Biology

Faculty Mentors: Dr. Carrie Hayes Sutter and Dr. Thomas R. Sutter

Department: Biological Sciences

Contact Information: csutter@memphis.edu

Project description: The primary focus of our lab is the investigation of the role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) in skin biology and toxicity. The AHR has historically been studied as a receptor that is activated by environmental contaminants such as dioxins or other poly aromatic hydrocarbons. Human exposure to dioxins and chemicals like dioxin leads to a skin abnormality called chloracne, which involves, among other effects, a thickening of the skin due to an increase in the differentiation of keratinocytes. More recently, a role of the AHR in normal skin development has been emerged. Our laboratory studies the mechanisms by which activation of the AHR leads to skin differentiation, from both the toxicological and normal developmental point of view. We use human cells in models of skin differentiation including monolayer keratinocytes and multilayer multicellular organotypic skin to study molecular, cellular, and tissue changes following activation of the AHR. As a student in our lab you will get hands on experience in molecular and cell biology techniques and be a part of an exciting project with the possibility of authorship. We are looking for an individual who has an interest in science, an ability to learn quickly, and a willingness to work hard. Previous laboratory experience is not required.

Requirements for Applicants: An interest in molecular and cellular biology

Hours per week: Minimally 10 hours in 3-5 hour blocks

Starting Date: Anytime

Method of Compensation: Volunteer

Application Process: Students should email a cover letter describing their interest in science and an unofficial transcript to the faculty member. An in-person interview will be required.

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Emerson Keith Bowers

Department: Biological Sciences

Contact Information: ekbowers@memphis.edu

Project Description: My lab studies the evolutionary, physiological, and behavioral ecology of wild birds at Meeman Biological Station, ca. 35 minutes from the main campus. We utilize concepts from a variety of disciplines including animal behavior, physiology, molecular ecology, and applied statistics. A major component of our research involves studying drivers of variation in reproductive success in nature, and the consequences of this for the evolution of adaptive behavior. Our research is theory-driven, often involving close behavioral observations of adults and offspring in their natural habitat. We work primarily in the field, but we also do "benchtop" work, as we utilize physiological, immunological, and molecular tools to understand how natural selection shapes the traits closely associated with true fitness.

Requirements for Student Applicants: must be curious and dependable, with a minimum GPA of 2.5.

Hours per week: flexible, with a minimum of 6 hrs per week.

Starting date: Positions available year-round, availability summer would be a plus.

Method of Compensation: Volunteer

Application Process: Students should email a cover letter and an unofficial transcript to the faculty member.

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amy Abell

Department: Biology

Contact Information: anabell@memphis.edu

Project Description: The Abell lab uses stem cells to define the signaling/gene expression networks controlling the conversion of stationary epithelial stem cells to motile mesenchymal cells. This epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key biological process during normal development that is reactivated in several pathologies including organ fibrosis and cancer metastasis. One goal of this research is to identify regulators of EMT that can be used as prognostic markers and/or therapeutic targets for aggressive cancers. This information will be used in designing new strategies for regenerative medicine and the treatment of EMT related pathologies. Projects in the lab use molecular, cellular and embryological tools to identify regulators of EMT. Student projects are dependent on previous knowledge and experience, and include isolation of RNA, preparation of cDNA, measurement of gene expression changes, isolation and separation of protein, measurement of protein levels and activity, and fluorescence microscopy.

Requirements for Student Applicants: Applicants must have completed General Biology II (BIOL 1120/1121) and be at least enrolled in Cell Biology (BIOL 3130). Student researchers must work a minimum of six hours per week in the lab for two consecutive semesters.

Starting Date: anytime, positions are available for fall, spring, and summer semester research.

Method of Compensation: Volunteer, Academic Credit or Stipend depending on level of ability and training. Two hours of academic credit up to five credit hours is possible. Academic credit is obtained through enrollment in BIOL 4000 or BIOL 4001 with permission of the faculty mentor. Each credit hour is equal to three hours of laboratory time.

Application Process: Students should email a resume, unofficial transcript and a short statement about your research interests and career goals to the faculty member.

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Emily Puckett

Department: Biology

Contact Information: Emily.Puckett@memphis.edu

Project Description: The Puckett Lab studies the evolutionary genomics of bears, including their population structure, genetic diversity, and the genetic basis of traits. The lab has the following volunteer positions:

Project 1- an analysis of microsatellite marker use and genetic diversity estimates across all eight species of bears. The aim of this project is to understand species specific differences in approaches to bear research for future standardization and cross-study collaboration.
Project 2- developing an image analysis pipeline to standardize color photographs, then measure diverse traits from bears (i.e. coat color, chest blaze shape, etc).
Project 3- Processing population genomic datasets for a meta-analysis of isolation-by-distance.

Student Requirements: General: students must come to lab at the agreed upon times and focus on lab work, not homework or other activities.
Project 1- familiarity with Microsoft Excel; willingness to learn (statistical program) R; attention to detail is essential. Interest in conservation or conservation genetics would be helpful.
Project 2- critical thinking; highly organized; willingness to learn ImageJ software
Project 3- sophomore or higher standing; willingness to learn diverse bioinformatics programs; perseverance;

Hours per Week: 6-10 in blocks of 2.5 hours or longer

Starting Date: anytime- positions available for Fall, Spring, and Summer

Compensation: Volunteer; Academic Credit

Application or Interview Process: Students should email a cover letter to with information about their qualifying skills and interest in the position. An interview may be required.

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jaime Sabel

Contact Information: jlsabel@memphis.edu

Project Description: The Sabel lab focuses on biology education research, specifically on the use of various classroom tools and techniques in undergraduate biology courses. We use both quantitative (statistics) and qualitative (interviews and surveys) methods to investigate how students learn biology and how various aspects of courses influence student engagement and success. The goal of this work is to improve the design of biology courses to support students as they engage in learning biological concepts.

Requirements for Student Applicants: Applicants must have completed General Biology II (BIOL 1120/1121) with a grade of C or better.

Hours per week: 10

Starting Date: Flexible, positions are available for summer, fall, and spring semester research.

Methods of Compensation: Volunteer

Application Process: Applicants should submit an unofficial transcript, and a paragraph about your research interests and career goals. An interview with Dr. Sabel is also required.

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Charles Kubicek

Contact Information: ckubicek@memphis.edu

Project Description: Research projects focus on the genetic manipulation of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to improve their ability to make biofuels on the Lambuth Campus. Projects center around designing new strains of yeast that change the expression or modifications to the enzymes associated with biofuels. Projections will also use techniques related to assessment and optimization of the production of biofuels in a laboratory setting. In general, students will learn techniques commonly found in microbiology, molecular and biochemistry labs. Students are expected to present their work at least once a year at conferences or seminars.

Requirements for Student Applicants: A student is required to be a science major in good standing with a 3.0 GPA. Students that have taken chemistry and microbiology labs are preferred.

Starting Date: Varies

Method of Compensation: Volunteer, Academic Credit

Application Process: Students are required to submit a statement of intent, unofficial transcript and one letter of reference from a faculty member (preferably from a teaching lab).

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Shawn Brown

Contact Information: spbrown2@memphis.edu

Project Description: The Brown Lab studies the relationship between microbes and the environment using cutting edge methods including metagenomics, locus-targeted high-throughput sequencing, and bioinformatics. This project investigates the impact of the 2016 Great Smokey Mountains wildfire, a high intensity fire that burned ~72km² and resulted in numerous fatalities on soil fungal communities. High intensity burned soils, mid-intensity burned soils and non-burned soils were collected (and continue to be collected) to understand how intense fire changes fungal communities and how fire intensity affects environment and ecological resilience. Student will be trained in NGS library preparation, bioinformatics and sequence analysis and multivariate statistics.

Requirements for Student Applicants: Applicants must have completed General Biology II (BIOL 1120/BIO 1121). Preference given to applicants who have taken General Ecology (BIOL 3050) and who have an interest in learning advanced molecular methods, statistics, and command line sequence analysis. Preference also given to students who wish to work ~6 hours in the lab per week.

Starting Date: Immediately

Method of Compensation: Academic Credit. Two hours of academic credit per semester up to a total for five credit hours. Academic credit can be obtained through enrollment in BIOL 4000 or BIOL 4001 with permission of the Faculty Mentor.

Application Process: Applicants should provide unofficial transcripts and a cover letter expressing interest in this position and discuss what you want to get out of this experience.

Faculty Mentor : Dr. Judith Cole

Contact Information: jcole2@memphis.edu

Project Description: These are laboratory-based research projects in signal transduction that utilize cultured cells and techniques such as electrophoresis, Western analysis, immunoprecipitation and ELISAs and quantitative RT-PCR to address G protein-coupled receptor and growth factor receptor mechanisms of action. Current projects are focused on the role of PTH-dependent activation of growth factor receptors in the regulation of kidney and vascular smooth cell growth, differentiation, and gene expression.

Requirements for Student applicants: Applicants need to contact the Faculty Mentor for an interview and to determine the availability of research positions during any given semester. Applicants must have completed General Biology II (BIOL 1120/1121) with a grade of C or better. Special consideration will be given to students enrolled in Biochemistry Lab (Biology 4503). Applicants will be expected to take two credits and work at least six hours per week.

Method of Compensation: Academic Credit. Two hours of academic credit per semester up to a total of five credit hours. Academic credit can be obtained through enrollment in BIOL 4000 or BIOL 4001 with permission of the Faculty Mentor. I will not take students who want just one academic credit per semester. See the Undergraduate Catalog for a description and the requirements of these two courses.

Application Process: Applicants should provide unofficial transcripts and a cover letter expressing interest in this position and discuss what you want to get out of this experience.

Faculty Mentor : Dr. Lewis Coons

Contact Information: lcoons@memphis.edu

Project Description: These are laboratory-based research projects that investigate host-tick relationships at the cell and molecular level, especially how the tick is able to control wound healing in the host and how the tick is able to recruit new blood vessels (angiogenesis) into the tick feeding lesion. Students will use a variety of preparation techniques including cell based wound-healing and angiogenesis assays. The project may include some microscopy. We have access to scanning and transmission electron microscopes, a confocal scanning laser microscope and an atomic force microscope. Students will be directly involved with research and may be involved with care of experimental animals, both ticks and hosts.

Requirements for Student Applicants: Applicants must have completed General Biology II (BIOL 1120/1121) with a grade of C or better. Special consideration will be given to students who have completed Microbiology (BIOL 3500). Applicants will be expected to work at least three hours per week per semester for every hour of academic credit awarded. A minimum of three semester hours is necessary to complete a project. If any of the data generated by this research is published, your name will be part of the authorship.

Method of Compensation: Academic Credit. One to two hours of academic credit per semester up to a total of five credit hours. Academic credit can be obtained through enrollment in BIOL 4000 or BIOL 4001 with permission of the Faculty Mentor. See the Undergraduate Catalog for a description and the requirements of these two courses.

Application Process: Applicants should provide unofficial transcripts.

Faculty Mentor : Dr. Michael Ferkin

Contact Information: mhferkin@memphis.edu

Project Description: These research projects address the role of odor cues in animal communication and regulating animal social and sexual behavior. The principle model organisms for these studies are various species of the vole, a small rodent found throughout the world. Participants will be involved in various aspects of research of these organisms, including small animal surgery and husbandry. Some projects will involve the analysis of videotape data as part of the behavioral studies, whereas others will involve basic endocrinology. Students work under the direction of doctoral students and postdoctoral candidates.

Requirements for Student Applicants: Applicants must have completed General Biology II (BIOL 1120/1121) with a grade of C or better. Applicants will be expected to work at least three hours per week per semester for every hour of academic credit awarded.

Application Process: Applicants should provide unofficial transcripts to the faculty member.

Name of Faculty Mentor : Dr. David Freeman

Email address : dfreemn1@memphis.edu

Project Description: These research projects address the neuroendocrine regulation of biological rhythms in animal behavior and physiology with a focus on seasonal reproduction. The principle model organism for these studies is the Siberian hamster, and participants will be involved in various aspects of proper care and research of these organisms.

Requirements for Student Applicants: Applicants must have completed General Biology II (BIOL 1120/1121) with a grade of C or better. Special consideration will be given to students who have completed Animal or Vertebrate Physiology (BIOL 3030 or BIOL 3730). Applicants will be expected to work at least three hours per week per semester for every hour of academic credit awarded.

Application Process: Applicants should provide unofficial transcripts.

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Matthew Parris

Contact Information: mparris@memphis.edu

Project Description: Research addresses various aspects of amphibian ecology, evolution and behavior including competition, predator-prey interactions, and the role of disease in community dynamics. Research projects might be laboratory-based or conducted in the field. Students will learn experimental design and the proper care of research animals.

Requirements for Student Applicants: Applicants must have completed General Biology II (BIOL 1120/1121) with a grade of C or better. Special consideration will be given to students who have completed General Ecology or Evolution (BIOL 3050 or BIOL4100). Applicants will be expected to work at least three hours per week per semester for every hour of academic credit awarded.

Application Process: Applicants should provide unofficial transcripts and a cover letter expressing interest in this position and discuss what you want to get out of this experience.

Name of Faculty Mentor : Dr. Reza Pezeshki

Contact Information: pezeshki@memphis.edu

Project Description: Research addresses the physiological adaptations of wetland plants that allow them to survive various environmental stressors such as flooding, drought, and shading. Research projects might be laboratory-based, greenhouse-based, or conducted in the field. Students will use a variety of laboratory and horticultural techniques to develop experimental designs and collect data.

Requirements for Student Applicants: Applicants must have completed General Biology II (BIOL 1120/1121) with a grade of C or better. Special consideration will be given to students who have completed General Ecology or General Botany (BIOL 3050 of BIOL 3200). Applicants will be expected to work at least three hours per week per semester for every hour of academic credit awarded.

Method of Compensation: Academic Credit. One to two hours of academic credit per semester up to a total of five credit hours. Academic credit can be obtained through enrollment in BIOL 4000 or BIOL 4001 with permission of the Faculty Mentor. See the Undergraduate Catalog for a description and the requirements of these two courses.

Application Process: Applicants should provide unofficial transcripts.

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Tit-Yee Wong

Contact Information: tywong@memphis.edu

Project Description: Applicants work on laboratory-based projects that utilize biochemistry, molecular biology, and bioinformatics techniques to analyze the flux of energy and carbon in living cells.

Requirements for Student Applicants: Applicants must have completed General Biology II (BIOL 1120/1121) with a grade of C or better. Special consideration will be given to students who have completed Microbiology and Microbiology Laboratory (BIOL 3500 and BIOL 3505). Knowledge of aseptic technique is essential. Basic understanding of computer programming (C++, Java, Perl and Bioperl) would be beneficial. Applicants will be expected to work at least three hours per week per semester for every hour of academic credit awarded.

Method of Compensation: One to two hours of academic credit per semester up to a total of five credit hours. Academic credit can be obtained through enrollment in BIOL 4000 or BIOL 4001 with permission of the Faculty Mentor. See the Undergraduate Catalog for a description and the requirements of these two courses.

Application Process: Applicants should provide unofficial transcripts.

Name of Faculty Mentor : Dr. Omar Skalli

Contact Information: oskalli@memphis.edu

Project Description: To subclone cDNAs encoding specific domains of cytoskeletal proteins such as synemin and alpha-actinin into an eukaryotic expression vector and to express those domains into astrocytoma (brain tumor) cells in order to gain insights into the functions of these domains. For this project, the student will learn basic molecular biology techniques such as PCR, bacterial transformation, DNA purification, agarose gel electrophoresis and ligation of DNA fragments into plasmid. Other methods that may also be used depending on the scope of the project include: tissue culture, immunofluorescence staining and confocal fluorescence microscopy.

Method of Compensation: Volunteer, Academic Credit, or Stipend-depending on the commitment

Name of Faculty Mentor: Dr. Anyou Wang

Contact Information: awang1@memphis.edu

Project Description: Feinstone Center for Genomic Research has research opportunities opened immediately for self-motivated and creative students (undergraduate and graduate) to participate in our chaos biology research projects, in which the
relevant literatures will be reviewed to generate the hypotheses and novel algorithms will be developed. Students interested in mathematical theories and applications and publishing their research results in a short term are encouraged to apply.

Requirements for Student Applicants: background in computer science, statistics, math, computational biology, bioinformatics or related fields

Starting Date: Immediately

Method of Compensation: Volunteer and authorship in publications.

Application Process: Apply via emailing your CV and a letter to describe your interests, selected interview in person.