HWS SUMMER RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES 2017
Biology
Conservation Genetics of Pocket Gophers in the Midwestern U.S.
Faculty Contact: Professor Bradley Cosentino ()
Project Description: The plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius) is a burrowing mammal found across the Great Plains of the U.S. Because of its limited dispersal ability, there are several disjunct populations across the geographic range that may benefit from conservation efforts. Subspecies and distinct populations are eligible for protection under state and federal law, but population genetic analysis is needed to help identify subspecies and population boundaries. The student will test a suite of genetic markers to determine suitability for population genetic analysis of G. bursarius. This is a laboratory-based project, and the student will gain experience with DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and genotyping.
Student Qualifications: Background in biology and completion of one of the following courses: Biostatistics, Genetics, Population Genetics, Ecology, Behavioral Ecology. Strong work ethic and interests in wildlife conservation and genetics are essential. Must have a driver’s license.
Dates: May 22 – July 21 (both dates tentative)
Examining Responses of Biodiversity to Grassland Restoration in the Chihuahuan Desert, New Mexico
Faculty Contact: Professor Bradley Cosentino ()
Project Description: Shrub invasion has led to the loss of grassland habitats in arid landscapes throughout the world. This project will involve investigating how biodiversity and ecosystem services respond to attempts to restore desert grasslands in the Chihuahuan Desert of southern New Mexico. Students will conduct surveys for various types of wildlife (e.g., lizards, rodents, songbirds) to help understand how wildlife abundance depends on the amount and spatial configuration of restored habitat. Students will also participate in experimental studies to better understand dispersal constraints affecting site colonization by banner-tailed kangaroo rats, a keystone species. These positions require field work to be conducted in New Mexico. Travel and housing costs are covered.
Student Qualifications: Strong work ethic and interests in wildlife conservation and ecology are essential. Must be enthusiastic about conducting field work in rural, arid landscapes. Must have a driver’s license.
Dates: TBD (10 weeks)
Effects of Forest Fragmentation on Behavior of Woodland Salamanders
Faculty Contact: Bradley Cosentino () and Professor David Droney ()
Project Description: In landscapes of the Northeast, timber harvest and subsequent reforestation has created extensive variation in the age and quality of forest patches. This project builds off our previous studies exploring how forest change in the Finger lakes has affected movement behavior of red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus). The students will conduct a field experiment to test whether colonization of artificial forest plots depends on individual differences in movement behavior. Students will gain experience with field experience with field sampling, behavioral observations in the laboratory, and animal care. See our recent paper in Animal Behavior for more background information: goo.gl/5TEilw
Student Qualifications: Background in biology. Strong work ethic and interests in wildlife conservation and behavior are essential. Must have a driver’s license.
Dates: May 22 – July 28 (both dates are tentative)
Audubon Seabird Restoration Internship
Faculty Contact: Professor Mark Deutschlander ()
Project Description:Hobart and William Smith students have the unique opportunity to participate in the internationally-recognized Audubon Seabird Restoration Program (a.k.a. “Project Puffin”). This internship is a paid position directly through the Audubon Society (final selection of an intern will be made by Audubon biologist Stephen Kress).
Position Description: Audubon’s Seabird Restoration Program operates seven island field stations along the Maine coast as critical seabird nesting sanctuaries. Research Interns will work under the direction of the Island Supervisor, participating in all aspects of seabird research, monitoring, and management that take place at the field station. The majority of research projects focus on studying the nesting success and foods fed to seabird (tern and alcid) chicks, with most work focusing on terns. Work includes, but is not limited to: conducting population censuses, monitoring productivity and chick growth; conducting seabird diet studies; banding and resighting birds; removing invasive vegetation; educating island visitors; and assisting with predator management.
Research Interns will live on island (a single island or group of islands) for the duration of the field season. Interns assigned to inshore islands will have occasional trips to the mainland for logistics and resupplying the field camp, returning to the islands to work and sleep. On offshore islands, food, supplies, and mail are delivered approximately every 2 weeks. In a seabird colony, the birds are loud, and the terns defend their nests by dive-bombing anyone moving through the colony. Living conditions on the islands are primitive. A cabin or wall tent serves as the base of field operations, and field team members sleep in their own tents (wooden tent platforms provided). Island field stations have limited electricity (solar panels power research needs), propane stoves, composting toilets, and no running water (rainwater is collected for washing; drinking water is brought from the mainland). Communications with the mainland are via cell or VOIP phone, depending on location, with VHF radios available as a back-up mode of communication. There is no internet access. Cooking, cleaning, and camp maintenance duties are shared by all island team members. Food is provided.
Applicants should have a strong background/interest in field biology and/or environmental science and conservation biology. Preference will be given to applicants who have completed multiple courses in biology and/or environmental studies.THIS INTERNSHIP IS AVAILABLE TO GRADUATING SENIORS AS WELL AS OTHER STUDENTS
Student Qualifications: SO, JR, SR. Preference given to students considering careers in conservation and/or environmental science.
Dates: Start date: ~ May 26; End date: TBD, but between July 22 and August 15
Various Projects at Cornell University/New York State Agricultural Experimentation Station (NYSAES)
Faculty Contact: Professor Patricia Mowery ()
Project Description:Interested in an exciting research experience working with an international team of scientists, graduate students, and undergraduates while using a variety of cutting-edge techniques? You will gain invaluable research experience whether your goal is medicine, graduate school, a science job post college, or just to learn if you want to work in science. Projects will be completed in the laboratories of the Cornell University/NYSAES in Geneva, and students will live on the HWS campus. Projects may involve applied ecology, bioinformatics, disease control, food science, gene expression, genetics, horticulture, insect behavior, microbiology, molecular biology, or pathology. We will place students according to their general interests and academic background. For previous HWS research student projects, see:
Student Qualifications: BIOL 167 and completed/enrolled in one 200 level biology required. GPA minimum of 3.0 required. These internships are not open to graduating seniors.
Dates: TBD (8 weeks)
Drug Development of Anti-Cancer Agents
Faculty Contact: Professor Patricia Mowery ()
Project Description:Students will determine the effectiveness of protein kinase C (PKC) analogs as cancer inhibitors. Experiments may include tissue culture work, cell viability assays, enzymatic activity assays, fluorescent microscopy, Western blot analysis, and protein studies. Results will direct new compound development.
Student Qualifications: Preferred but not required: experience with molecular approaches and techniques (e.g. pipetting, running gels, sterile technique); and /or completed or currently enrolled in Cell Biology or Cancer Biology; and/or completedor curently enrolled in Organic Chemistry preferred.
Dates: TBD (8 weeks)
Investigating the Evolutionary History of Milkweeds in North America Using Genomic Tools
Faculty Contact: Professor Shannon Straub ()
Project Description: Milkweeds (Asclepias) are a recent rapid evolutionary radiation that has resulted in diversification of more than 100 species in North America. These species have served as models for plant reproduction and plant defense, most notably in the study of coevolution with monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus), which are able to sequester the cardenolide toxins produced by the plants for their own defense. Resolving the evolutionary relationships in this rapid radiation is necessary for understanding the evolution of defense traits, and other morphological traits, such as flower structure, but has been difficult using traditional approaches. This study will investigate the genomic evidence for the evolutionary relationships among Asclepias species through simultaneous targeted sequencing of 700+ nuclear genes and whole chloroplast genomes from multiple populations per species followed by phylogenomic analyses. Students will work in teams to acquire lab skills, including DNA extraction and Illumina DNA sequencing, and gain bioinformatics and data analysis experience. Individual student projects may focus on questions involving phylogenetic relationships and morphological character evolution, molecular or genome evolution, or species delimitation as mutually agreed upon by student and mentor at the beginning of the summer.
Student Qualifications: BIOL 167 and one additional BIOL course, preferably BIOL 220 or BIOL 228.
Dates: May 31 - August 8
Phylogenomics of the APSA Clade of Apocynaceae (Milkweeds and Dogbanes)
Faculty Contact: Professor Shannon Straub ()
Project Description: Milkweeds and dogbanes (Apocynaceae) comprise the 10th largest family of flowering plants, and are best known for their secondary chemistry that mediates interactions with insect herbivores. Multiple insect lineages have evolved mechanisms to tolerate toxins produced by the plants, such as pyrrolizidine alkaloids, and sequester them to make themselves unpalatable to predators, and in the case of milkweed and clearwing butterflies (Danainae), use them to synthesize mating pheromones. The APSA clade of Apocynaceae contains four subfamilies: Apocynoideae, Periplocoideae, Secamonoideae, and Asclepiadoideae. Resolution of the evolutionary relationships of the subfamilies and species in the clade is required to understand the evolution of the biochemical pathways for secondary metabolite production. The evolutionary relationships among the species in the APSA clade will be investigated through simultaneous targeted sequencing of ca. 800 nuclear genes and whole chloroplast genomes followed by phylogenomic analyses. Students will work in teams to acquire lab skills, including DNA extraction and Illumina DNA sequencing, and gain bioinformatics and data analysis experience. Individual student research questions may address phylogenetic relationships among species in APSA tribes or subtribes, including exploring conflict between the results given by nuclear genes vs. whole chloroplast genomes and the use of the genetic data to resolve outstanding taxonomic questions. Another student research avenue within the scope of this project would be to explore the molecular evolution of particular nuclear genes or whole chloroplast genomes in various groups within the APSA lineage.
Student Qualifications: BIOL 167 and one additional BIOL course, preferably BIOL 220 or BIOL 228.
Dates: May 31 - August 8
Chemistry
Endocrine Disruption in Minnows in the Finger Lakes Region
Faculty Contact: Professor Walter Bowyer ()
Project Description: A wide range of pollutants are similar enough to estrogen to disrupt normal endocrine activity and can even stimulate egg production in the gonads of male fish (testis-ova). This has been demonstrated to occur in many streams and lakes all over Europe and North America, but surprisingly no one has investigated the phenomenon in the waters of the Finger Lakes region. We are pursuing a project in which we use Blacknose Dace (Rhinichthys atratulus, a minnow abundant in Finger Lakes) as a bioassay preparatory to designing strategies for chemical analysis of the water for xenoestrogens.
Student Qualifications: At least two semesters of college chemistry.
Dates: June 12 – August 8
Synthesis and Characterization of Molecular Wire Candidates
Faculty Contact: Professor Christine de Denus ()
Project Description: Students will synthesize organometallic complexes that may find application in molecular device technology. These complexes will then be characterized by a number of spectroscopic techniques. The properties of these materials will vary with their composition but they will be investigated and tested for their electronic properties.
Student Qualifications: Students must have completed at least one year of chemistry by May 2017. Seniors are not eligible to apply.
Dates: May 22 – July 14
Solid-Phase Synthesis of Cysteine-Containing Potential Anticancer Compounds
Faculty Contact: Professor Justin Miller ()
Project Description: Students will synthesize potential anticancer chemotherapeutics using new synthetic methodology developed in the Miller laboratory. The new methodology is based on solid-phase resins capable of supporting the synthesis of peptidic molecules containing at least one cysteine residue. Along with the synthesis of potential anticancer agents, these resins will find a range of applications involving efficient synthetic routes towards other valuable, biologically relevant targets and their analogs.
Student Qualifications: Open to first-, second-, and third-years with at least one year of chemistry by Summer, 2017.
Dates: May 15 – June 16
Spectroscopic and Computational Studies of Naturally Occurring Molecules
Faculty Contact: Professor Josh Newby ()
Project Description:The goal of this work is to better understand the structure and intermolecular forces found in naturally occurring molecules. Students will perform FTIR studies of fragrance molecules and heterocycles found in petroleum. These studies will be facilitated by use of a newly constructed matrix isolation cell that operates at 10 K. Spectroscopic studies will be bolstered with computational studies that will be performed using supercomputing resources.
Student Qualifications: Open to students with one year of chemistry before Summer 2017. If you haven’t worked in my lab previously, students must enroll in ½ credit independent study or CHEM 322 during spring 2017.
Dates: May 22 – July 14
Developing New Synthetic Methods in Heterocyclic Chemistry
Faculty Contact: Professor Erin Pelkey ()
Project Description:The objective of this research is to design and develop new synthetic methods that can be utilized to prepare nitrogen heterocycles with demonstrated biological activity. This summer, we will work on two projects: (1) synthesis of indolocarbazoles and aryl-substituted 3-pyrrolin-2-ones for drug discovery; and (2) directed arylation of tetramic acids.
Student Qualifications: Open to first-years, sophomores, and juniors with at least one year of chemistry by Summer 2017.
Dates: May 15 – June 23
Studying Enzyme Kinetics in a Crowded Environment Like the Cell
Faculty Contact: Professor Kristin Slade ()
Project Description: The research aims to investigate how the densely packed interior of cells affects the rate of enzyme-catalyzed reactions and the ability of these enzymes to bind their substrates. Due to the lack of quantitative cellular methods, we will create controlled in vitro environments containing crowding agents that mimic intracellular conditions.
Student Qualifications: Open to curious students with at least one year of chemistry by the summer of 2017.
Dates: May 15 (tentative) – July 7
Cutting the Protein: Investigating the Interactions that Facilitate Membrane Biofouling in Desalination
Faculty Contact: Professor Elana Stennett ()
Project Description: The need for sustainable and affordable water purification techniques has risen with the rise in water scarcity. Desalination, purifying ocean water by removing dissolved materials via reverse osmosis, is increasingly being utilized due to the simplicity of the technique. Reverse osmosis uses high pressures to push “dirty” water through a semi-permeable membrane so that pure water emerges and the dissolved material is left behind. However, the membrane can quickly become blocked, called fouling, which requires replacing or cleaning the membrane, neither of which are effective. Understanding the interactions and mechanisms behind biofouling (fouling due to biological molecules like proteins) is an active area of research. The goal of this project is to probe the interactions that facilitate biofouling using established and novel spectroscopic techniques on a model system of peptides. This project involves not only simulating desalination conditions but also synthesizing a variety of proteins to will be studied. Fluorescence spectroscopy will be used to analyze the interactions between peptides and membranes that result in biofouling. Initial studies will require characterizing the peptides to better understand the system.
Student Qualifications: Students have to have completed CHEM 280 (or CHEM 190); completion of at least CHEM 240 would be benefitial but not necessary.
Dates: May 22 – July 14
Education
Multilingual Students with Autism
Faculty Contact: Professor Diana Baker ()
Project Description: Many students with autism in the US live in multilingual families. Little research addresses the needs of these students. This qualitative project will investigate the needs and experiences of students, family members and educators. A summer research student will assist in all phases of the research project including: conducting library research, interviewing stakeholders, transcribing interviews, analyzing data, and assisting in writing a manuscript.
Student Qualifications: Students who are bilingual preferred; students who have taken one course related to students with disabilties. Preference given to students who have taken a qualitative research class and/or who have experience collecting and analyzing qualitative data.
Dates: May 16 – June 30
Science Education and Outreach Intern With the Perkins Observatory
Faculty Contact: Professor Leslie Hebb ()
Project Description: This project involves science education and outreach with the Perkin Observatory. The intern will learn to use the 17” telescope in the Perkin Observatory and will hold open nights with the telescope weekly over the course of the summer. The student will also modify and improve existing astronomy and astrobiology learning activities that can be used to teach scientific skills to a broad range of students. The intern will use these activities and the telescope to engage with student groups that are on campus over the summer and student groups that are in the Geneva community. The goal is science education and outreach using astronomy subject matter.