Student Research Opportunities

Education: PhD in Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts

Expertise: Catabolite repression in bacteria, environmental microbiology

Dr. Arango’s research focuses on Sinorhizobium meliloti, an agriculturally beneficial bacterium. S. meliloti can live in the soil as a free living organism, or in symbiosis with legumes, such as alfalfa, which makes it an interesting research model. Her research centers on elucidating the mechanism by which genes involved in diverse processes are controlled by catabolite repression. Through studying the regulation of genes for raffinose and lactose utilization, she and her students aim to understand the role of the phosphotransferase system in catabolite repression. The Arango lab also does research in sustainable and affordable water treatment methods for households that do not have access to a clean water supply

Education: PhD in Biology, University of California, Davis

Expertise: Bioinformatics and evolutionary biology

Dr. Braverman’s main areas of research are: population genetics, molecular evolution, and bioinformatics. His goal is to characterize and explain genetic variation observed within natural populations and among species. Using empirical (field collection and laboratory), computer modeling and DNA sequencing, he and his students test models of natural selection and their alternatives. In addition, he studies rates and patterns of molecular divergence to test the molecular clock and identify the processes responsible, and designs software to answer evolutionary questions about large genomic datasets. His study of organisms range from fruit flies to tropical trees.

Education: PhD in Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Emory University

Expertise: Understanding the molecular mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis

Dr. Bhatt’s research focuses on the regulation of gene expression in bacterial pathogens. Specifically, he is interested in understanding how the RNA-binding protein Hfq and its accompanying regulatory small RNAs control a disease-causing locus called the LEE in enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC). Recently, Dr. Bhatt has initiated similar studies in the related but undercharacterized pathogen Escherichia albertii by optimizing a genetic approach to mutagenize the bacterial genome. Future studies are directed at observing the consequences of such mutations on gene expression from the LEE. In Dr. Bhatt’s lab, students take a transdisciplinary approach by integrating techniques and tools from genetics, biochemistry, microbiology, and chemistry to understand the molecular basis of disease.

Education: PhD in Biology, University of California, Los Angeles

Expertise: Stream ecology and the biomechanics of larval dispersal

Dr. Fingerut researches how the movement of water shapes the behavior, morphology and distribution of organisms living in aquatic ecosystems by drawing on theory and techniques from physics, engineering and ecology. Through a combination of field research and careful manipulation of flow in the laboratory, his lab is able to identify the physical and behavioral mechanisms that control population distributions at scales ranging from mm’s to 100’s of meters.

Education: PhD in Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County

Expertise: Cell and organelle motility; actin dynamics

Dr. King Smith’s research interests center on understanding mechanisms of intracellular organelle transport in eukaryotic cells. As a model system, her lab uses retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells from the eyes of fish. Fish RPE cells contain numerous melanin pigment granules (melanosomes) that undergo mass migration in response to light. RPE cells can be isolated and cultured in vitro, allowing the study of the cytoskeletal mechanisms that mediate melanosome motility.

Education: PhD in Immunology, University of Pennsylvania

Expertise: Telomere maintenance by RNA-processing proteins

Dr. Lee-Soety is investigating mechanisms by which telomeres are maintained using baker’s yeast as the model organism. Telomeres cap the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes and protect essential genomic information. If telomeres are not properly maintained, the cell may perceive the ends as damaged DNA and activate DNA damage signals which lead to cell cycle arrest, also known as cell senescence. Her lab is interested in understanding how an RNA processing protein, Npl3, is involved in this maintenance. Mutant yeast cells that can no longer maintain telomeres and lack Npl3 function undergo rapid cell senescence and produce high levels of unusual non-coding telomere transcripts. We have evidence to show that Npl3 may regulate the expression of these transcripts and want to understand the mechanism and significance of this regulation.

Education: Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, University of Rhode Island

Expertise: Membrane structure and assembly, protein-protein assembly

Dr. Li’s research area focuses on understanding the physical and chemical principles governing the interaction of membrane proteins. Of particular interest is the interaction of fibroblast growth factor receptors and mucin proteins. Understanding these interactions is important because many cellular processes are regulated by them. Furthermore, diseases may arise when these interactions are not controlled properly due to mutations or overexpression of the membrane protein. Thus, these studies may provide useful information towards the development of better therapeutics.

Education: PhD in Genetics, Temple University

Expertise: Animal behavior, ecology and evolution in exotic and endangered species

Dr. McRobert’s research is directed at understanding the genetic, ecological, and evolutionary foundations of animal behavior. Animals utilized in his work include insects, fish, amphibians, and reptiles. These animals are housed in the biodioversity laboratories, which serve as home to hundreds of different species. Some of the work utilizes ‘model species’ such as Drosophila, and some of the work focuses on species that are listed as threatened or endangered. As part of their conservation research the laboratories hold assurance colonies of turtles that are on the brink of extinction.

Education: PhD in Biology, New York University

Expertise: Physiology, Behavioral Genetics and Neurobiology

Dr. Nelson’s research is focused on understanding the cellular and molecular nature of complex behaviors, such as sleep. To accomplish this, his lab studies the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, a microscopic roundworm, whose sleep behaviors are controlled by similar genes and neurochemistry underlying human sleep. C. elegans is easily maintained in the lab and genetically tractable, making this a powerful system for identifying new pathways in regulating sleep and other behaviors. His lab uses a combination of techniques common in the following disciplines: molecular biology, genetics and animal behavior.

Education: PhD in Physiology & Neuroscience, New York University

Expertise: Learning and memory, neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders, sleep, and translational control

Dr. Tudor’s research focuses on elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying learning and memory. Using mouse models of various neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders, the Tudor lab examines the role of molecular signaling pathways on behavior. The lab also studies the impact of sleep on memory storage and protein synthesis in the brain. Members of the Tudor lab become experienced in molecular genetics, protein biochemistry, murine aseptic surgery, and behavior assessment.

Education: PhD in Plant Pathology, University of Georgia

Expertise: Fungal pathogens of plants, microscopy

Dr. Snetselaar’s recent work revolves around the fungus Ustilago maydis, which causes smut disease of corn plants. She is currently undertaking an ecological study to determine how the fungal spores survive in the soil. In addition, her students are using microscopic techniques to study the host-pathogen interface the fungus establishes with the corn plant. Finally, her lab has isolated dozens of U. maydis mutants with developmental defects that prevent them from infecting plants. She and her students are using molecular, genetic and microscopic methods to analyze these mutants to learn more about this disease-causing fungus.

Education: PhD in Plant Physiology, West Virginia University

Expertise: Global climate change and plant physiology

Dr. Springer’s lab focuses on plant physiological ecology and plant responses to global changes in climate and atmospheric carbon dioxide. His research examines plant responses to changes in [CO2 ] and other global change phenomena such as global temperature and water availability. He and his students are especially interested in the response of plant traits that are relevant to plant evolution such as flowering time and reproduction. A major area of this research is aimed at elucidating the molecular mechanisms that account for these elevated [CO2]-induced changes in flowering time using techniques based on traditional plant physiology, molecular genetics and functional genomics.

View Dr. Peethambaran's Profile