You will earn 6 research credits over 6 weeks, conducting a faculty-supervised, hands-on, directed study research projects with results that will culminate in the preparation of a research paper. You will complete a minimum of 240 hours on research in and out of the laboratory.
Faculty mentors will work closely with you to direct your continued growth and knowledge development in the chosen research topic discipline.
| Course ID | Title | Credits | Syllabus |
|---|---|---|---|
| LONS RSLW 392S | International Independent Research in STEM Fields | 6 |
Mitochondrial dynamics (fission and fusion) alter in response to the energy needed by the cell; both processes become dysfunctional in the aging (neurodegenerative disease) as well as the developing (birth asphyxia) brain. This project aims to tackle mitochondrial dysfunction to enhance cell survival, and therefore neuroprotection, following neonatal brain injury.
Techniques: Cell culture, live cell microscopy, cell survival assays, western blot
Two key literature references:
Relevant majors: Biology, Neuroscience, Biochemistry
The development of assisted reproductive technology in dogs would benefit projects for the conservation of endangered canine and feline species, as well as its translational application in biomedical sciences. Canine oocytes used for in vitro cultures are sourced from the ovaries of spayed dogs after routine ovariohysterectomy which happens during the anoestrus period. Such ovaries contain mainly the early-stage follicles; hence the retrieved oocytes have a very low maturation rate to the metaphase II stage to become ready for fertilization. The normal period of culture for canine oocyte maturation is up to 72h, and the maturation rate is very low. As a result, thus far no blastocyst embryo could be produced from in vitro matured dog oocytes. Recent studies in other species have reported the beneficial effect of the extended oocyte culture period on nuclear maturation and the developmental potential of the oocytes. This project aims to test the hypothesis that “The extended culture of canine oocytes improves oocytes nuclear maturation and developmental potential to produce embryos after in vitro fertilization”. You will compare oocyte nuclear maturation to the metaphase II stage after 3, 7 days of culture. You will also carry out in vitro fertilization (IVF) to determine their competence in producing embryos, and study mitochondria distribution and health of the oocytes through specific staining.
Techniques: Retrieval, selection, and aseptic culture of dog oocytes, staining for assessing oocyte nuclear maturation, microscopic imaging to determine oocyte nucleus at meiotic stages, Mitotracker staining, ROS staining, IVF and embryo culture.
Two key literature references:
Relevant majors: Biology, Zoology, Animal Science, Veterinary Science
This project focuses on amplifying and analyzing immune-related genes in various wildlife species to explore genetic diversity related to disease resistance. By studying these genes, we aim to gain insights into the evolutionary mechanisms of immune responses across species and their relevance to conservation biology and disease management.
Techniques:
Two key literature references:
Relevant majors: Biology, Genetics, Veterinary Science
This project focuses on the expression and characterization of MPB70/83 proteins, which are immunodominant antigens of Mycobacterium bovis. These proteins are key markers for the development of diagnostic tools aimed at detecting bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in wildlife and livestock populations. The project aims to evaluate the potential of these proteins as reliable diagnostic markers.
Techniques:
Two key literature references:
Relevant majors: Biology, Genetics, Veterinary Science
The zebrafish can regenerate many tissues. In this project we propose to investigate the regeneration of the caudal fin of zebrafish embryos. In particular, we are interested in comparing the regenerative capacity of a mutant knockout line that is missing our receptor of interest to elucidate if it is essential for repairing cellular processes. We use transgenic macrophage reporter lines in which macrophages are tagged with a green fluorescent protein, this will help quantifying inflammation in response to the injury and comparing between our different lines.
Techniques:
Two key literature references:
Tendon injuries strongly correlate with age. A lack of treatment options, poor recovery, and a high rate of reinjury are born out of poor characterization of tendon aging, however the equine superficial digital flexor tendon has proven to be an excellent model to investigate tendon degeneration. The student(s) will use emerging spatial transcriptomic technology to identify age-associated changes to cell populations within the equine tendon.
Techniques:
Two key literature references:
Relevant majors: Biology, Veterinary Science
A key question in cell and developmental biology is how the mammalian embryo is assembled. Developmental fates are controlled by the regulation of gene expression, and miRNAs play an important part in this. These small, double-stranded RNAs of approximately 22 nucleotides act by post-transcriptionally suppressing gene expression. They operate to fine-tune expression levels, and their importance is exemplified by their absence, which results in lethality of the early embryo. We wish to understand the function of miRNAs in the early embryo by testing their regulation of specific genes involved in the initial developmental programme.
Techniques used: The student will learn core techniques in molecular biology including mammalian cell culture, protein extract preparation, and Western blotting.
Key literature references:
We have discovered that an influenza virus from a chicken in Mali surprisingly grows well in human cells despite only ever having been in birds. This project will track down the underlying mutation to understand how this has happened.
Techniques:
Two key literature references:
Relevant majors: Biology, Veterinary Science, Animal Science
The following information is vetted and provided by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) on the Electronic Database for Global Education (EDGE).
| Percentage | Description | U.S. Equivalent |
| 70 – 100% | First Class | A |
| 60 – 69% | Second Class Upper | B+ |
| 50 – 59% | Second Class Lower | B |
| 40 – 49% | Third Class/Pass | C |
| 0 – 39% | Fail | F |