Opportunities

Our laboratory provides various research opportunities for undergraduate students. During the registration period for each semester, my graduate students, post doctoral fellows or I will interview students interested in participating in the research activities of our laboratory. Accepted students register for BIO 4905. You can not register without my permission. Students sign up for 3 credit hours - this requires 9-12 hrs of work associated with the laboratory each week. Research times are flexible. We are looking for 2 - 3 new students for research activities. We usually provide opportunities for Sophomores and Jr students but we have taken other exceptional students late in their Freshman year. Interested? If so, you need to do the following:

1) contact me or one of my students or post docs for an interview

2) review our page and the research we perform.

3) if you know one of the graduate students in my laboratory, you can contact them for availability on their team.

Our Approach - A Research Team
The work in our laboratory is performed based on a team approach. All research teams are directed by a graduate student or post doctoral fellow. Although all the undergraduate students can meet with me whenever needed, their day-to-day research activities are overseen by a graduate student mentor. Some examples of our research teams are listed below.

Team led by Dr. Satomi Kohno (Assistant Scientist)
Can we determine the health and stress of wild animals by using molecular markers expressed on their blood cells?

Team led by Dr. Heather Hamlin (Post Doctoral Fellow)
Do nitrates in fresh water affect the development and functioning of the reproductive system in alligators? Can we determine the reproductive cycle of the American alligator on a barrier island with plasma hormones?

Team led by Lori Albergotti (PhD student)
Does the chorioallantoic membrane of oviparous amniotes(e.g., birds, alligators and turtles) synthesis hormones? What is the role of these potential hormones?

Team led by Ashley Boggs (PhD candidate)
Do contaminants on Kennedy Space Center affect the development of the thyroid system of alligators?

Team led by Nicole Botteri (PhD student)
What genes play a role in the developing gonad of the alligator during environmental sex determination?

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