Faculty Researchers

The scientific focus of this REU program is environmental influences on gene expression.

Research will be conducted under the mentorship of faculty at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, N.D. Mentors will work closely with students to develop an independent research project. Among other topics, possible research projects involve investigation into environmental influences on epigenetic regulation of cortical development, learning and memory in fish and mice, neural stem cell fate, sex-determination in turtles, stress tolerance in nematodes, and wing patterning in butterflies and moths.

Summer REU faculty mentors at UND include:

David Bradley, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Project: Host immune responses
Location: Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Description: The Bradley lab has several projects all focused on host immune responses running in parallel during the summer of 2022. The principle 2 projects would be: A) characterization of superantigens SEG and SEI as a cancer immunotherapy that stimulates the anti-tumor response. This project is completing the last pre-clinical studies with hopes of moving into the clinic in early fall; and B) investigation of macrophage associated phenotypes that are present in animals resistant to, compared to susceptible to, Yersinia pestis (the Plague). This study will ultimately be comparing M1 vs M2 macrophages in situ and ex vivo from dogs compared to humans, phenotypically by flowcytometry and functionally by ELISA.

Catherine Brissette, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Project: Bacterial and host factors in Lyme disease pathogenesis
Location: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Building
Description: Lyme disease (LD) is caused by infection with the bacterial pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) and is a prevalent and continually emerging vector-borne disease in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Disseminated infection can lead to pathologies affecting the joints, heart, and central nervous system (CNS). Despite antibiotic treatment, a proportion of patients continue to suffer from debilitating symptoms. The mechanisms of CNS as well as bacterial and host risk factors for these manifestations are poorly understood, largely due to the lack of a tractable laboratory model for the study of LD in the CNS.

The meninges serve as an interface between CNS and periphery. The outermost layer of the meninges, the dura mater, possesses fenestrated blood vessels, lymphatic drainage, and a high density of resident immune cells capable of supporting a robust immune response. We now show acute and persistent extravascular Bb colonization of the dura mater after both needle inoculation and tick transmission, accompanied by increases in expression of inflammatory cytokines; in addition, we observe a robust interferon (IFN) response in the dura mater comparable to that seen during murine Lyme arthritis. Dura colonization is associated with leukocyte infiltration and mild meningitis, indicating an inflammatory state in the meninges of Bb-infected mice. We also demonstrate an increase in IFN-stimulated genes in both the cortex and hippocampus of infected mice, despite a lack of detectable spirochetes in the brain parenchyma. A sterile IFN response in the absence of Bb is unique to brain parenchyma and could provide insights into the mechanism of inflammatory CNS associated with this pathogen.

Our tractable model will allow us to directly assess potential risk factors leading to more severe inflammatory CNS involvement, as well as test potential interventions.

Colin Combs, Ph.D., Professor

Project: Neuroimmune changes in Alzheimer's disease
Location: Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Description: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by dementia. Therapeutic options for attenuating disease are limited. Epidemiologic and genome wide association studies support the idea that immune system dysregulation contributes to disease progression. This suggests that immunomodulatory interventions may serve as viable therapeutic approaches. Unfortunately, we still have much to learn regarding how immune changes may influence disease. To address this problem, we utilize cell culture and transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease to study both age and disease-associated changes in immune cell behavior outside and inside of the brain. In addition, we examine common comorbid, chronic inflammatory diseases such as periodontal disease, obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, asthma, and colitis to determine whether the immune changes of comorbid diseases increase the progression or severity of AD. Our lab typically performs assessment of disease-associated changes and effects of therapeutic intervention using biochemical, molecular, cellular, histologic, and whole animal approaches.

Archana Dhasarathy, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Rebecca Simmons, Ph.D., Professor

Project: Evolutionary analysis of histone H1 variants across phyla
Location: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Columbia Hall; and Department of Biology, Starcher Hall
Description: Histones are essential proteins that organize DNA into chromatin, regulating gene expression and maintaining genomic stability. Beyond their structural role, histones influence critical cellular processes, including gene expression, DNA replication, mitochondrial function and immune responses, with disruptions linked to cancer, neurodegeneration, and severe COVID-19 outcomes. Linker histone H1 variants are particularly intriguing due to their roles in chromatin compaction, nuclear organization, and evolutionary diversity across species. The objective of this summer project will be to investigate the evolutionary patterns of H1 variants to understand their structural specialization and implications for human disease. We will compare H1 protein sequences from 30+ species spanning mammals, birds, fish, and invertebrates using online databases and construct phylogenetic trees to identify lineage-specific duplication events and conservation patterns.

Additionally, we will use structural motif mapping to annotate conserved domains (globular head, C-terminal tail) and post-translational modification sites. These analyses will help us to correlate structural changes with evolutionary divergence. Finally, we will cross-reference variant-specific features with known disease mutations from ClinVar and analyze H1 expression patterns in cancer datasets (TCGA) and COVID-19 proteomics studies.

Expected outcomes include (1) the identification of H1 variants under positive selection in specific lineages; (2) structural models showing conserved/enhanced DNA-binding regions; and (3) hypotheses about H1's role in species-specific chromatin adaptations and disease vulnerabilities. This project bridges molecular evolution and biomedicine, offering hands-on experience with genomic tools, while exploring fundamental questions about histone biology.

Van A. Doze, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Chris W. D. Jurgens, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Project: Noradrenergic regulation of neurogenesis and cognitive function
Location: Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Description: Norepinephrine (NE), an important neuromodulator in the brain, modulates cognitive function and synaptic plasticity. NE mediates its effects via activation of adrenergic receptors (ARs). We discovered that adult mice with chronically activated alpha1A-ARs exhibit significantly improved learning and memory, synaptic transmission, mood, and lifespan (Doze et al., 2011). In contrast, we found that mice lacking alpha1A-ARs have reduced cognitive function, mood, and lifespan. The mice with activated alpha1A-ARs also show increased neurogenesis in their hippocampi, an area of the brain critical for learning and memory. The molecular cues and genes regulating this process include a wide range of growth and survival factors, but a direct link between NE activity, gene regulation, and neurogenesis, has not been explored. This project will test the hypothesis that NE, through alpha1A-AR activation regulates differentiation and cell fate of neuronal and glial progenitors in the adult mouse brain and subsequently enhances cognitive function. Through immunolabeling, electrophysiology, behavioral studies, and confocal imaging, this project will characterize alpha1A-AR influences on adult neurogenesis and learning and memory.

Doze VA, Papay RS, Goldenstein BL, Gupta MK, Collette KM, Nelson BW, Lyons MJ, Davis BA, Luger EJ, Wood SG, Haselton JR, Simpson PC, Perez DM. Long-term alpha1A-adrenergic stimulation improves synaptic plasticity, cognitive function, mood, and longevity. Mol Pharmacol 80(4), 747-58, doi:10.1124/mol.111.073734. (2011).

Susan Eliazer, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Project: Coupling mechanical signaling to stem cell fate and function
Location: Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Description: Skeletal muscle aging is characterized by loss of muscle mass and strength (Wilkinson et al., 2018). This leads to decreased mobility and independence and presents itself as a major public health problem. The skeletal muscle resident SCs maintain tissue homeostasis and repair tissue after injury. With physiological aging, there is a gradual decline in SC number, and their ability to repair injured muscle markedly declines (Yamakawa et al., 2020). The precise mechanism of how SC function is altered with aging is not well characterized. Our main goal is to identify mechanisms that regulate adult SC function and determine the mechanisms that go awry as the stem cells age. Using a combination of adult (3-5mo), aged (20-22mo) mice and an accelerated aging (Progeria) mouse model, high resolution microscopy, high throughput genomic assays, and live cell imaging, we will identify the mechanism of how aging leads to altered SC state and function. This project will allow us to identify factors that can augment SC function and contribute to the development of therapies to maintain regenerative competence in muscle tissue after injury and trauma in the aged human population. Dr. Eliazer has mentored 8 UG students (4 female, 4 male) including 3 URMs. One student has gone to grad school; 1 to med school.

Wilkinson, D. J., Piasecki, M. & Atherton, P. J. The age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and function: Measurement and physiology of muscle fibre atrophy and muscle fibre loss in humans. Ageing Res Rev 47, 123-132, doi:10.1016/j.arr.2018.07.005 (2018).
Yamakawa, H., Kusumoto, D., Hashimoto, H. & Yuasa, S. Stem Cell Aging in Skeletal Muscle Regeneration and Disease. Int J Mol Sci 21, doi:10.3390/ijms21051830 (2020).

Lindsay Fugleberg, M.S., Assistant Professor
Rebecca Simmons, Ph.D., Professor

Project: Vanishing evidence: investigating DNA persistence and the forensic implications
Location: Department of Biology, Starcher Hall
Description: This study explores the persistence of DNA at crime scenes by examining how it degrades on unique substrates over time. Students will gain hands-on experience in forensic DNA analysis. This will include evidence collection, extraction, quantification, and amplification, to better understand the factors influencing DNA persistence and its implications for criminal investigations

James Foster, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Project: Regulation of membrane transporters by palmitoylation
Location: Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Description: Over 5000 proteins have been identified as reversibly modified in the mammalian genome and evidence is growing which supports reversible palmitoylation as an important protein regulator. We have discovered that the dopamine transporter (DAT) and more recently the serotonin (SERT) and norepinephrine (NET) transporters are modified by S-palmitoylation, a post-translational modification in which C16 saturated palmitic acid is added to proteins via a thioester linkage to cysteine. S-palmitoylation of integral membrane proteins confers a variety of properties including control of activity, trafficking, turnover, and subcellular targeting. Palmitoylation is reversible and dynamic, conferring the ability of the protein to respond to physiological signals and participate in regulatory processes in a manner analogous to phosphorylation. In this project we are examining the role of palmitoylation in regulating DAT, SERT and NET activity, subcellular trafficking, membrane microdomain localization, and degradation. Dysfunction or modified regulation of these transporters mediated by altered palmitoylation may result in imbalanced transmitter levels found in several neurologic and psychiatric disorders including Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and autism. The Foster Lab is one of three labs studying neurotransmitter transporters which includes the adjacent labs of Drs. Vaughan and Henry. Students will be required to attend the weekly lab meetings of the Vaughan-Foster-Henry groups and will have the chance to present their results to the group near the completion of the project. Students will prepare and present a research poster at the end of the experience that will be presented at the UND SMHS Undergraduate Research Symposium in conjunction with other summer undergraduate research programs at the UND SMHS.

Keith Henry, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Project: Computational modeling of interactions between psychoactive drugs and transporters
Location: Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Description: Students will learn to generate 3D structures of small molecules such as antidepressants and drugs of abuse and then more complex 3D models of proteins such as the serotonin and dopamine transporters in different conformational states. With the small molecule and the protein structures in hand, students will computationally refine the proteins followed by in silico docking to identify sites on the protein where the small molecules bind. These results can help us understand the new compounds we have generated and how they may represent molecules with clinical promise. Students will learn how to write UNIX and Pymol scripts to perform data analysis and generate structural models. The students will be introduced to biochemical, pharmacological, molecular and computational principles and methodologies which will benefit them no matter which path they choose in the future graduate careers.

Project: Epigenetic changes induced by exposure to antidepressants
Location: Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Description: The project will focus on identification of epigenetic changes that occur after exposure to antidepressants. Numerous animal studies now show that antidepressant exposure in early life leads to long-lasting physiological and behavior effects. Our primary goal is to identify the molecular and epigenetic changes such as DNA methylation and histone modifications that underlie this reprogramming. We utilize modern next-generation sequencing technologies and advanced molecular techniques.

Chris W. D. Jurgens, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Van A. Doze, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Project: Noradrenergic regulation of adult neurogenesis and cognitive function
Location: Departments of Biomedical Sciences & Pathology, School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Description: Norepinephrine (NE), an important neuromodulator in the brain, modulates cognitive function and synaptic plasticity. NE mediates its effects via activation of adrenergic receptors (ARs). We discovered that adult mice with chronically activated alpha1A-ARs exhibit significantly improved learning and memory, synaptic transmission, mood, and lifespan. In contrast, we found that mice lacking alpha1A-ARs have reduced cognitive function, mood, and lifespan. The mice with activated alpha1A-ARs also show increased neurogenesis in their hippocampi, an area of the brain critical for learning and memory. The molecular cues and genes regulating this process include a wide range of growth and survival factors, but a direct link between NE activity, gene regulation, and neurogenesis, has not been explored. This project will test the hypothesis that NE, through alpha1A-AR activation, regulates differentiation and cell fate of neuronal and glial progenitors in the adult mouse brain and subsequently enhances cognitive function. Through immunolabeling, behavioral studies, and confocal imaging, this project will characterize alpha1A-AR influences on adult neurogenesis and learning and memory, potentially opening avenues for treatment of a wide range of neurological diseases including epilepsy, ADHD, depression, anxiety, Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions.

Manu Manu, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Project: Non-additive control of gene expression by long-range interactions between multiple regulatory elements
Location: Department of Biology, Starcher Hall
Description: The Manu lab pursues several research directions using techniques from molecular biology, genomics (RNA-Seq, ATAC-Seq, Hi-C, single-molecule footprinting), genome editing (CRISPR/Cas9), and computational biology. The questions we ask revolve around stem cell biology and gene regulation. One question is how genes are regulated by enhancers as stem cells differentiate into different types of functional cells. We are using techniques like ATAC-Seq and single-molecule footprinting to map the transcription factors (TFs) binding to enhancers and how the occupancy of TFs on enhancers changes as stem cells differentiate. We are also using CRISPR/Cas9 to either delete enhancers or knock-in reporter genes to decipher their regulation. Another major research direction concerns the nexus between the cell cycle and differentiation. Once a stem cell has matured sufficiently, it must exit the cell cycle, but it is not known how the cell senses or measures its maturity. We are investigating this using the aforementioned techniques in combination with flow cytometry and microscopy. Computational projects in the lab involve data and statistical analysis of genomic data as well as machine learning. Current undergraduate students are pursuing both experimental and computational projects involving CRISPR, flow cytometry, genomics, and computer vision. For more information, visit the Manu lab website: https://manulab.info/research/

Ramkumar Mathur, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Project: Investigating Age-Related differences in colorectal cancer using 3D organoid models
Location: Department of Geriatrics, School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Description: Colorectal cancer (CRC) varies by age, with early-onset CRC (EORC) being more aggressive and late-onset CRC (LORC) exhibiting distinct tumor microenvironment (TME) characteristics. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) drive tumor metabolism, immune evasion, and therapy resistance, yet their age-specific roles remain unclear. Hypothesis: EORC tumors rely on hyperactive PTM-driven signaling for proliferation and immune suppression, while LORC tumors exhibit metabolic shifts and immune exhaustion, creating unique therapeutic vulnerabilities. Approach: This project will use 3D organoid models from AOM/DSS-induced CRC mouse tumors to investigate these differences. Young (6-week-old) and aged (18-month-old) C57BL/6 mice will receive AOM/DSS treatment to induce tumors, which will be used to generate organoid cultures for studying tumor-immune interactions and metabolic changes. Flow cytometry, biochemical assay and cellular assay will assess tumor heterogeneity and immune infiltration, while PTM-targeting inhibitors will be tested for therapeutic potential. Project Aims: (1) Develop 3D tumor organoid models from AOM/DSS-treated young and aged mice to examine age-related tumor growth and immune composition. (2) Identify age-specific PTM alterations via mass spectrometry and proteomics to determine their role in tumor progression and therapy resistance. Outcome. The student will gain hands-on experience in organoid culture, molecular biology, and bioinformatics, contributing to a deeper understanding of age-specific PTM modifications in CRC and their relevance for personalized therapies.

Masfique Mehedi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Project: Mutational analysis of the nuclear localization signal on SARS-CoV-2 spike protein
Location: Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Description: Mehedi lab research focuses on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) that causes bronchiolitis and pneumonia to infants, children, and older adults with chronic diseases. We are expert in developing different in vitro lung models (2D cell culture, 3D air-liquid interface, & lung-on-a-chip) to study respiratory virus-host interactions. We are interested in how virus infection modulates common epigenetic signaling, which may lead to chronic diseases. For example, we are investigating whether RSV infection in infants contributes to chronic changes in the lung airway epithelium, which may lead to asthma progression in early childhood.

Barry Milavetz, Ph.D., Professor

Project: Chromatin as an epigenetic regulator of the Simian Virus 40 lytic life cycle
Location: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Columbia Hall
Description: Using a virus, SV40, as a model to study the control of eukaryotic genes, we are dissecting the mechanisms responsible for epigenetic regulation. Our studies use a combination of chromatin immunoprecipitation, next-generation sequencing, and small molecule inhibitors of epigenetic regulators to determine how the combination of nucleosome location and histone modifications regulate transcription and replication. In particular, we are very interested in learning how the fate of newly replicated viral chromosomes is determined. This is a subject that has not been extensively investigated yet and is critical for the virus to successfully complete its life cycle. Our studies address fundamental questions related to eukaryotic molecular biology.

Kumi Nagamoto-Combs, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Project: Effect of peripheral immune responses on brain function and behavior
Location: Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Description: Did you know that not all food allergies manifest in hives and a swollen tongue? Have you felt anxious or nervous after eating certain foods? Evidence supports that the body's inflammatory responses to food allergens affect brain function and behavior. Our research focuses on the interaction between the immune system and the nervous system triggered by such responses. Using a mouse model of cow's milk allergy, we investigate how the body's hypersensitivity reactions to an allergen can change brain physiology via activated immune cells. REU students will learn basic immunology, intestinal and brain anatomy and histology, and various histochemical and molecular techniques as they analyze biological samples from experimental mice.

Sergei Nechaev, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Project: Regulation of transcriptomes by pausing the RNA polymerase at gene promoters
Location: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Columbia Hall, 1733C
Description: Our research aims to understand how human cells use the same DNA to create different cell types with unique gene expression patterns. We focus on gene transcription, the process where RNA polymerase II (Pol II) reads DNA to produce mRNA, a crucial yet still poorly understood step in gene expression. We study how specific factors help Pol II start transcription and how this impacts gene activity across the entire genome. A key part of our research explores Pol II pausing—a mysterious but important step where Pol II temporarily stops before continuing transcription. Understanding Pol II pausing could reveal new principles for how genes are organized and regulated. REU students will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in molecular biology techniques and/or apply computational tools to analyze bioinformatics data, providing valuable skills for careers in biomedical research.

Turk Rhen, Ph.D., Professor

Project: Genetics and epigenetics of temperature-dependent sex determination
Location: Department of Biology, Starcher Hall
Description: Temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) was first reported 50 years ago in a lizard. TSD has since been shown to occur in many reptiles as well as some fish and amphibians. Yet, the molecular mechanism underlying TSD is unknown. My lab has established the common snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina, as a model for studying the molecular mechanisms underlying TSD. We are using an integrative approach that combines classical genetics, genome-wide association studies, population genomics, ChIP-Seq, RNA-Seq, and experimental manipulation of gene expression to elucidate gene regulatory networks involved in TSD. Our genetic studies and gene expression analyses have identified numerous candidate genes that may play a role in transducing temperature into a biological signal for the embryonic gonads to develop into ovaries or testes. Among the candidates are genes that regulate epigenetic modifications like histone methylation. Students will help characterize the role of various candidate genes in TSD.

Benjamin Roche, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Project: Epigenetic regulation of cellular quiescence by RNA-binding proteins
Location: Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Description: Most cells in nature exit the cell cycle and exist in a non-dividing state—including important cells in the human body such as stem cells and memory lymphocytes. What are the mechanisms that allow non-dividing cells to stay quiescent and viable? Are they conserved across evolution? Are novel epigenetic mechanisms ‘hidden’ in the quiescent state? The Roche lab aims to answer these questions by studying the fundamental biology of quiescence, in particular, in the model organism Schizosaccharomyces pombe (fission yeast)—a system ideally suited for the genetic and molecular characterization of quiescent genes. The lab has several projects focused on RNA-binding proteins. We aim to (i) understand how these RNA-binding proteins participate in the reprogramming of quiescent cells, and (ii) discover novel RNA factors involved in this process. To do so, the REU student will be introduced to a multidisciplinary approach, with the opportunity to learn both the fundamentals of molecular biology and genetic analysis, including micro-manipulation of single fission yeast cells, as well as an introduction to key computational methods in biology and epigenetics.

Melissa Schmitt, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Rebecca Simmons, Ph.D., Professor
Turk Rhen, Ph.D., Professor

Project: Investigating diet, stress and microbial communities in herbivore communities
Location: Department of Biology, Starcher Hall
Description: This study examines the relationships between diet choice, gut microbiomes, and stress in North Dakota’s ungulates. Researchers will analyze fecal samples to identify plant species consumed, microbial community composition, and physiological stress levels. Stress will be assessed by measuring glucocorticoid hormones in dung using ELISA, providing insights into how environmental and dietary factors influence stress responses. By integrating these data, the study aims to understand how diet and gut microbiomes interact with physiological stress, ultimately informing conservation and management strategies for these herbivores.

Rebecca Simmons, Ph.D., Professor

Project: Communities within communities: Investigating the biodiversity of prairie pollinators and their endosymbionts
Location: Department of Biology, Starcher Hall
Description: North Dakota is the largest producer of honey in the US; both native and commercial pollinator species are central to the success of agriculture in the region. Despite their importance, pollinators are experiencing declining numbers both in the region and nationwide. These declines are caused by many factors including, habitat destruction, pesticide/herbicide use, and diseases; loss of these species are a threat to economic growth in the region and national food security. While there are efforts to document the decline in pollinator species in the region, these surveys do not address the hidden diversity within pollinators themselves-microbes found in pollinator digestive tracts. In healthy individuals, these microorganisms synthesize vitamins, aid in honey production and provide other vital functions. To document and compare microsymbionts between pollinator species, REU students will collect and identify pollinators. Students will remove pollinator digestive systems which will be used to extract, amplify and sequence both pollinator and microsymbiont DNA. Students will then analyze resulting Illumina sequence data to identify species-specific and shared symbionts.

Motoki Takaku, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Project: Discover epigenetic vulnerabilities of metastatic breast cancer
Location: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Columbia Hall
Description: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the US and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Despite significant advances in breast cancer treatment, the mortality rate of metastatic breast tumors remains high. Recent large-scale genomic studies have identified GATA3 as one of the most frequently mutated genes in breast cancer, with approximately 10% of breast tumors carrying mutations in this gene. Notably, the frequency of GATA3 mutations is even higher in metastatic breast tumors. Although GATA3 mutations are considered "drivers" of breast cancer, their functional consequences are still largely unexplored. Our lab is addressing this gap by generating GATA3 mutant breast cancer cell lines using CRISPR genome editing to recapitulate GATA3-mutant breast tumors in vitro. We are characterizing the impact of these mutations on breast cancer properties and are actively investigating chemical compounds and epigenetic drugs that can specifically target GATA3 mutant breast cancer cells. REU students will have the opportunity to learn cancer cell biology techniques, including cell culture and invasion assays. They will also gain experience with cutting-edge genomics technologies, such as RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq, and CUT&RUN, as well as bioinformatics analysis. We typically begin by discussing potential summer projects with REU students, who then have the opportunity to choose or design their projects based on their individual interests.

Vasyl Tkach, Ph.D., Professor

Project: Causative agents of "black spot" disease in fishes of North Dakota and Minnesota
Location: Department of Biology, Starcher Hall
Description: "Black spot" disease is the infection of fish skin due to penetration and encystment by larval stages of certain types of parasitic flukes (trematodes). "Black spot" disease is widespread across the United States and is particularly common in the upper Midwest. The disease is characterized by raised, black nodules on the skin, fins, and eyes of fish. In cases of high intensity of infection, black spot disease can cause health issues ranging from mobility loss, increased vulnerability to predation and death. While it is known that the disease is mostly caused by flukes parasitic as adults in fish-eating birds, the exact etiology and diversity of these parasites is not sufficiently studied and varies region to region. Currently available molecular tools allow for matching DNA sequences of different life stages of these parasites and thus better understand their identity and life cycles in nature. Students will participate in a variety of activities and learn a variety of techniques including collecting snails and fish in the field, their examination for fluke larvae, light microscopy and digital imaging, scanning electron microscopy, DNA extraction, polymerase chain reactions, gel electrophoresis, sequencing reactions and analysis of the results. The study will be conducted together with Dr. Tkach and a graduate student.

Project: Revealing the agents of "swimmer's itch" in North Dakota and Minnesota
Location: Department of Biology, Starcher Hall
Description: In summertime, people heading for recreation to lakes in our region (and elsewhere in the USA as well as other countries) often experience itching in their skin (mostly legs) associated with red dots and bumps not resulting from mosquito bites. This itching only appears after contact in water. The condition is commonly known as "swimmer's itch" while its scientific name is "cercarial dermatitis." Few people know that it is caused by microscopical larvae of parasitic flukes found as adults in blood vessels of aquatic birds. The larval stages live in snails and are released into water where they try to penetrate the skin of ducks or humans, whichever comes first. Fortunately, these parasites cannot develop in humans beyond causing temporary itches. Currently, very little is known about these parasites in our region despite the high diversity and numbers of birds and widespread swimmer's itch. Students will participate in a variety of activities and learn a variety of techniques including collecting snails in the field, screening them for fluke larvae, light microscopy and digital imaging, scanning electron microscopy, DNA extraction, polymerase chain reactions, gel electrophoresis, sequencing reactions and analysis of the results. The study will be conducted together with faculty, graduate and undergraduate students.

Roxanne A. Vaughan, Ph.D., Professor

Project: Dopamine transporter dysregulation in mood and movement disorders
Location: Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Description: The dopamine transporter (DAT) is a synaptic protein that drives reuptake of dopamine (DA) from the synapse into the presynaptic neuron and is the major mechanism for regulation of DA neurotransmission. DAT is a target for addictive drugs such as cocaine and therapeutic drugs such methylphenidate (Ritalin) used to treated attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and dysregulation of DAT activity is believed to underlie many additional DA-related mood and psychiatric disorders including major depression, autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and Infantile Parkisonism. The mechanisms underlying these disorders are incompletely understood, and several have been linked to multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of DAT. Our laboratory is investigating the relationship between DAT dysregulation induced by these SNPs and the post-translational regulation of the protein by phosphorylation and the lipid modification palmitoylation. These studies to be performed will involve biochemical analyses of one or more DAT SNP isoforms associated with these disorders, and will include assessment of DAT phosphorylation or palmitoylation, total DAT expression, and analysis of DA transport function. This project is suitable for execution by an undergraduate student as all assay procedures are well characterized feasible, and the questions to be answered are scientifically important. The study will introduce a student to many pharmacological principles related to DAT and DA neurotransmission, as well as to basic scientific principles in experimental methodology.

Kathryn Yurkonis, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Project: Soil health benefits of the Conservation Reserve Program
Location: Department of Biology, Starcher Hall
Description: The Conservation Reserve Program is a federally funded program that contracts with agricultural producers to convert marginal or environmentally sensitive pasture and cropland to a perennial cover mix of grasses, forbs, and legumes for 10 to 15 years. The goal of this voluntary program is to improve soil health and prevent erosion on the acres enrolled. Enrollment is also thought to improve water quality by reducing nutrient runoff, and also improve critical habitat from waterfowl, songbirds, pollinators, and other wildlife. The objective of this research project is to quantify the soil health benefits of the Conservation Reserve Program. The REU students that take part in this project will assist in the laboratory with processing soil samples and conducting soil health assays, such as microbial respiration, substrate use profiles, enzyme activities, and plant-available nutrient pools. Depending on interest and experience, some students may also have an opportunity to travel with a field crew to multiple states, measure vegetation cover, and collect soil samples from several dozen CRP enrolled fields and non-enrolled croplands. The students will also learn how to graph and analyze the data they collect to characterize trends in soil health metrics over time and between enrolled and non-enrolled fields.