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Undergraduate RESEARCH

Students are encouraged to get involved in research early on in their program. Research is integrated into the undergraduate program.

Freshmen and Sophomores

BIO 198: Scholars Biology Research. This course is offered only in Fall semesters. BIO 198 is one of the Scholars courses for biology majors in the Department of Biology Scholars Program. This course is designed to provide a solid introduction to 21st century bioscience research. To enroll in the course, students must have declared biology major, a min High School GPA of 3.5, and a minimum ACT score of 30 or Reading/Math SAT score of 1320 or Reading/Math SAT-2016 score of 1370 or Reading/Math/Writing SAT score of 1980.

BIO 199: Research Experience in Biology

Juniors and Seniors

BIO 395: Independent Research in Biology

BIO 397: Independent Research in Microbiology

BIO 398: Research and Writing in Biology

 


Undergraduate Student Publications

*Undergraduate students' names in blue font, research mentors' names in orange font.

Duncan EM, Nowotarski SH, Guerrero-Hernández C, Ross EJ, D'Orazio JA, Clubes de Ciencia México Workshop for Developmental Biology, McKinney S, McHargue MC, Guo L, McClain M, Alvarado AS (2022) Molecular characterization of a flatworm Girardia isolate from Guanajuato, Mexico. Developmental Biology, 489:165-177. (BIO 395, BIO 398, summer research)

Lay CM, Sindall M, McLetchie SK, McLetchie DN (2022) Sexual and asexual offspring germination in a tropical liverwort is mediated by phytochromes. The Bryologist, 125 (2): 328-336. (BIO 199 and BIO 395)

Tanner H, Atkins DE, Bosh KL, Breakfield GW, Daniels SE, Devore MJ, Fite HE, Guo L, Henry D, Kaffenberger A, Manning KS, Mowery T, Pankau CL, Serrano ME, Shakhashiro Y, Ward RA, Wehry AH, and Cooper RL (2022) The effect of TEA, 4-AP and in combination on primary sensory neurons in a marine crustacean model. Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 17: 14-27. (BIO 446)

McCubbin S, Harrison D and Cooper RL (2022) Glia excitation in the CNS modulates intact behaviors and sensory-CNS-motor circuitry. Neuroglia, 3: 23-40. https://doiorg/103390/neuroglia3010002. (BIO 395)

Pankau C and Cooper RL (2022) Molecular physiology of manganese in insects. Current Opinion in Insect Science, 51(2022): 10088. ISSN 2214-5745. doiorg/101016/jcois2022100886 (BIO 395)

Cooper RL, Thomas M, Vascassenno RM, Brock KE, McLetchie DN (2022) Measuring electrical responses during acute exposure of compounds to roots and rhizoids of plants by using a flow-through system. Methods and Protocols, 5(4): 62. https://wwwmdpicom/2409-9279/5/4/62/htm. (BIO 395)

Ison BJ, Abul-Khoudoud MP, Ahmed S, Alhamdani AW, Ashley C, Bidros PC, Bledsoe CO, Bolton KE, Capili JG, Henning JN, Moon M, Phe P, Stonecipher SB, Tanner HN, Taylor IN, Turner LT, Wagers M, West AK and Cooper RL (2022) The effect of Doxapram, a K2p channel blocker, on proprioceptive neurons: Invertebrate model. NeuroSci, 3(4): 566-588.  https://wwwmdpicom/2673-4087/3/4/41/htm. (BIO 446/650).

Everson KM, McGinnis RC, Burdine OP, Huddleston TR, Hylick TM, Keith AL, Moore SC, O’Brien AE, Vilardo AL, and Krupa JJ (2002) Disentangling morphology and genetics in two voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus and M. ochrogaster) in a region of sympatry. Journal of Mammalogy (In press). (BIO 199 and BIO 395)

ER Tierney, MN Graebe, AE O’Brien, CW Bullock, and Krupa JJ (2022) Diversity and activity patterns of mammals in Hazeldell Nature Preserve, Pulaski County, Kentucky. Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Sciences (In press). (BIO 395 and BIO 398)

Krupa JJ and O’Brien AE (2022) Habitat preference of prairie deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii) and white-footed deermice (P. leucopus noveboracensis) in an agroecosystem within the Inner Bluegrass Region of Kentucky. Northeastern Naturalist, 29:229-238. (BIO 398)

West K, Xu EM, Nelson MD, Hart TR, Stricker EM, Cones AG, Martin GM, Strickland K, Lambert DL, Burman L, Zhu BH and Schneider ER (2022) Quantitative Evaluation of Tactile Foraging Behavior in Pekin and Muscovy Ducks. Frontiers in Physiology, 13:1-7. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.921657. (BIO 395 and BIO 394)

Pankau, C., Nadolski, J., Tanner, H., Cryer, C., Di Girolamo, J., Haddad, C., Lanning, M., Miller, M., Neely, D., Wilson, R. Whittinghill, B. and Cooper, R.L. (2022) Effects of manganese on physiological processes in Drosophila, crab and crayfish: Cardiac, neural and behavioral assays.  Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C. vol. 251, 2022, 109209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpc.2021.109209.

Vacassenno RM, Haddad CN and Cooper RL (2023) The effects on resting membrane potential and synaptic transmission by Doxapram (blocker of K2p channels) at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C. Toxicology & Pharmacology, 263 (2023): 109497 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1532045622002320 (BIO 395)

Vacassenno RM, Haddad CN and Cooper RL (2023) Bacterial lipopolysaccharide hyperpolarizes the membrane potential and is antagonized by the K2p channel blocker doxapram. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C, . 266: 2023, 109571, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpc.2023.109571

Wagers M, Starks A, Abul-Khoudoud MO, Ahmed SM, Alhamdani AW, Ashley C, Bidros PC, Bledsoe CO, Bolton KE, Capili JG, Henning JN, Ison BJ, Moon M, Phe P,p; Stonecipher SB, Taylor IN, Turner LT, West AK and Cooper RL (2023) An invertebrate model to examine the effect of acute ferric iron exposure on proprioceptive neurons. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C, 266: 109558. https://doiorg/101016/jcbpc2023109558. (BIO 446/650)

Brock KE, Elliott ER, Abul-Khoudoud MO and Cooper RL (2023) The effects of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial endotoxins on cardiac function in Drosophila melanogaster larvae. Journal of Insect Physiology. 147 (2023):104518
 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinsphys.2023.104518 (BIO 395)