Biology Summer Research 2008

Many of our students are working hard this summer in our research laboratories, funded through HHMI, NIH, NSF, and a TU - Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Grant. In addition to conducting research, students make weekly research presentations during the summer and take part in an end of the summer research conference.

Details of the students' research projects are listed below.

Conner Hickey - Tight Junction Protein Cleavage by Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Results In Tight Junction Barrier Dysfunction (Dr. King).
Bryce Bushe and Hanna Kodeih - Relationship of Fluidity and Function in the Endoplasmic Reticulum of Barley Aleurone Cells (Dr. Brodl).
Kevin Eaton - Characterization of γ-butyrolactone (GBL) Receptors in Streptomyces acidiscabies and Elevation of Angucyclinone Polyketide WS5995B Production in GBL Receptor Mutant sabS (Dr. Healy).
Ryan Luby - Effect of elevated temperature tarp treatment on germination of native grasses and Bothriochloa ischaemum (KR Blustem) (Dr. Lyons).
Kendalyn Morris - The Effect of Native and Non-native Grassland Habitat on Ant Species Composition (Dr. Lyons).
Nancy Nguyen - Competition Among Native Species and Bothriochloa ischaemum (KR Bluestem) in Texas Grasslands (Dr. Lyons).
Thomas Robinson - Fire Induced Soil Surface Temperature Elevation and Direct Flame Succeptibility among Native Grasses and Bothriochloa ischaemum (KR Bluestem): Implications for Invasive Species Management using Prescribed Fire (Dr. Lyons).
Prajit Limsirachi - Nutritional and Respiratory Physiology in Thermus thermophilus HB27 (Dr. Healy).
Colleen Hughbanks and Rachel Johansen - Effects of Hyperoxia on Epithelial Cells (Dr. King)
Brian Malpede - Cloning of a Duplicated Locus in the carotenoid Biosynthetic Pathway (Dr. Livingstone).
Amanda Benbow - Flower Color Change and Pollinator Visitation in Lupinus texensis (Texas Bluebonnet) (Dr. Lyons).
Kevin Meyer - Baseline data on the distribution of Pennisetum ciliare (Buffelgrass), an invasive C4 grass in the greater San Antonio area (Dr. Lyons).
Laney Redus and Erica Scott - The Genetic Mating System of the Round-eared Elephant-shrew of South Africa (Dr. Ribble).