Electrophysiological analysis of membrane channels.
Required: Will be trained in laboratory skills.
Recommended: Please go to Dr. Colombini's web site to obtain information on his research:http://www.life.umd.edu/biology/faculty/colombini/
They Made the Land Green
Until 500 million years ago, the land was barren of all macroscopic life. Then a group of green algae known as the charophytes became the first and only group of photosynthetic organisms to successfully invade the land, after which they evolved into the great diversity of green plants seen on the land today. The charophytes were eventually followed onto the land by several lineages of aquatic animals such as annelids, arthropods, and vertebrates, seeking food and shelter from the evolving plants. Despite the charophyte invasion being one of life’s evolutionary triumphs, it remains one of biology’s abiding mysteries.
In order to understand what made the ancient charophytes successful invaders, we are attempting to characterize the developmental, physiological, hormonal, and ultimately molecular characteristics of the two modern groups most closely related to those charophytes: 1) the green algal group called the stoneworts and the 2) the basal land plant group called the liverworts. What makes this opportunity a unique experience in undergraduate research is that all the research for this project is being carried out by MD undergraduates working together in a cooperative environment. Each student has his/her own subproject, which to designed to help the student develop the skills needed to write a research proposal, to carry out the appropriate experiments, and to present the results at local or national meetings.
Required: Satisfactory performance in introductory biology, including BSCI 105/106/207 or their equivalents, and introductory chemistry, including CHEM 103/113 or their equivalents.
Our goal is to understand the role of endo beta-1,4 glucanase (cellulase) genes in Arabdopsis to determine how and when these genes play a role in plant development and cell wall architecture. We use several molecular and genetic approaches to relate gene expression with growth in seedlings (root and hypocotyl) and overall plant performance in adult plants.
Michele Dudash
Biology
3202 Biology-Psychology Building
301-405-1642 / mdudash@umd.edu
Evolution of Pollination Syndromes
This project is conducted in collaboration with Dr. Charles Fenster. We are studying the evolution of floral traits in relation to the animal species that visit them and facilitate the plants to successfully reproduce. We are working with 3 species of Silene (in the carnation family). We are studying a hummingbird pollinated species, a moth pollinated species, and a bee pollinated species. We work at the greenhouse at UM and at Great Falls in Maryland during the school year. We also conduct research at the University of Virginia's field station, Mountain Lake Biological Station, during the summer.
The projects involve a combination of computer data entry, lab work, greenhouse work and some local field work.
Recommended: An enthusiasm to learn and an interest in ecology and evolutionary biology.
William Fagan
Biology
3235 Biology-Psychology Bldg.
301-405-4672 / bfagan@umd.edu
Reproductive asynchrony, population density and extinction risk
The goal of this project is to search for a connection between reproductive asynchrony, a life history trait that occurs when individuals in a population are reproductively active for only a portion of the population-level breeding period, and population density. A previous theoretical study showed that reproductive asynchrony could cause a population to go extinct if density was low. The results suggested that high population density could buffer a population against the negative effects of asynchrony. Here we seek to test that prediction with empirical data on the relationship between degree of asynchrony and population density from a range of naturally occurring populations. The student would help to build a database of reproductive pheonology and population density for a variety of species and may assist in the statistical analysis of this database.
Required: General ecology or evolutionary biology; good library skills; basic familiarity with Excel spreadsheets
Recommended: General statistics
Spatial Rarity of Desert Fishes
Conservation biologists often think of extinction in terms of a declining number of individuals within a population. My project instead takes spatial perspective on extinction, focusing on the analysis of existing museum datasets to understand how populations of native fish species were historically distributed throughout Arizona and how those distributions have decayed over time. One part of this project involves quantitative analyses of occurrence patterns, whereas another involves the construction of a database of biological life history traits from the scientific literature.
Required: General Ecology or Conservation Biology
William Fagan
Biology
3235 Biology-Psychology Bldg.
301-405-4672 / bfagan@umd.edu
Understanding the Dynamics of Extinction
This project seeks to use mathematical models and computer simulations to understand how populations of species go extinct. The student would be responsible for developing a database of species that have actually gone extinct (altogether or from specific localities), paying particular attention to what was known about the commonness or rarity of the species prior to extinction. This is harder than it seems, but preliminary efforts (we have 7 time series) show some really interesting patterns.
Required: General Ecology or Conservation Biology
Recommended: Interest in the process of extinction.
William Fagan
Biology
3235 Biology-Psychology Bldg.
301-405-4672 / bfagan@umd.edu
Insects and Nutrients: Genetics, Life History, and Ecology
The project is looking at biochemical variations in the genes and proteins of insect species and testing whether there are predictable relationships with the insects' life history and ecology. The student would help build a database on the feeding styles, trophic level, diet breadth, etc. of a diverse group of insect species whose identities are extracted from a database on gene sequences.
Required: General entomology and one advanced entomology course; good library skills.
Recommended: Solid understanding of insect diversity; interest in ecology and/or systematics.
William Fagan
Biology
3235 Biology-Psychology Bldg.
301-405-4672 / bfagan@umd.edu
Protein evolution under ecological constraints
Library / web / database research into the question: How has nutrient limitation influenced the evolution of protein structure and function?
Required: Position involves computer databases and library / web research.
Successful completion of coursework in bioinformatics, biochemistry, molecular evolution, or related fields IS required. However, wet lab experience IS NOT required.
Janet R.P. Halperin
Animal and Avian Sciences
2123 Animal Science/Agricultural Engineering Building
301-405-1381 / janh@umd.edu
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.
Population genetics of salamanders and other amphibians and reptiles using molecular methods (electrophoresis). Population genetics, evolutionary biology, and systematics.
Required: Biology major with some chemistry background.
Recommended: Interest in evolution, systematics, population genetics or herpetology.
Database management and analysis for a long-term study of flowering by Rocky Mountain wildflowers.
Required: An interest in ecology (e.g., wildflowers and what influences their flowering).
Recommended: Familiarity with spreadsheets (e.g., Excel).
June M. Kwak
Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics
2129 H. J. Patterson Hall
301-405-9726 / jkwak@umd.edu
Our research goal is to genetically dissect abscisic acid and calcium signal transduction mechanisms in Arabidopsis, using interdisciplinary techniques. We are investigating molecular components of guard cell signal transduction cascade and their regulation mechanisms to achieve a detailed understanding of the network of signal transduction events that regulate stomatal movements.
Required: Strong background and interest in biology.
Recommended: Enthusiasm.
Student must commit at least one year to the project.
William Lamp
Entomology
4120 Plant Sciences Building
301-405-3959 / lamp@umd.edu
Plant Response to Insect Herbivory
Insects feeding on their host plants are capable of injuring plant tissues, impacting such processes as photosynthesis and transpiration. Plants defend themselves from insect herbivory using physical structures, chemical constituents, and subtle physiological/molecular mechanisms. Useful for developing plants that are resistant or tolerant of insect pests, short-term experiments on insect-plant interactions may be conducted under greenhouse or growth chamber conditions. Using materials available in my lab, URAP students are able to design and perform such an experiment during a semester.
Required: Completion of general biology; interest in ecology.
Recommended: Completion of general entomology or a plant biology course.
Karen Nelson / William Fagan
Biology
Plant Sciences 4148
301-405-3951 / kanelson@umd.edu
Curriculum Design: Integrating Math into the Biology Curriculum
Description: We are producing a series of 18+ web-based modules to integrate more mathematics into the core undergraduate curriculum for biology majors. An undergraduate research assistant could help by reading and testing modules; converting Word documents into HTML; create graphics or artwork for the modules; and/or writing java or javascript elements.
Required: Good proof-reading skiils and proficiency with word processing, web browsers, and using webct as a student
Recommended: Ability to use any of the following programs/web technologies would be an advantage: dreamweaver, photoshop, html, css, java, javascript. If you are interested in learning any of these, I am willing to help train.
We are conducting behavioral experiments with different species of Hawaiian
crickets, in order to understand how their courtship behavior evolves and how
changes in courtship behavior may lead to speciation (the origin of new species).
Required: There are no specific learned skills necessary for this project
since we will teach you the techniques we have been using. However, what is
essential is an interest in behavior, a tolerance (if not like of) for insects,
patience in watching behavior for a couple of hours while in the laboratory,
and a capacity to pay attention to details.
Recommended: It would be helpful for a student to have some familiarity
with basic biology and a like of insects.
It would be helpful if the student had blocks of time for
the research, comprising 2-3 hours on a given day in the lab.
Kerry Shaw
Biology
4219A Biology-Psychology Building
301-405-7503 / shawkl@umd.edu
Paula Shrewsbury
Entomology
4112 Plant Sciences
301-405-7664 / pshrewsb@umd.edu
Research in my lab focuses on the interactions between landscape habitats, herbivores, and natural enemies. This research is linked to applied pest management and biological control in ornamental plant systems. This research involves lab, greenhouse, and field studies.
Required: Courses or experience in biology.
Recommended: Interest in landscape ecology, pest management, biological control and/or entomology.
Heven Sze
Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics
3232 H.J. Patterson Hall
301-405-1645 / hsze@umd.edu
Understanding plant growth, development and survival through studies of io homeostasis. Plant growth, development, and survival depend on the uptake, translocation, and sorting of essential nutrients and exclusion of toxic ions. However, the molecular bases for these regulated transport processes are largely unknown. The first complete genome sequence of a plant, large mutant collections and extensive databases provide opportunities to discover the functions of over 800 transporters in Arabidopsis. The major objectives are to determine the biological roles of Ca and proton pumps, and H+-coupled ion transporters.
Required: Strong background and interest in biology, and chemistry preferred.
Recommended: Proficiency in general computer skills.
Student must commit at least one year to the project.
Arpita Upadhyaya
Physics
0110 IPST Building
301-405-9939 / arpitau@umd.edu
Force generation by actin polymerization
Cell migration requires the precise spatio-temporal control of a number of mechanical and chemical machines within the cell. One such machine is a highly dynamic network of polymers, called actin and its associated proteins. Controlled polymerization of actin provides the necessary force to move cells in a directed manner in response to chemical and physical stimuli. This project will focus on studying the mechanical properties of actin polymers subject to different experimental conditions. Students will have the opportunity to learn various techniques including high resolution imaging and quantitative data analysis depending on their interests.
There are other available projects that study other aspects of the biophysics of cell migration. For further details contact me at: arpitau@umd.edu.
Recommended: Some proficiency in MATLAB programming and data analysis. Familiarity with biology lab work or the desire to learn some labwork is recommended.
Sara Via
Biology
2245 Biology-Psychology Building
301-405-8942 / svia@umd.edu
Genetics of ecological speciation
Dr. Via’s lab is researching the genetics of host plant specialization and speciation in pea aphids. We are seeking outstanding undergraduates to assist in various aspects of lab work including, but not limited to, data collection and entry, washing and maintaining lab equipment, watering plants used in experiments and maintaining aphid clone lines. Students who can work additional hours (up to 10) can be paid for those hours. If students are successful as lab assistants, there will be opportunities for independent study projects and honors research projects in our lab.
Required: Students must be biology majors and should have interest and enthusiasm for ecology and evolution. They also must be able to work with insects.
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