[Past Projects]

Dr. Jordan Renna and Matthew Tarchick

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Our lab utilizes a procedure called Electroretinogram (ERG) to study the behavioral and physiological properties of the neural retina. This protocol has medical relevance and is routinely done by optometrists. It demonstrates the whole function of the retina and the function of several important cell populations. The A wave of the ERG is related to total output of photoreceptors either rods or cones. The B-wave of the ERG is related to the total output of the interneurons or bipolar cells. In the recent years we have utilized 3D printing and modelling to construct a chamber more sensitive than anything else used in our field. With this chamber we can detect microvolt responses from cell populations in the developing retina. Along with this we can quantify the retinal responsiveness to different wavelengths of light, and how different cell populations respond to light. We are looking for students to help us run ERG experiments and run analysis on those experiments.

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Click here for more information on Dr.Renna’s lab.

[Past Projects]

Dr. Hazel Barton and Adrian Tween

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The Barton lab studies cave microbiology: we study the processes and involvement of microbes in cave formation. This specific project is about Roraima, which is a table-top mountain in Venezuela that has one of the largest-quartzite caves in the world. Silica is unique in that it is a very stable mineral, and yet silica has been extensively dissolved to form caves that are kilometers deep in this site. In this project, you will learn about and help reveal the process of dissolving and precipitating the silica to recreate the process in the caves using hands-on applied microbiology. Using bacteria collected at this site, we will get closer to creating and designing a smaller carbon footprint material. In this program you will be taught the basics of microbiology as well as get involved in applied research. This experience will give you skills helpful for any life science ranging from: making cultures, performing analytical chemistry tests and studying real-world processes.

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Click here for more information about Dr. Barton’s lab

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[Past Projects]

Hunter King, Daniel Garvin and Meron Dibia

More than a billion birds die due to collision with man made structures every year in North America (1). As an extension of our work with birds in Dr King’s Lab, we would like to mitigate this around our campus area. Especially since preliminary data by Akron Zoo conservation efforts show our lab building, Goodyear Polymer Center seen here, is the worst offender in the area.

In order to prevent birds from colliding with windows, there are several glass treatment options available. However, these are extremely expensive considering the size of our buildings on campus. Therefore, we need to have a precise idea of where limited glass/window treatment will be most effective in saving the lives of migration birds like the blackburnian warbler seen here. We are looking for several students to volunteer their time and energy from mid-late March through the end of the semester into a survey and rescue operation for birds on campus. Students will be working together in groups with project leaders mainly in the early mornings between 5:30 and 7:00am. The project will start with zoom training in collaboration with The Akron Zoo and Ohio Lights Out. Training will teach students to safely approach, handle, label, and transport dead or injured birds.

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Click here for other information about Dr. King. Click her for more information about projects in Dr. King’s lab.

[Past Projects]

Dr. Randy Mitchell and Kiersten McMahon

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Are you interested in pollinators? Do you want to be a part of a multi-county survey of multiple pollinator plots? Do you want to gain experience in the field AND in the lab? Then this is the project for you!

Dr. Randy Mitchell and I are eager to investigate roadside pollinator habitats, specifically habitats next to interstate on/off ramps. We want to research how bee abundance and species richness differs between restored pollinator habitats, reduced mowing habitats, and managed (lawn-like) habitats. Surveying will involve catching bees with insect nets as well as other insect traps. You can expect to gain experience in entomology (insect anatomy and taxonomy) as well as plant identification and field ecology practices. This is a great opportunity for undergraduates looking for research experience in both field and lab areas. Come help us protect pollinators and learn about their habitat!

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Click here for more information about the Mitchell lab.

[Past Projects]

Dr. R. Joel Duff

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I am looking for one or two students who would like to help develop a new area of research in my lab.   The research would involve literature and database searches to discover what is known about parasitic plant galling wasps and those of the genus Callirhytis in particular. This small wasp produces billions of galls on trees in the Midwest including here in Akron. Eventually I will be interested in investigating the complex insect-plant interactions including possibly secondary parasitism on these galls.  I am also interested in developing a network for observing outbreaks of galling over many years and obtaining samples from across the range of this galling wasp for genetic studies. You can read about my observations and pictures of this wasp and the galls it makes here:  https://thenaturalhistorian.com/2013/10/01/gall-wasps-fuzzy-orange-galls-on-pin-oak-leaves/

I am aware that almost nothing is known about this particular species so whatever we discover will be new.  The research would involve obtaining several forms of preliminary data and helping me to develop ideas for continuing research.  That preliminary data would come in the form of morphological characterization of the galls by light and electron microscopy.  I would also like to dissect galls to retrieve wasp grubs for DNA extraction, PCR and DNA sequencing.  DNA sequences would be first used for baseline comparisons with other species of the genus and family.  Student research on the life history of the wasps including the plant-insect interactions are expected to lead to additional research projects that will involve significant student contributions (ideas and data collection). The project could center around morphological descriptions and field observation or be focused on the molecular genetic characterization of the wasps.  I expect the general characterization of the galls with microscopy to be publishable.  Additional projects may span the next two or three years and include field observations, collection of samples from multiple hosts and documentation of wasp behavior. I would also like to develop a website to share this work with the pubic.

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Click here to find out more about the Duff lab.

[Past Projects]

Dr. Randy Mitchell and Stuart Davis

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This study will use a thermal camera mounted to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to study white-tailed deer populations with Bath Nature Preserve and the Cleveland Metroparks. While drones are a big part of the study, other methods for mapping deer will be utilized as to have something to compare the drone sampling method to. I am looking for anyone interested in ecology or learning how to count deer populations

Why Use a Drone?

The main advantages of this method of sampling is that it should be less prone to human error. Instead of a compass, protractor and rangefinder that are required for distance sampling (the method most used), the drone can collect all the necessary data instantly and more reliably. Deer have developed a camouflage that makes it difficult to locate them in some environments. The thermal camera above the tree line with its line of sight not inhibited by trees take away any doubts that a researcher may have in locating and identifying the white-tailed deer. Also, the locations will be georeferenced and digitized and in GIS software any time after the fact. If you are interested in getting more information about this project, email me at spd34@zips.uakron.edu.

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Click here for more information about the Mitchell lab.

[Past Project]

Dr. Randy Mitchell and Brad Small

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Successfully restoring a wetland plant community is a difficult task and not always as predictable as we would like. The factors involved in determining which seeds germinate and which of those manage to emerge from the soil are valuable information needed to guide the restoration process in a desirable direction. The requirements for various species to germinate have been studied extensively, however the subsequent life stage has not. For this research project we investigate the environmental filters that affect germinated seeds and the strategies these plant species exhibit to successfully emerge. In doing so, we will examine the germination stage, the germinant stage, and the juvenile stage in the plant regeneration cycle. In participating in this project, you will develop plant identification skills, gain field experience, learn germination trial requirements, and probably get somewhat dirty!

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Click here for more information about the Mitchell lab.

[Past Projects]

Dr. Jianxin Bao – NEOMED

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Project Background:

Subjective tinnitus is the perception of a phantom sound, which negatively impacts quality of life for millions worldwide. Despite the great demand for an effective treatment, there are no approved drugs to prevent and treat tinnitus. Previous studies have suggested abnormal thalamocortical oscillations as one possible mechanism underlying tinnitus. This abnormal thalamocortical activity, such as an increase in delta-band activity, can be attributed to the increased activity of T-type calcium channels. Therefore, we hypothesize that abnormal expressional changes of T-type calcium channels is one major cause of tinnitus. Thus, in this project, we plan to determine potential molecular targets to treat tinnitus.

Student Benefits

We will teach you how to design and carry a neuroscience experiment, also teach you modern behavioral and molecular biological skills, which can be applied to various fields. Of course, your contribution to this project will be credited if any publications come out from this project.

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Click here to find out more about the Bao lab

[Past Projects]

Dr. Hazel Barton and George Breley

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Research Area

We study the interplay between the organic (microbes) and the inorganic (minerals) at the microscopic scale. Through a combination of metabolic and geochemical pathways, bacteria can initiate and influence mineral growth and/or decay. Caves host a diverse range of microbial communities in close association with unusual calcium carbonate structures (speleothems), making these environments important sources of scientific discovery with valuable potential for applications in the realms of engineering living materials and CO₂ sequestration. We aim to further our understanding of the principles of cave microbiology and use that knowledge to inform the development of novel biological materials.

Current Project

I am seeking a student interested in helping me investigate the microbiological aspects of cave-derived mineral specimens using a combination of microscopy, microbiology culturing methods and geochemical techniques. Students will take part in the development of engineered living materials and begin to gain a practical understanding of geo-microbiology research, develop a range of laboratory skills, and assist in planning and carrying out experiments.

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Click here for more information about Dr. Barton’s lab

[Past Projects]

Dr. Henry Astley and Hope Zimmerman

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In the Astley lab, we study the biomechanics of animal behavior, and create devices which use animal-inspired principles to solve human problems.  The cookie-cutter shark bites out a hemispherical plug of flesh from its victims. Living in oceanic waters, these sharks prey on bony fish, marine mammals, sharks, stingrays, and even a few submarines in the 70s and 80s. From the few documented human attacks, we know they are able to bite very quickly, able to escape before the prey can retaliate. The precise bite mechanics are not known, and our goal is to use mechanical systems with CT scan reconstructions of the jaws to test various biting strategies.

Student benefits:

• 3D modelling and printing
• Designing test equipment
• Programming test rig and data acquisition
• Running materials testing and bite testing
• Data analysis

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