2011 STUDENT RESEARCH CONFERENCE Department of Biology

Department of Biology
2011 STUDENT RESEARCH CONFERENCE
As part of the University of Vermont's weeklong celebration of student
achievement, the UVM Student Research Conference (SRC) showcases the
research and scholarly activity of undergraduate, graduate and medical students
across campus.
The SRC acknowledges and thanks students' mentors, and celebrates the UVM
colleges, schools and programs that encourage, sponsor and support student
research. The audience includes UVM students, faculty, staff and the wider
community.
All students working on a research or creative project with a UVM faculty member
present some aspect of their research at this forum. Research and creative projects
at any stage of completion are welcome. The event also serves as a resource for
students who are not yet involved with research but wish to learn about how to
engage in research pursuits.
For more information click on the Student Research Conference LINK
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
Nabanita Mukherjee and Suraj Cherian
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Suraj Cherian - “Modulation of excitability and olfactory responses in mouse
vomeronasal sensory neurons by estrogen” (Advisor: Rona Delay)
Bior Bior – “Disabled-1 Functions as a Dynamic Switch Regulating Reelin
Receptor Endocytic Machinery” (Advisor: Bryan Ballif)
Michael Herrmann – “Sexual conflict in hybrid harvester ant reproductives”
(Advisor: Sara Helms-Cahan)
Jonathan Vick – “ATP Excites Mouse Vomeronasal Sensory Neurons” (Advisor:
Rona Delay)
Jonathan Vick, Bior Bior and Michael Herrmann
UNDERGRADUATES
Judith Contompasis - “Comparative Analysis of Flightin Expression in
Crustacea” (Advisor: Jim Vigoreaux)
Veronica Foelber - “An amino terminal deletion of Drosophila flightin affects
flight and courtship behavior” (Advisor: Jim Vigoreaux)
Darlene Peterson - “L-serine and IMP Synergy in T1R3 Knock Out Mice: Does it
Exist?” (Advisor: Eugene Delay)
Justin Van Backer – “Taste induction in mice” (Advisor: Eugene Delay)
Dr. Joseph Schall and Mathew Wajda
Mathew Wajda – “Analysis of courtship behavior in flight muscle mutants of
Drosophila melanogaster” (Advisor: Jim Vigoreaux)
Dr. Alison Brody, Jonathan Gonzalez and Renee Petipas
Jonathan Gonzalez – “Grazing history impacts mycorrhizal communities and
plant tolerance to simulated herbivore damage” (Advisor: Alison Brody)
Corrie Wilcox – “Hybridization and Food Effects in Pogonomyrmex Harvester
Ants” (Advisor: Sara Helms Cahan)
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Pedro Alvarez-Ortiz – “Functional Evolution of Flightin from an Aquatic
Ancestor” (Advisor: Jim Vigoreaux)
Heather Axen – “Identifying the source of a globally introduced fire ant,
Solenopsis geminata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) using microsatellites and
mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1” (Advisor: Sara Cahan)
Samya Chakravorty – “Functional Role of Flight Muscle in Male Courtship Song
of Drosophila melanogaster” (Advisor: Jim Vigoreaux)
Nilanjan Lodh – “Comparison of 18s and ITS-1 rDNA of Myxobolus cerebralis,
the causative parasite of the Whirling Disease” (Advisor: Lori Stevens)
Nabanita Mukherjee – “Effects of Chemotherapy on Taste” (Advisor: Eugene
Delay)
Allison Neal – “Male gametocyte fecundity and sex ratio of a malaria parasite”
(Advisor: Joseph Schall)
UNDERGRADUATES
Angela Dunkling – “The role of mycorrhizal fungi in increasing grass tolerance to
drought under different nutrient regimes and the effect of commercial mycorrhizae
on enhancing drought tolerance” (Advisor: Alison Brody)
Zachary Gray – “Phylogenetic reconstruction of the North American fire ants in
the Solenopsis xyloni species complex” (Advisor: Sara Cahan)
Erin Hayes-Pontius – “Effect of land use on benthic macroinvertebrate
community metrics in Vermont streams” (Advisor: Judith Van Houten)
Nathan Hicks – “Dynamics of clonal diversity within natural infections of a
malaria parasite, Plasmodium mexicanum” (Advisor: Joseph Schall)
Brian Mulcahey – “Caste Determination in Desert Harvester Ants Altered by
Overwintering Processes” (Advisor: Sara Helms-Cahan)