Office of Undergraduate Research at Auburn University

Office of Undergraduate Research at Auburn University Our mission is for you to be extraordinary. Whether your goals after graduation are to join the workf

08/27/2021

Undergraduate Researcher Positions Available in Aquatic Ecology, Water Quality, and Limnology!

Several undergraduate researcher positions in aquatic ecology, water quality, and limnology are available in Alan Wilson’s lab.

Current lab research projects revolve around understanding the factors leading to harmful algal blooms in recreational and drinking water reservoirs and aquaculture ponds. Visit the lab website to learn more about us - http://waralgae.com/

The undergraduate students will assist current lab members (including graduate and undergraduate students) with existing lab projects that include field experiments, large-scale lake surveys, and laboratory-based mechanistic studies and analytical analyses.

The ideal candidate will be honest, hard-working, enjoy teamwork, motivated, and be interested in pursuing a career in science. I am motivated to maintain a productive, diverse, and inclusive lab and encourage students from under-represented groups to consider joining us. Preference will be given to freshman and sophomore applicants who are available 10-20 hours per week during the academic year. Starting dates and expected hours worked are flexible. Starting pay for these positions is $9/hr.

Interested students are encouraged to email (1) a brief letter of interest, (2) resume including contact information for two references, (3) an unofficial copy of your transcripts, and (4) available work hours during the current semester to Alan Wilson ([email protected]) for full consideration. Soft deadline for this position is 1 October 2021.

08/10/2021

AUJUS 2020 Edition is available now! Check out what the amazing research undergraduates and their mentors are doing on Auburn’s campus! Click below to view the AUJUS 2020 publication.

02/12/2021

COSAM Research Fair

The College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM) will be hosting their annual Spring Research Fair on February 17th from 9:30am-12:00pm in the Student Center Ballroom. The purpose of this fair is to provide an opportunity for research labs to interact with undergraduate students, within COSAM, who are currently seeking research opportunities. The goal is to benefit everyone by helping "match" students with research staff who have an opening available within their lab. The number of people in the ballroom will be limited due to COVID-19 guidelines. All other university guidelines will be followed during this event.

Recently in Research -Ivy HallIs there a way to fight against and prevent Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (M...
10/08/2019

Recently in Research -Ivy Hall
Is there a way to fight against and prevent Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)? Preliminary studies have shown that B. amyloiquefaciens AP183 has the potential to compete with S. aureus for nutrients in a wound via competitive exclusion. Ivy Hall, a senior in Chemistry and Biochemistry, is seeking to assess the preclinical benefit of AP183 therapy for the prevention of murine MRSA endocarditis from the skin by confirming the pathogenesis of the disease through fluorescent imaging.
Hall has been able to confirm that a specific strain of MRSA, USA 300-R, is fluorescent at a variety of wavelengths within a murine model. By imaging mice daily, the pathogenesis of the disease has been confirmed to have main colonization in the liver, heart, spleen, and gallbladder. While the research is still under way, Hall hopes to be able to discover what may be quenching the signal of the fluorescent strain while in vivo.
Hall says the most rewarding part of her experience was being able to see the fluorescent bacterial strain grow successfully within the murine model. She also notes that this research opportunity has given her self-confidence in research-related problem-solving and assured her of her chosen career path. Hall hopes to become a biochemistry-based forensic scientist. Ivy Hall was a 2018-2019 fellow for the Harrison College of Pharmacy, Department of Drug Discovery, and was mentored by Dr. Peter Panizzi.

Recently in Research -Cullen AndersonDo European Mennonite communities in Belize significantly affect jaguar distribu...
09/19/2019

Recently in Research
-Cullen Anderson
Do European Mennonite communities in Belize significantly affect jaguar distributions when compared to other human communities? Cullen Anderson, a senior majoring in Wildlife Ecology and Management, is focusing his research on understanding how different human communities affect wildlife (specifically jaguars). Human-wildlife interactions become more significant as human populations grow and make an impact on the environment.

Anderson used a large grid of camera traps in Belize to capture pictures of jaguars. Using data on vegetation and distances to various human communities, he then examined how these variables affected where pictures of jaguars were captured. Contrary to his original hypothesis, the results indicated that jaguars actually have a positive relationship with Mennonite communities and a negative relationship with all other communities. Anderson is currently looking further to find an explanation.

Anderson says that taking part in undergraduate research and traveling to Belize and Madagascar was an “invaluable” experience that helped him grow as a student, a scientist, and a person.

Cullen was a 2018-19 Undergraduate Research Fellow from the College of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences. He was mentored by Todd Steury.

07/30/2019

Deadlines Near for Undergraduate Opportunities
Note the deadlines for the following undergraduate opportunities:
Call for Papers, Conference on Applied Machine Learning for Information Security, Oct 24-25, 2019, Washington, DC; student participation encouraged; abstract deadline: July 29, 2019

Travel grants to research conferences, ACM Council on Women in Computing; for female undergrads in computer science and related fields; application deadline: Aug 15, 2019 (for fall conferences)

Call for Posters; "Histories and Cultures of Latinas: Suffrage, Activism, and Women's Rights"; Feb. 20-22, 2020, University of Houston; abstract deadline: Aug 31, 2019

Call for Posters, "AI for Society," Michigan AI Symposium, Oct 19, 2019, University of Michigan; submission deadline: Oct 5, 2019

Call for Posters, 134th Annual Meeting, American Historical Assn, Jan 3-6, 2020, New York; submission deadline: Oct 15, 2019

Undergraduate Lightning Round, 134th Annual Meeting, American Historical Assn, Jan 3-6, 2020, New York; submission deadline: Nov 15, 2019

Call for Papers, "Bold Women," Wilson College Humanities Conference, Feb. 29, 2020; undergrads may submit abstracts along with a nomination letter from a mentor; abstract deadline: Jan. 10, 2020

On July 26,2019, ten undergraduates from around the United States will be sharing their research at the Wilson Lab Resea...
07/23/2019

On July 26,2019, ten undergraduates from around the United States will be sharing their research at the Wilson Lab Research Symposium at Jule Collins Smith Museum in Auburn, Alabama. These students are participating in a 10-week National Science Foundation supported Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program in aquatic ecology at Auburn University. Details are below:

What: final poster presentations for NSF-funded REU program – http://wilsonlab.com/reu/
Where: Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art – 901 S. College St, Auburn, AL 36849
When: Friday, 26 July 2019, 2pm-4pm
Questions?: contact Alan Wilson at [email protected] or 334-246-1120

Recently in Research -LeeAnn Johnston Pollution in agricultural runoff and industrial processes can cause issues for ...
04/25/2019

Recently in Research
-LeeAnn Johnston
Pollution in agricultural runoff and industrial processes can cause issues for aquatic life. For example, an excess of copper in a fish’s environment can lead to bioaccumulation (accumulation of substances or other chemicals)in their tissues and an excess of phosphorus can cause harmful algal blooms that make oxygen levels drop and cause fish to suffocate. LeeAnn Johnston, a senior majoring in Biosystems Engineering, is actively studying the ability of plants and algae to resist or absorb excess concentrations of phosphorous and copper in polluted bodies of water.

Johnston conducted multiple tests and divided them into two groups: Chlorophyll production (to indicate the plant was still living) and copper/phosphorous absorption. She then exposed algae to different levels of copper and tested the algae for their chlorophyll production. Next, Johnston exposed half of the plants to increasing levels of copper and the other half to increasing levels of phosphorus. She then tested the chlorophyll levels of the plants to determine if they were surviving. After finishing her tests, Johnston found that plants produced more chlorophyll and grew better at higher concentrations of phosphorous but were not affected by the higher copper concentrations, suggesting the plants' resistance to copper. She also found that the algae samples all reacted negatively to increased levels of copper and experienced a decrease of chlorophyll.

Johnston says that the most rewarding thing about her undergraduate research experience is the “freedom to choose what [she] wants to focus on. In most of [her] classes, there are specified experiments run during labs… This is beneficial to the learning experience but the ability to design and run [her] own experiment allows room for… increased critical thinking that [she] had not experienced before.” LeeAnn is a 2018-2019 undergraduate research fellow from the College of Agriculture and is mentored by Alan Wilson.

Student Spotlight- Peyton KuhlersPeyton Kuhlers, a 2018-2019 Undergraduate Research Fellow in the College of Science and...
03/27/2019

Student Spotlight- Peyton Kuhlers
Peyton Kuhlers, a 2018-2019 Undergraduate Research Fellow in the College of Science and Mathematics, presented his research at the Boshell Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Research Day at the Hotel at Auburn University.

The goal of his research project was to develop an in vitro CRISPR-Cas9 model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH is a condition characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver accompanied by inflammation. People who suffer from obesity and diabetes are at high risk of developing NASH and currently, there are no medications to treat the condition. Kuhlers and his team plan to use their in vitro NASH model as a tool for screening genes that may contribute to the formation of NASH. This research may allow for the mutations of NASH-causing genes and allow researchers to identify potential therapeutic targets of the disease.

Recently in Research - Pate BrunnerTo gain a better understanding of the history of his instrument and to observe the...
03/27/2019

Recently in Research
- Pate Brunner
To gain a better understanding of the history of his instrument and to observe the specific influences of his playing, a jazz trombonist must ask himself two questions: "How did jazz trombone style and improvisation evolve from the early swing era into the bebop era?" and "What specific influences did the creators of bebop, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, have on the development of trombone improvisation into the bebop era, particularly that of J.J. Johnson, father of the bebop trombone?" Pate Brunner, a junior majoring in Music Performance and Economics, has set out to answer these questions. Brunner considered multiple tunes of various styles and categorized them into six groups. For each tune, Brunner transcribed a solo performance by each of the three players he studies: Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet), Charlie Parker (alto saxophone), and J.J. Johnson (trombone). He then used an expanded version of David Baker's method of improvisational analysis to examine characteristics such as melodic and harmonic pattern, chord alterations, and melody. Brunner found notable similarities in the solo styles of the three performers but was also able to notice improvisational and stylistic differences in each, due to the particular idioms of each performer's instruments.

Brunner says that from a historical standpoint, his research experience has helped him to gain a better understanding of the origins of bebop style for the trombone and allowed him to grow noticeably in his own trombone playing. His analysis of melodic patterns and improvisational development has advanced his playing skills and his career development in performing arts. To undergraduates interested in doing research, Brunner says, "It is definitely worth it. Not only does undergraduate research offer you the more visible results of expanded professional opportunities, travel opportunities, etc. , but it also creates an enriching learning experience which will prepare you for future endeavors in your field."

Brunner is a 2018-19 Undergraduate Research Fellow for the College of Liberal Arts and is currently being mentored by Dr. Michael Pendowski.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!The Undergraduate Research Ambassadors are hosting two workshops to help you prepare for your oral a...
02/14/2019

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

The Undergraduate Research Ambassadors are hosting two workshops to help you prepare for your oral and poster presentations at the Auburn Research: 2019 Student Symposium.

Poster Presentation Workshop: Feb. 28 at 5-7 p.m. in Library 3041

Oral Presentation Workshop: March 4 at 6-8 p.m. in Library 3041

Address

Cater Hall (Rm. 206)
Auburn, AL
36849

Opening Hours

Monday 7:45am - 11:45am
12pm - 1pm
Tuesday 7:45am - 11:45am
12:45pm - 4:45pm
Wednesday 7:45am - 11:45am
12:45pm - 4:45pm
Thursday 7:45am - 11:45am
12:45pm - 4:45pm
Friday 7:45am - 11:45am
12:45pm - 4:45pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Office of Undergraduate Research at Auburn University posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The University

Send a message to Office of Undergraduate Research at Auburn University:

Shortcuts

Share

Category