Research Opportunities

Current & Ongoing Research Opportunities

We strive to teach students how scientific discoveries are made by providing research opportunities beyond the lecture halls and classrooms, through summer undergraduate research projects and junior and senior independent research projects. Projects usually result in publication of the student’s work in a scientific journal or presentation at a local or national scientific conference.

Students have attended conferences in Atlanta GA, Baltimore MD, New Orleans LA, Chicago IL, San Francisco CA, St. Louis MO, Grand Rapids MI, and Indianapolis IN.

Junior and Senior Research Projects begin by a student choosing a faculty mentor and a project of interest to both the student and faculty member. Students spend one or two semesters (3-5 course credit hours) in the laboratory performing experiments and data analysis. Students write a summary report for the department and frequently assist in writing a journal article summarizing their findings.

Summer Research Projects involve an eight to nine week laboratory experience in which the student gets paid and receives housing and meals through grants and university funding.

Projects:

• Circadian Clock-Associated Proteins in Aspergillus nidulans. (Dr. Rebecca Corbin and Dr. Andrew Greene)
• Synthetic Methodology and Toxicological Evaluation of Dihydropyridones. (Dr. Robert Bergosh and Dr. Doug Dawson)
• Identification of Neuronal Interleukin-16 Binding Partners (Dr. Rebecca Corbin and Dr. Steven Fenster)
• Infochemicals and Ecological Trade-Offs in an Aquatic Ecosystem (Dr. Jeffrey Weidenhamer and Dr. Patricia Saunders)