Undergraduate Research

With students – microbial genetics and molecular biology.

Areas of Study: Soil chemistry; heavy metals in soils; practical applications of environmental chemistry to societal issues

Research Interests with Students: heavy metals in local turtles; heavy metal uptake by greenhouse grown plants; nutrient loading from local poultry farms in the Conasauga River watershed; extraction and analysis of essential oils from plants; contaminants in the local troposphere; and end use of phytoextraction products for building materials

With students – aging and telomere shortening, childhood obesity, snake venom as an antimicrobial, and health impact of pollutants; Interested in helping students with research of their choice.

A Tale of Mentoring: A Journey Towards Development, Learning and Collaboration

The focus of this research study is to discuss the initial process of developing mentorship practices during the training of nontraditional secondary STEM teachers.  The study will explore the following questions: 1) What process creates an effective mentoring program?  2) How will the mentoring program look in year one?  3) How are mentors selected?  4) What supports are provided for mentors/scholars?  5)  How are mentors/scholars matched?  6)  What are the characteristics of a good mentor?  Findings from the study will impact future practices and decisions in the development of the mentoring program.  In addition, as the mentoring program advances, the researcher will seek to investigate the effectiveness of mentoring relationships on instructional methods, practices, and pedagogy of NOYCE scholars, and bring insight into structures and support of mentoring relationships.

Areas of Study: Romance Languages, Hispanic Literature, French and Francophone Literature, Caribbean Literature

Research Interests with Students: U.S. Latina/o/x/e Literature and Culture, Caribbean Literature, Diaspora, Formal Linguistics

Areas of Study: Molecular modeling; Medicinal chemistry; Computational chemistry; Computational biology; Biophysics

Research Interests with Students: Protein molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, computational docking simulation, computational drug design, the brain cannabinoid (CB1) marijuana receptor structure activity relationships (SAR), allosteric modulations of the CB1 receptor.

My current research focus is upon understanding the modulation of the brain cannabinoid (CB1) receptor functions by ligand binding, which may alter its pharmacological profile.

Areas of Study: Organic Synthesis and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy

Research Interests with Students: synthesis of biologically active compounds, organometallic catalysts in synthesis, extraction of natural products from plants, NMR studies of chemical equilibria

Areas of Study: Topology

Research Interests with Students: Topology

Areas of Study: Physiology; Molecular Biology; Translational Research

Research Interests with Students: My research lab is focused on using bronchial epithelial cell lines to evaluate the interrelationship of ciliary motion and mucus clearance in respiratory diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF), non-CF bronchiectasis (NCFB), and primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). One of my main objectives is to provide a space where students can grow in their laboratory experience to better prepare them for a career in science and research

Areas of Study: Caddisfly (Trichoptera) Systematics; Aquatic Entomology; Natural History, Invasion Biology

Research Interests with Students: Any of my areas of expertise are open to student researcher collaboration. I generally have several projects in the pipeline, and am always open to ideas!