Aggressive Behavior in Betta Splendens
The project analyzes factors that make animals become hyper-aggressive. A currently active experiment focuses on whether hyper-active individuals can regain normal aggressive motivation. Student assistants will help condition Betta to be hyper-aggressive, then record their aggressive behavior during experiments designed to uncover the neural basis of aggressive motivation.
Required: Specific skills will be taught. Students must be good visual observers, meticulous, and independent.
Recommended: Interest in contributing to a scientific understanding of aggression.
1) Studies in exericise and human performance. Studies involve physiological and engineering measurements using state-of-the-art equipment. Topics of ongoing research include respiration, biomechanics, exercise physiology, psychomotor tests, and others.
Required: An inquiring mind and an eagerness to learn.
Recommended: Familiarity with computers.
There are usually several studies going on during any time period, all related to performance of healthy humans. These studies would be of interest to students in premedicine, preveterinary medicine, exercise physiology, biomedical engineering, and communications and psychology.
2) Physiological and psychological determinants of wear limitation of respiratory protective masks; testing respiratory, thermal, visual, aural, psychological and personal support effects. Exercise and/or human factors tests are performed in the Department of Kinesiology and in the Department of Biological Resources Engineering.
Required: Interest in exercise, psychology, biomedical engineering or related fields.
Recommended: Experience in medical care or in the use of computers.
3) Development of a new instrument to measure respiratory airways resistance in people and animals. Mechanical models, animal experiments, and hospital tests; development of mechanical apparatus and computer software. Some testing is performed in cooperation with hospitals and medical schools.
Required: Interest in biomedical engineering or non-engineering aspects of health care. Some projects require good rapport with human subjects; software-writing ability helps in others.
Recommended: Familiarity with effects of asthma, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is helpful.
Enthusiasm and willingness to learn are required for students working on all three projects.
AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL EXTENSION WORLDWIDE: DIRECTIONS FOR INSTITUTIONAL REFORM IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Required: Preferably language skills in Spanish and French but not essential. Research skills in documentation and library/internet searches.
Recommended: Computer skills, writing skills.
This would provide the student with greater familiarity of globalization, institutional privatization, and the role of international organizations.
Utpal Pal
Veterinary Medicine
Bldg 795, Room 1341, 8075 Greenmead Drive
(301)314-8313 / upal@umd.edu
Pathogensis of Lyme Disease
The research projects address how Borrelia burgdorferi, the pathogen of Lyme disease, interacts with its host at the molecular level and persists in nature through a complex enzootic cycle. Primary goals of the laboratory are to identify and determine the role of the microbial, host or arthropod gene products that play critical roles in the pathogenesis of this highly prevalent, arthropod-borne disease, against which no human vaccine is currently available.
Required: A genuine interest to study vector-borne diseases
Recommended: Common laboratory skills with basic knowledge of biochemistry and molecular biology
Jeannie Rowland
Fruit Laboratory
USDA/ARS, Plant Sciences Institute, Fruit Laboratory, BARC-West, Beltsville, MD 20705
301-504-6654 / rowlandj@ba.ars.usda.gov
Development and use of EST-based PCR markers for identification of horticulturally important genes in blueberry
My lab at the USDA/ARS, Fruit Laboratory, in Beltsville, MD is looking for a student to work on development of EST-PCR markers for blueberry and their use in several potential projects. Such projects include (1) addition of markers to a current genetic linkage map of diploid blueberry, (2) identification of useful markers for mapping in a tetraploid blueberry population, (3) identification of markers associated with cold tolerance, (4) identification of markers associated with parthenocarpy, (5) mapping flowering-associated genes, or (6) evaluation of genetic relationships between various blueberry species.
Recommended: It is recommended that students have an interest in molecular genetics and perhaps have taken a basic genetics course or a basic cell biology course but this is not a requirement.
Raymond R. Weil
Natural Resources Sciences and L. Arch
1103 H.J . Patterson Hall
(301)405-1314 / rweil@umd.edu / fax:
(301)314-9041
Assessing Soil Management in Relation to Soil and Groundwater Quality
Soils are the basic resource that underlie the value and productivity of forest, farm, and grassland ecosystems. Soil management must not be degrading of soil quality, but rather, land managers must strive to improve soils to as close to their natural potential as possible. Organic matter is a dynamic component of soils that is responsible for many of the desirable properties that enable soils to produce food, wildlife habitat and protect watersheds. The nutrients nitrogen and phophorus are essential for all plants, but are also the most widespread form of water pollutants. This project is focused on balancing nutrient cycles and learning the role of active soil organic matter and developing ways to monitor progress in improving soil quality. Student will assist with gathering field soil and water samples from various sites in Maryland, preparing them for analysis, conducting lab analyses and conducting statistical analyses on the data.
Required: Interest in environmental quality and soil resources. Basic chemistry lab skills (at least one semester of chemistry with a lab).
Recommended: Drivers license. Knowledge of computer spreadsheet use. Willingness to work outdoors in inclement weather. Good technical writing skills are a plus.
Kendra L. Wells
Maryland Cooperative Extension
Maryland 4-H Center
8020 Greenmead Drive
College Park, MD 20740
(301)314-7317 / klwells@umd.edu
This project focuses on Youth in Governance (the authentic and meaningful engagement of young people in programs, organizations, and communities, where they have or share voice, influence, and decision-making authority). There are two primary research questions to be investigated:
The project can provide
opportunity for collection and categorization of data from literature related
to youth citizenship, leadership and civic participation, survey development,
data collection and analysis resulting in baseline information for the development
of non-formal educational programs for middle and high school youth that support
Youth in Governance initiatives. Opportunity for writing grant proposals to
support the work.
Required: Basic research skills, oral communication skills. Willingness to make contacts with a broad range of community organizations.
Recommended: Interest in youth development, citizenship, youth as decision-makers. Ability to write clearly.
The Maryland 4-H Center is located just off Metzerott Road on Greenmead Drive. Access to transportation to the office site helpful but not required. There are UM Shuttle and Metro Bus stops nearby.
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