine whether salamanders in the warmed plots are able to reduce their body temperatures by foraging higher up on vegetation. Finally, be analyzing recaptures between the beginning and the end of the study period, we can determine whether growth is reduced on the experimental plots. Students will participate in all of the day-to-day activities of the project, including fine-tuning of methodology, data collection, and analysis. Students should be comfortable working in the field, getting wet, and handling live amphibians.

Apply now

Prerequisites

completion of Field Herpetology is preferred

Special Comments

Students will be in residence at Harvard Forest field station in Western MA

Project Information (subject to change)

Estimated Start Date: 6/2/2025

Estimated End Date: 8/8/2025

Estimated Project Duration: 10 weeks

Maximum Number of Students Sought: 2

Research Location: Remote

Contact Information: David Marsh (email: marshd@wlu.edu)

Genetic diversity in the Greenland stitchwort (Minuartia groenlandica), a critically imperiled alpine plant in the southern Appalachians (Charles Winder)

On campus: this project is scheduled to begin on 6/9/2025 and run for 10 weeks, finishing on 8/15/2025.

Project Description

The Greenland stitchwort (Minuartia groenlandica) is a rare alpine plant that occurs in the southern Appalachians as a relic of the previous glacial period. Despite dramatic changes to the climate and vegetation of the southeast over the last ten thousand years, populations of this plant have persisted in rocky, exposed sites in the highest elevations of North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. It’s important to protect these plants since they represent a unique and irreplaceable record of how plant species have evolved and adapted to past climate change. Using modern molecular genetic techniques, we aim to answer the following questions: 1) How much genetic diversity exists within small and geographically isolated mountaintop populations of M. groenlandica occurring in Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee? 2) How much genetic divergence is there among populations of M. groenlandica in the southern Appalachians? 3) What is the evolutionary history of these populations, and what can that tell us about the impacts of past and future climate change on endemic plant species? Students working on this project will gain experience in laboratory techniques such as DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and DNA sequencing. Analysis of DNA sequence data and communication of findings will be required.

Apply now

Prerequisites

Genetics Lab experience is preferred, though not required

Special Comments

Project Information (subject to change)

Estimated Start Date: 6/9/2025

Estimated End Date: 8/15/2025

Estimated Project Duration: 10 weeks

Maximum Number of Students Sought: 2

Research Location: On campus

Contact Information: Charles Winder (email: winderc@wlu.edu)

Unraveling the Spider’s Circadian Clock (Natalia Toporikova)

On campus: this project is scheduled to begin on 6/2/2025 and run for 8 weeks, finishing on 7/25/2025.

Project Description

Are you fascinated by the intricate workings of nature’s timekeepers? Do you have a passion for interdisciplinary research? Are you ready to spin a web of knowledge about arachnid chronobiology? If so, we have an exciting summer research opportunity for you! We anticipate 2 students joining our dynamic lab team to explore the biological mechanisms of the spider’s circadian clock. This cutting-edge research project aims to show how these eight-legged marvels regulate their internal rhythms. We welcome applications from students across various majors(or inspiring majors), including: Computer Science( Develop websites to conduct data analysis), Physics (Create models of circadian systems), Engineering (Signal processing of spider locomotion activity), Neuroscience (Design and conduct spider behavior experiments), Data Science (Analyze complex behavioral datasets) ï Biology: Investigate gene expression patterns related to circadian rhythms

Apply now

Prerequisites

Appreciation for spiders and eagerness to learn more about them. Ability to work collaboratively in a diverse team. Commitment to learn Python programming language

Special Comments

To accomplish the project, you must learn how to work with data frames in Python (pandas library). If you are not familiar with pandas, you need to take either Biol-187, Intro to Data Science (Winter 2025) or Biol-297, Behavioral Data Science (Spring 2025)

Project Information (subject to change)

Estimated Start Date: 6/2/2025

Estimated End Date: 7/25/2025

Estimated Project Duration: 8 weeks

Maximum Number of Students Sought: 2

Research Location: On campus

Contact Information: Natalia Toporikova (email: toporikovan@wlu.edu)

CLOSED: Measuring physiological parameters in ground squirrels that hibernate (Jessica LaPrice)

On campus: this project is scheduled to begin on 6/2/2025 and run for 8 weeks, finishing on 7/25/2025.

Project Description

Students will work with 13-lined ground squirrels and their tissues to examine physiological interactions of food intake and reproduction. This summer may include a week-long travel trip to live-trap animals in the field. Activities will include live animal work (including daily animal care, measurement of metabolic rate, assisting with blood draws on lab animals), molecular lab work (including western blots and tissue sectioning), and computer work (including data analysis, and reading, critiquing, presenting, and writing scientific papers).

Apply now

Prerequisites

Students must have successfully completed the Biology intro sequence (BIOL 111 & 113) by spring 2025 to participate. Completion of a physiology course is recommended but not required.

Special Comments

A week-long domestic travel trip may be required at some point in the summer research experience to live-trap animals in the field and return them to W&L. This will likely involve camping and working outside under hot, cold, or rainy conditions. An interview with Dr. LaPrice is required for consideration for the position.

Project Information (subject to change)

Estimated Start Date: 6/2/2025

Estimated End Date: 7/25/2025

Estimated Project Duration: 8 weeks

Maximum Number of Students Sought: 2

Research Location: On campus

Contact Information: Jessica LaPrice (email: jlaprice@wlu.edu)

CLOSED: Spider silk genetics (Nadia Ayoub)

On campus: this project is scheduled to begin on 6/9/2025 and run for 10 weeks, finishing on 8/15/2025.

Project Description

Returning students will continue their efforts to express spider silk genes in bacteria and complete data analysis to quantify the proteins present in adhesive silks of 17 spider species.

Apply now

Prerequisites

Strong preference for students who have completed a summer or semester of research with me.

Special Comments

Project Information (subject to change)

Estimated Start Date: 6/9/2025

Estimated End Date: 8/15/2025

Estimated Project Duration: 10 weeks

Maximum Number of Students Sought: 2

Research Location: On campus

Contact Information: Nadia Ayoub (email: ayoubn@wlu.edu)

CLOSED: Quantifying grassland soil carbon and productivity in Yellowstone National Park. (Bill Hamilton)

On campus: this project is scheduled to begin on 6/2/2025 and run for 8 weeks, finishing on 7/25/2025.

Project Description

In continuation of a 10-year collaboration with the National Park Service (NPS), we will begin the quantification of the carbon sequestration potential of Yellowstone grasslands by integrating soil and plant measurements with stable isotope enrichment experiments in the field and in the lab. This data will contribute to bison and grassland management decisions as well as ecological knowledge.

Apply now

Prerequisites

ENV 110 or BIOL 111/113

Special Comments

Potential trip to Yellowstone for 2 weeks in July.

Project Information (subject to change)

Estimated Start Date: 6/2/2025

Estimated End Date: 7/25/2025

Estimated Project Duration: 8 weeks

Maximum Number of Students Sought: 3

Research Location: On campus

Contact Information: Bill Hamilton (email: hamiltone@wlu.edu)

CLOSED: Reciprocal interaction between pesticide-induced shifts in the tadpolesí gut microbiome and the epigenome (Leah Lanier)

On campus: this project is scheduled to begin on 6/2/2025 and run for 8 weeks, finishing on 7/25/2025.

Project Description

It is well established that the gut microbiome can affect the health of the brain and central nervous system. The central aim of our project is to develop a detailed understanding of the impact of chronic subacute low level exposures to different classes of pesticides and herbicides, similar to the kinds of exposure humans obtain from their food and environment on a daily basis, can affect the composition of the gut microbiome. Specifically, this summer we plan to determine whether there are associated changes in the tadpolesí epigenome.

Apply now

Prerequisites

No

Special Comments

No

Project Information (subject to change)

Estimated Start Date: 6/2/2025

Estimated End Date: 7/25/2025

Estimated Project Duration: 8 weeks

Maximum Number of Students Sought: 2

Research Location: On campus

Contact Information: Leah Lanier (email: lanierl@Wlu.edu)

CLOSED: Reciprocal interaction between pesticide-induced shifts in the tadpolesí gut microbiome and the epigenome (Fiona Watson)

On campus: this project is scheduled to begin on 6/2/2025 and run for 8 weeks, finishing on 7/25/2025.

Project Description

Please note, project is in collaboration with Dr. Leah Lanier: It is well established that the gut microbiome can affect the health of the brain and central nervous system. The central aim of our project is to develop a detailed understanding of the impact of chronic subacute low level exposures to different classes of pesticides and herbicides, similar to the kinds of exposure humans obtain from their food and environment on a daily basis, can affect the composition of the gut microbiome. Specifically, this summer we plan to determine whether there are associated changes in the tadpolesí epigenome.

Apply now

Prerequisites

no

Special Comments

W2025 Neur 421/401 or BIOL 421/401

Project Information (subject to change)

Estimated Start Date: 6/2/2025

Estimated End Date: 7/25/2025

Estimated Project Duration: 8 weeks

Maximum Number of Students Sought: 1

Research Location: On campus

Contact Information: Fiona Watson (email: watsonf@wlu.edu)

CLOSED: The role of Uchl-1 in adult frog optic nerve regeneration (Fiona Watson)

On campus: this project is scheduled to begin on 6/2/2025 and run for 8 weeks, finishing on 7/25/2025.

Project Description

In my lab we use the adult forg’s optic nerve axon crush injury model to investigate the genes involved during the period of regeneration. Currently, we are examining the expression pattern of a gene product expressed in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). We have carried out these assays on young (one and two-year olds) adult frogs. This summer students will be carrying out experiments using aged (5 and 10-year olds) frogs to determine whether aging slows the ability to regenerate.

Apply now

Prerequisites

no

Special Comments

Biol or Neur 421 course during Winter 2025

Project Information (subject to change)

Estimated Start Date: 6/2/2025

Estimated End Date: 7/25/2025

Estimated Project Duration: 8 weeks

Maximum Number of Students Sought: 2

Research Location: On campus

Contact Information: Fiona Watson (email: watsonf@wlu.edu)

Using 2nd and 3rd generation generative AI to discover novel approaches to genome annotation (Gregg Whitworth)

On campus: this project is scheduled to begin on 6/2/2025 and run for 10 weeks, finishing on 8/8/2025.

Project Description

All modern biomedical studies conducted at a systems level depend on high quality genome annotation. But there are a very small number of organisms for which high quality genome annotations exist. This problem frustrates work in both model research organisms and in mammalian genomes closely related to humans. Efforts were made 20 years ago to use ML techniques to pseudo automate the annotation of genes, most of which largely failed. Recent advances in LLM-based approaches suggest the time may have come for this approach to finally be useful and productive. I am interested in recruiting new students to work on both the computational project and bench validation.

Apply now

Prerequisites

No. Programming skills in any language are preferred if you are interested in a computational focus.

Special Comments

I recommend all new research students enroll in Biol-401 this winter. We will meet once a week for a few hours to discuss recent papers and possible project directions.

Project Information (subject to change)

Estimated Start Date: 6/2/2025

Estimated End Date: 8/8/2025

Estimated Project Duration: 10 weeks

Maximum Number of Students Sought: 2

Research Location: On campus

Contact Information: Gregg Whitworth (email: whitworthg@wlu.edu)