Biology / Microbiology / Biochemistry
Biology / Microbiology / Biochemistry
Filter Total Items: 11
The evaluation of aerosol DNA/RNA extraction methods for aerobiology research projects
This study will contrast the extraction of DNA/RNA from aerosols collected with electrostatic precipitation (a relatively new collection method) with a common membrane filtration protocol to identify the most appropriate method for future regional and global scale aerobiology research projects.
Coregonine restoration in the Great Lakes- David Bunnell
The principals of conservation biology are waiting to be applied to restore native coregonines in the Great Lakes. Native fishes have suffered extinctions and extirpations owing to loss of habitat, interactions with invasive species, and overfishing, and now fishery managers are committed to their restoration.
Recreational Fishing as driver of overexploitation in inland waters- Doug Beard
Do fisheries managers know the impacts of improving recreational fishing technology on the populations of fish they manage? The role of gear innovations in recreational fisheries is understudied as a driver of overexploitation in inland waters. Examining technology advances will inform recreational managment.
Evaluating best practices for genetic sampling of bear populations- Tabitha Graves
Work with quantitative spatial wildlife ecologists to identify best practices for sampling rare and threatened carnivores using cutting edge statistical techniques. The results will be useful for sampling carnivore populations across the world. You will be stationed in beautiful northwest Montana in Glacier National Park.
Decoding the Microbiology of Contaminated Environments- Carrie Givens
Much of this research is centered on animal or human-associated pathogens, the antimicrobial resistance potential of those pathogens, and the influence of these pathogens on recreational water quality, drinking-water quality, and water quality in agricultural and urban watersheds.
Plant and insect invasions and novel host use- Ian Pearse
Plants and insects comprise a large portion of problematic invasive species. The success of these invasions largely depends on the outcomes of plant-insect interactions in which plants that escape herbivores may be more successful invaders, and herbivores that find adequate hosts have the opportunity to establish. This project will explore the dynamics of introduced plant or insect populations, or
Long-term trends in forest regeneration across drought and salinity gradients in the northern Gulf Coast- Beth Middleton
Relict forests are becoming more common as as climates become hotter, drier and more saline. The first sign of threat to these forests is a chronic lack of seedling and sapling recruitment. This project will help pinpoint forests at risk to help in future management.
Opening the black box -- digging into watershed dissolved organic carbon (DOC) processes to interpret DOC dynamics at the outlet- James Shanley
As a leading team in stream sensor application, we welcome a GRIP intern to help expand our focus on DOC quality. The intern will have free experimental reign in an established research watershed with great opportunities to publish. This position is set in a beautiful small town /rural setting with plenty of outdoor recreational activities.
Linking sand dune dynamics to Pitcher's thistle metapopulations- Noel Pavlovic
Spend a summer on the shore of Lake Michigan, investigating the role that dynamic dune disturbance and successional processes play in the spatial metapopulation dynamics of Pitcher’s thistle, a federally threatened plant. This project will provide a basis for developing spatial population models that can indicate the present and future conditions for the species in the Great Lakes.
Geomorphic influence on resilience of tidal freshwater wetlands to sea level rise- Greg Noe
Want to conduct collaborative eco-geomorphic research at the forefront of climate change impacts? We have a novel landscape-scale ecosystem experiment, using two adjacent tidal rivers with a 9x difference in watershed sediment loads, to determine how sediment availability regulates the resilience or loss of tidal freshwater wetlands as the result of sea level rise and salinization.
Development of methods distinguishing live and dead cell DNA for qPCR detection and quantification of pathogen genes in environmental samples for quantitative microbial risk assessment- Carrie Givens
Molecular methods such as quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) allow scientists the ability to target specific genes allowing for a rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective way to determine the presence and relative abundance of potential pathogen genes in the environment. Although there are many benefits to qPCR such as not relying on the ability to culture fastidious microorganisms ...