In Vitro Sensitivity of Nematodes to Commonly Used Turf Pesticides

I am looking for a student to conduct experiments on the in vitro toxicity of certain pesticides on nematodes. The student will be responsible for reading literature on this topic, learning how to identifying nematodes to trophic level and possibly family level, extracting nematodes from a bulk soil sample, isolating individual nematodes, making fungicide amended media, assessing survival of nematodes exposed to different chemicals, and possibly reporting these results through PowerPoint presentations.

The Evolution of burrowing system

Fossoriality, a life dedicated to living underground, has evolved several times in mammals. However, we know very little about burrowing, in large part because animals burrow in opaque substrates (soil and sand). In the Dumont lab, we study burrowing on moles. Moles are highly specialized diggers with specialized forelimb morphologies, including robust humeri, elongated scapulae and enlarged hands with six digits. In this project, we investigate how these derived morphologies increase the efficiency of burrowing in three North American moles.

Invasive Plant Hotspots in the United States

Invasive plants are non-native species that can cause environmental and economic harm. Establishment of these problematic species can be prevented by removal soon after introduction, but resources for early detection and rapid response (EDRR) programs are often limited. Effective allocation of conservation resources can aided by identification of areas with the greatest potential invasive load. Our project aims to create maps of invasive plant hotspots in the US under current and future climate scenarios to guide conservation planning and answer key questions in invasion biogeography.

How do chemicals in flowers affect parasites of bumblebees

Bumblebees are important pollinators of both agricultural and wild plants, but populations of some North American species are declining, in part due to parasites. Chemicals found in the flowers on which bees feed may have antimicrobial effects that inhibit parasite growth. I am looking for a student to assist with experiments examining the effects of different flower chemicals and mixtures on the growth of a cell culture of the bumblebee parasite Crithidia bombi. This parasite is related to the causative agents of malaria, leishmaniasis, and African sleeping sickness.

Hedgehog Signaling and Neural Stem Cells

The Karlstrom Lab investigates the formation and growth of the ventral forebrain and pituitary gland in the zebrafish. We are now investigating how cell-cell signaling mediated by a small protein called “Hedgehog” (Hh) controls stem cell proliferation to regulate tissue growth and cell renewal in larvae and adults. This position is for students wishing to pursue serious honors thesis research, including summer research. The student will use zebrafish transgenic lines that allow the conditional (time and tissue specific) regulation of Hh signaling in zebrafish.

Brain regeneration after Injury in zebrafish

The Karlstrom Lab investigates the formation and growth of the ventral forebrain and pituitary gland in the zebrafish. We are now investigating how cell-cell signaling mediated by a small protein called “Hedgehog” (Hh) controls stem cell proliferation to regulate tissue growth and stem cell proliferation following injury in the adult brain. This position is for students wishing to pursue serious honors thesis research, including summer research.

Zebrafish Husbandry and Transgenic Lines

The Karlstrom Lab investigates the formation and growth of the ventral forebrain and pituitary gland in the zebrafish. We have created several transgenic lines that allow us to study how cell-cell signaling systems control pituitary and forebrain formation in the embryo. We are now investigating how these same signaling systems control stem cell proliferation to regulate tissue growth and cell renewal in larvae and adults. This entry-level undergraduate project is to work with our fish facility manager to maintain these important zebrafish lines.

Sperm epigenetics and endocrine disrupting compounds

“Do men matter in regard to reproductive and offspring health?” It has been long recognized that maternal environmental exposures during pregnancy influence the health and development of offspring. However, little attention has been given to the contribution of paternal environmental health to the health and development of offspring as well as the mechanism(s) by which this paternal transmission may occur.

BURA

No