Office of Undergraduate Research

Erik Ames

Natural Killer (NK) cells are members of the innate immune system and play a critical role in the antiviral and antitumoral response. My previous research has demonstrated how to extend the
life of an NK cell using the cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Future studies will examine the effects of TNF-α treated NK cells on the ability of the NK cell to effectively kill tumor cells and as a possible cancer therapeutic.

Daphne Bateman

The destruction of our forests by bark beetles is an increasing economic and ecological concern, especially in the Lake Tahoe Basin. We have identified a gene from the bark beetle, Ips pini, thought to play an essential role in regulating sex pheromone production through juvenile hormone (JH) signaling. The goal of this research is to identify the region within the gene's promoter responsible for its sensitivity to JH.

Devon Bateman

Our research focuses on the chemical synthesis of functionalized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs are a group of hydrocarbons that contain two or more fused 6- carbon rings (benzene) to produce unique molecular structures. This particular project is focused on the synthesis of an amino-substituted helicene, which will be a spring-like PAH formed through the coupling of nitro-benzene monomer units. Functionalized helicenes, once synthesized, may serve as potential molecular actuators, expanding and contracting as a function of pH. They may also act as artificial muscles, changing length upon phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of tyrosine substituents. Finally, aminosubstituted helicenes could function as chemical detectors, sensing nitrated arene compounds such as TNT.

Jennifer Berger

Daniel Bricker

My research will focus on creating an expression profile of Rab proteins in the Drosophila melanogaster salivary gland, before and after exposure of that tissue to a
steroid hormone. This information will tell us which of these Rab proteins are preferentially expressed upon steroid stimulation and are thus gene targets for the
hormone. I will also try to identify biochemical and genetic reagents that can be used to mark specific sub-cellular components.

Kyle Christopher Costa

In geothermal systems above 73ºC, photosynthesis does not occur, so energy to sustain life must come from chemical energy. Yet, the most important chemical reactions that provide energy are unknown. Thermodynamic modeling will be used to determine which chemical reactions are capable of supporting life. Based on these results, specific media will be developed to culture the microbes in the system and to test their optimum growth conditions.

David Cotter

Heat shock proteins are expressed in response to environmental stressors, contributing to an organism’s survival until the return of normal conditions. The genes for these proteins are highly conserved in almost all organisms studied to date, suggesting that they play a vital role in survival. I will assay the effects of thermal shock and hypo-/ hyper-osmotic saline shocks on the expression of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) in Brachionus plicatilis

Lyla Fadali

I propose to study the theory and application of Lie groups. I will study the topic of Lie groups in depth, but I will also be able to make connections between other areas of math I have previously studied. The subject of Lie groups is normally only studied after some time in graduate school, but at the end of my project, I will write a paper making the topic more accessible to advanced undergraduate students or first-year graduate students.

Corwin Fleming

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for depression has proven to be effective in psychological practice. However, there is a significant lack of research for creating computerized CBT self-help software. Such software would present numerous advantages over traditional self-help CBT, currently performed exclusively via oral and written communication. After identifying human-computer interaction challenges in developing self-help therapy software, design guidelines and methodological
solutions will be proposed and a prototype CBT software will be implemented and evaluated.

Lora Griffin

This project will advance on research I conducted during the NSF EPSCoR Summer Research Program which addressed the question “What new minerals are formed when gold-bearing ore fluids react with and alter carbonate host rocks and precipitate gold?” Equipped with new skills learned during the summer program I will analyze additional suites of gold ore samples using similar methods, with a focus on identifying pre-ore and post-ore quartz, correlating findings with previous analyses.

Chris Jamison

My area of research is to study new ways to construct a class of molecules known as polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s). Specifically, I am working with a new
zirconium compound that is useful in synthesizing PAH’s. My research involves the thorough study of this zirconium compound’s reactivity as well as its use in constructing several new PAH’s.

Patrick Joyce

This project will look at grindelia squarrosa, also known as “curly-cup gumweed”, as a candidate for bio-diesel production. This plant, native to Nevada, shows great potential for efficient production of oils to be extracted and processed for use as an alternative fuel. Gumweed’s adaptability, rapid growth rate, drought tolerance, and minimal number of pests make it an ideal agricultural crop for the arid intermountain west.

Philippe Leblanc

Under natural conditions, matter typically expands or contracts when it is subject to a change in temperature. The feeling of heat or cold associated with touch is but a bulk feeling of the material. What is in fact happening when matter is heated or cooled is a change in molecular motion. At all times, molecules vibrate (in solids) and translate (in liquids or gases). When a piece of bulk material is heated, this means energy is being introduced which in turns means molecules will begin to vibrate faster and with lager amplitude. This accounts for the perceptible increase in volume when something is heated. And thus a fundamental question still remains: what would happen should matter be heated on a timescale where expansion does not have time to occur? One experiment pertaining to such a phenomenon is commonly referred to as the isochoric (meaning at constant volume) heating of matter and is currently facing difficulties relating to limited diagnostics capabilities.

Emily Leeming

This program evaluation aims to improve the teaching methodology of an undergraduate statistics course. This course is requirement by numerous departments
including psychology, nursing, nutrition, criminal justice and others. It is a core methodological course for these majors and introduces students to the quantitative
analysis and interpretation of behavioral data. We seek to continuously improve the teaching of this class and our next evaluation examines the effects of a test retake option with peer coaching sessions for assisting the subset of students who struggle with the material.

Karen Levy

Ethinylestradiol (EE2) and 17β-estradiol (E2) are synthetic estrogen-like organic compounds that fall into an emerging category of environmental contaminants known as Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs). Because of observed and inferred effects on both humans and wildlife, the presence of these chemicals in community water sources is an area of growing concern. The proposed study may represent the first time that the diversity of natural estrogen-degrading microorganisms will have been systematically investigated in the Southwestern United States. A combination of cultivation-based and molecular approaches will
be employed to obtain a research collection of estrogen-degrading microorganisms and begin to explore the physiological and phylogenetic range of bacteria that impact these contaminants.

Mebrat Mebrahtu

The growth of axons to their target is believed to be guided by the diffusible chemotropic factors produced by target cells. There are two types of axonal growth, longitudinal and commissural. Previous studies revealed netrin-1 and netrin-2 have out growth-promoting activity for commissural axons. Our preliminary study, mis-expression of netrin with GFP marker in the hind brain of developing chick embryo in ovo using electroporation method and axonal antibody labeling, supported that netrin regulates longitudinal axon guidance in the brain. The objective of this study is to have an in-depth understanding of how netrin is regulating longitudinal axonal growth.

Candace Myers

Calcium plays a critical role in mediating many aspects of plant growth and development, including a plant’s ability to respond to environmental stresses, such as heat, cold and drought. The research that I began as a Sophomore has provided genetic evidence that two CDPKs, CPK17 and 34, are essential for the life cycle of a model plant, Arabidopsis. A double mutation of CPK17 and 34 results in pollen tubes with a defect in tip growth, which leads to their inability to fertilize ovules. The ability to complement this mutant with an engineered transgene provides a unique and powerful strategy to begin dissecting the regulatory features of a CDPK. My research here is focused on the role of the calmodulinlike regulatory domain, which has 4 calcium binding EF-hands. The research is designed to provide a novel and fundamental insight into how CDPKs regulate essential signal transduction pathways in plants and select protist, such as Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria.

Daniel Oliver

This research focuses on the involvement of centrosomal protein 190 (CP190) in chromosome insulation. The specific aspect of research that I am focusing on is the identification of the roles that the zinc finger domains (ZnF) and the BTB/POZ domain play in forming insulator complexes in Drosophila chromosomes. We have
proposed that the ZnF domain is responsible for DNA binding, whereas the BTB domain is required for suppressor hairy wing [Su(Hw)]-dependent chromosomal localization. If, through experimentation, this proves true, it will open many doors to exploring the roles and mechanisms of insulator proteins. This would provide a
better understanding of chromosomes, and how and why they are structured as they are.

Brett Pearson

Lutetium Oxyorthosilicate doped with cerium (LSO:Ce) is a good scintillator material because it glows under gamma radiation. Previous production of this material has been done using a Czochrolski process or a solid state reaction process. Designing a procedure using a combustion synthesis process that can be scaled up for commercial production may provide a quicker and less expensive alternative for manufacturing LSO:Ce.

Juan Plata

Navarro-Gonzalez et al. (2003) recently reported that soil in the Atacama Desert is Mars-like and contains no DNA. Their DNA extraction effort may have failed because of destruction due to superoxides or loss by adhesion to minerals. To assist in ongoing efforts to determine the biodiversity of Atacama soils, DNA extraction protocols will be modified by the incorporation of redox protection and an excess of competitively charged phosphate ions.

Zachary Quine

X-ray diffraction and Raman spectrographic techniques will be used to investigate the role of shear strain in the phase transition of Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN). Lead oxide (PbO) will be used as a gauge to measure shear strain, thereby confirming that this transition is shear induced (i.e. that it does not depend on the pressure applied to the sample, only the shear strain) and giving us a method to quantify the shear strain needed to activate this transition. This novel measurement technique should yield valuable new information about the mechanisms of this phase transition and the initiation of PETN.

Edward Romano

The hydrostatic-breakdown of several materials will be studied and compared using XRay diffraction studies under high-pressure in a diamond anvil cell. The use of a highly shear-sensitive material such as PbO or intermetallic alloys of Sn & Pb will enable us to ascertain where these breakdowns occur with pressure as a variable. Additionally, the role of shear induced by the hydrostatic-breakdown of certain media may be investigated.

Zanaida Santiago

The heart has a limited capacity to heal itself. Fortunately, human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) hold great potential for generating replacement cells for a damaged heart. The focus of this research project is to determine the engraftment and differentiation of hESC-derived cells into functional heart cells in the sheep model. Knowledge obtained in this study will contribute towards understanding the potential for using hESCs as therapy for heart patients.

Rycel Uy

This proposal presents the design and synthesis of four new electron-deficient conjugated polymers with phenazine pendants, which are expected have the electronic properties of semiconductors and the mechanical flexibility typical of most polymers. This unique combination will make them useful for applications such as solar cells, light-emitting diodes, field-effect transistors, etc.

Trisha Wesner

This research will be focusing on the optimization of algae growth conditions to produce high amounts of lipids which will eventually be extracted and converted to biodiesel. Boekelovia hooglandii will be studied at varied growth conditions such as photoperiod, light intensity and salinity. The relationship between lipid content in the algae and the growth conditions will be determined. Finding the optimum growth conditions is important so that the production cost will be kept at a minimum.
Producing an inexpensive and sustainable feedstock is important for the viable development of biodiesel industry.

Gene Wong

The following proposal will describe the modification of 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane to yield new chiral phosphines that are water soluble. The advantage of this is to change the catalytic properties of metal complexes by way of simple changes (changing organic substituents) but retaining the desired water solubility properties. This research in this area allows for improvement in catalytic selectivity.

Jiani Xie

Bacillus anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax. One of the major determinants of the virulence of Bacillus anthracis is a poly-γ-D-glutamic acid capsule (PGA). In preliminary studies, a library of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed against the PGA capsule was generated. Since the potential exists to use PGA mAbs for diagnostic and/or therapeutic applications, the immunochemical activities of mAbs reactive with the PGA capsule will be studied.

University of Nevada, Reno
Maintained by: Karin Saxon