Tag: Biology

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.

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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)

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)

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.

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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.

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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)

Effects of diet-induced obesity on the reproductive system (Sarah Blythe)

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

Project Description

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 7ñ10% of women of childbearing age and is the most common cause of infertility. In the United States, an estimated 5 to 6 million women have PCOS. There is no known cause of PCOS, but the disorder is commonly associated with excessive weight gain and type 2 diabetes. Our lab discovered that obesity induced by a high-fat, high-sugar (HFHS) diet profoundly alters the rat estrous cycle and leads to the development of ovarian cysts, thereby creating a novel rodent model of PCOS. The purpose of the proposed study is to gain a better understanding of the timing of symptom progression, as well as to investigate potential exercise-based intervention strategies. In addition to standard bench work, students will gain experience in microscopy, histology, and image analysis.

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Prerequisites

Students are highly encouraged to enroll in 1 credit of research during Winter term to prepare for summer research.

Special Comments

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: Sarah Blythe (email: blythes@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

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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)

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).

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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)

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.

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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)

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.

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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)