Image Current Undergraduate Research Opportunities Office of Biomedical Education Undergraduate Current Opportunites for Undergraduates Find exciting research opportunities in the College of Medicine here! This webpage displays faculty mentors across the College of Medicine who are open to accepting undergraduates in their lab. Under each faculty member you can find a description of their research and if they are able to offer paid, volunteer, or course credit opportunities. Faculty are sorted by their departments below. For Students Undergraduate students can reach out to Zachary Williamson, PhD (zachary.williamson@uky.edu) in the Office of Biomedical Education with any questions or for help finding a research mentor. For Faculty Faculty interested in being on this webpage can follow the below link to a Qualtrics survey to provide the necessary information. Add your lab here. Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Sarah D'Orazio, PhD Sarah D'Orazio, PhD Faculty Member: Sarah D'Orazio contact: sarah.dorazio@uky.edu Lab website Project/Lab Description: The D'Orazio lab is studying neurotropic strains of the facultative intracellular bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes that have the ability to spread directly to the brainstem following foodborne transmission. Current undergraduate projects in the lab involve creating recombinant bacterial strains that lack a candidate virulence gene and then characterizing those bacteria using both in vitro (cell culture) and in vivo (mouse model of infection) assays. Previous experience: Previous experience is not required. However, all students will be expected to complete a self-directed D'Orazio Laboratory training program before having the opportunity to engage in an independent project. Student compensation: Undergraduate volunteers are welcomed; there are opportunities to earn both BIO 199 and BIO 397 course credit; and paid summer positions are sometimes available for selected students. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Emilia Galperin, PhD Emilia Galperin, PhD Faculty Member: Emilia Galperin Contact: ega224@uky.edu Lab website Project/Lab Description: Galperin's lab study the molecular mechanisms regulating signal transduction, with particular focus on the assembly of the signaling complexes and their relevance to a developmental disorder Noonan syndrome. We use multidisciplinary approach that combines biochemical and cell biology methodologies together with in vivo zebrafish model. Previous experience: none required Student compensation: Course credit Young-Sam Lee, PhD Young-Sam Lee, PhD Faculty Member: Young-Sam Lee Contact: young-sam.lee@uky.edu Lab website Project/Lab Description: My laboratory is interested in how abnormal metabolism contributes to human diseases like cancer and diabetes. Abnormal metabolism is commonly seen when cells are in different states (for example, normal versus cancer cells). For a long time, abnormal metabolism was regarded as a by-product of being in disease. Now, abnormal metabolism is recognized to be a trait a cell/animal should acquire to get into different states. However, we still do not know how abnormal metabolism contributes to different states. An objective of the lab is to understand how abnormal metabolism contributes to cancer and diabetes by identifying metabolites acting as signals in this diseases. Previous experience: Prior research experience is not required. Student compensation: For the first semester, students should take it as a course credit (BIO 395 or equivalent, for example). After the first semester, student can be on a paid position once agreed by the PI. David Rodgers, PhD David Rodgers, PhD Faculty Member: David Rodgers Contact: david.rodgers@uky.edu Project/Lab Description: Functional aspects and sub-cellular localization insulin-degrading enzyme, a therapeutic target for diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. Also, the basis for neuromuscular disorders caused by mutations in the enzyme that produces the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Previous experience: none required Student compensation: course credit Hunter Moseley, PhD Hunter Moseley, PhD Faculty Member: Hunter Mosley Contact: hunter.moseley@uky.edu Lab website Project/Lab Description: Broad Theme: Develop computational methods/models/tools for analyzing, integrating, and interpreting many types of biological and biophysical data that enable new understanding of biological systems and related disease processes. Our approach involves: * Leveraging relevant information from large public scientific repositories and knowledgebases. * Developing appropriate methods to analyze specific types of biological data. * Creating new models that facilitate the integration of diverse types of biological data. * Implementing system-wide analyses that integrate omics-level datasets. Most of the applications of these new methods, tools, and models are in the areas of omics, systems biochemistry, and structural bioinformatics. Previous experience: none required Student compensation: In our lab, undergraduate lab assistants go through a probationary training period that is roughly one semester. Those that finish the probationary period are paid for their research time after the probationary period. Neuroscience Amy Chen, PhD Amy Chen, PhD Faculty Member: Amy Chen Contact: meifan.chen@uky.edu Lab website Project/Lab Description: Our lab uses mouse spinal cord injury models to study how astrocytes regulate the injury response and repair of the damaged central nervous system. Undergraduate researchers apply histological and behavioral methods to examine effects of genetically modified astrocytes on central nervous system repair. Previous experience: Satisfactory passing of undergraduate courses in the sciences. Paid position available depending on experience. Student compensation: course credit (paid position available depending on experience) Pradoldej Sompol, PhD Pradoldej Sompol, PhD Faculty Member: Pradoldej Somplo Contact: psomp3@uky.edu Project/Lab Description: We study roles of astrocyte in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. We use human brain samples and animal models to study the underlying mechanism of the degenerative processes. We combine approaches including molecular, biochemistry, cellular and physiology to measure the changes in the brains. Previous experience: Students should have previous basic lab experiences and know how to handle lab works precisely and accurately. Further training in the lab will be provided. Student compensation: volunteer Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Ren Xu, PhD Ren Xu, PhD Faculty Member: Ren Xu Contact: ren.xu2010@uky.edu Lab website Project/Lab Description: Cancer biology and therapy Previous experience: none require Student compensation: course credit Shuxia Wang, PhD Shuxia Wang, PhD Faculty Member: Shuxia Wang Contact: swang7@uky.edu Project/Lab Description: My lab focuses on studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms of obesity and obesity-associated metabolic diseases including insulin resistance and fatty liver disease. We utilize state-of-the art techniques (e.g. single cell RNA-seq, tissue specific knock out mouse model, flow cytometry analysis et al) to fulfill our goals. Previous experience: none required Student compensation: course credit Zhenheng Guo, PhD Zhenheng Guo, PhD Faculty Member: Zhenheng Guo Contact: zguo2@uky.edu Project/Lab Description: With a long-term goal of identifying novel therapeutic targets for treatment of cardiovascular diseases, my research interest is to use genetically-modified mice and combine with molecular, cellular, and biochemical approaches to study transcriptional regulation and signal transduction in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells, organ culture, and animal models, and the implications in the physiopathology of hypertension, diabetes vascular complications, restenosis, and abdominal aortic aneurysm. Previous experience: none required Student compensation: course credit Physiology Steve Estus, PhD Steve Estus, PhD Faculty Member: Steve Estus Contact: steve.estus@uky.edu Lab website Project/Lab Description: Our general interest is elucidating the molecular biology underlying Alzheimer's disease genetic risk factors. Typically, students select on the the known genetic risk factors and then work to characterize expression and splicing of the relevant gene as a function of neuropathology and genetic polymorphisms. The cDNA and genomic DNA for this type of work are already in-hand. Previous experience: none required Student compensation: course credit Sasha Rabchevsky, PhD Sasha Rabchevsky, PhD Faculty Member: Sasha Rabchevsky Contact: agrab@uky.edu Lab website Project/Lab Description: During a rotation in Dr. Rabchevsky's lab, the scientific method will be taught to assist in ongoing laboratory procedures and data analyses. Notably, skills will be learned to aid in pre- and post-surgical care of spinal cord injured rodents, be taught data analyses that are being conducted, learn the principles and applications of histology and microscopy, how to make reagents and help with laboratory maintenance, and be taught the principles of cardiophysiology monitoring and data analyses. As is difficult to carry out independent experiments during introductory a rotation, skills will be developed to explore a possible paid summer fellowship, based on hypotheses developed. Previous experience: not necessarily, but handling of lab rodents will be required, as well as attendance at weekly lab meetings Student compensation: course credit Catalina Velez, PhD Catalina Velez, PhD Faculty Member: Catalina Velez Contact: catavelezo@uky.edu Lab website Project/Lab Description: The Velez laboratory studies molecular pathways of protection against noise-induced hearing loss. We study several mutant mice and use molecular biology, several imaging techniques (live fluorescence imaging, confocal imaging, electron microscopy) and auditory electrophysiology. Previous experience: none required Student compensation: course credit Toxicology and Cancer Biology Luksana Chaiswing, PhD Luksana Chaiswing, PhD Faculty Member: Luksana Chaiswing Contact: L.chaiswing@uky.edu Project/Lab Description: ROS and cancer resistance Previous experience: none required Student compensation: course credit Other Departments Yang Jiang, PhD Yang Jiang, PhD Faculty Member: Yang Jiang Contact: yjiang@uky.edu Department: Behavioral Science Lab website Project/Lab Description: In the past my lab, Aging Brain and Cognition (ABC lab) has hosted undergraduate students majored in psychology, neuroscience, engineering, and history who are mostly pre-med students. Several did honor thesis. Several of them went on to get paid RA job in their gap year in ABC lab, Behavioral Science Dept. COM. Previous experience: We encourage starting research in the second year so that they have basic skills of literature search and perhaps statistical experience. Student compensation: course credit TK Logan, PhD TK Logan, PhD Faculty Member: TK Logan Contact: tklogan@uky.edu Department: Behavioral Science Lab websites: http://www.coercivecontrol.org/ and https://cdar.uky.edu/bhos/ Project/Lab Description: We conduct a number of studies each year focused on things like missing women and girls, firearms, partner abuse, stalking (or other forensic psychology projects) and substance abuse treatment outcomes. Sometimes we have paid positions and other times we work with students for class credit or on a volunteer basis. Previous experience: Required skills, for paid positions, include excellent organization, an eye for detail, phone skills, the ability to talk to a variety of people, and the ability to deal with difficult people. Someone who can work in a team but also individually will do best in this job. We prefer people with work and customer service experiences but it's not necessary. For volunteer/class credit positions we do not have any requirements. Student compensation: Volunteer, course credit, and paid positions available Cody Bumgardner, PhD Cody Bumgardner, PhD Faculty Member: Cody Bumgardner Contact: cody@uky.edu Department: Pathology Lab website Project/Lab Description: I direct pathology informatics in the pathology department, the Institute of Biomedical Informatics Innovation Core, and co-Direct the AI in Medicine Alliance. We have a wide range of projects from laboratory analytics, medical image analysis, genomics, to many other AI projects where undergraduates can participate. Previous experience: Most of our students have a good computational background, they can program on an undergraduate level and have a introductory understanding of computer science. Student compensation: Volunteer, course credit, and paid positions available depending on experience Jeremy Wood, PhD Jeremy Wood, PhD Faculty Member: Jeremy Wood Contact: jeremy.wood@uky.edu Department: Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine Lab website Project/Lab Description: Our lab studies blot clot formation, and ways that this process can contribute to diseases. We have a variety of projects, ranging from biochemistry studies of blood clotting proteins to studies of bleeding or clotting in patient populations, such as patients with hemophilia or SARS-CoV-2. We also have a drug development project to identify ways to reverse the therapeutic anticoagulant heparin. Previous experience: No previous research is required. Laboratory course experience is beneficial, but not required. Student compensation: Volunteer and course credit positions are available. Our cardiovascular center also offers a summer undergraduate research program, which students in the lab can apply to for a summer stipend.
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