Mentor Areas
Our lab applies genetic, genomics, and biochemical approaches to study bacterial pathogenesis and three-way interactions between hosts, pathogens and microbiome.
Description:
We have several projects with positions available for undergraduate research assistants. One involves the identification of host molecules that cue the initiation of V. cholerae virulence gene transcription and pathogenesis. Other projects involve analysis of the gene regulatory pathways initiated by density-dependent bacterial cell-cell communication, known as quorum sensing and bacterial sensing of host-derived and microbiome-derived chemical signals.
Responsibilities would include cloning of expression constructs, DNA and protein analysis, genetic screens for bacterial virulence factors, and preparation of media and reagents. Students will work with post-doctoral fellows and senior graduates, progressing to independent study (BIO 399/499).
Preferred Qualifications
We prefer undergraduates that have taken BIO 121 or the equivalent and who have completed or are completing second level molecular biology coursework. Freshmen are not eligible unless they have a comparable, solid, grounding in molecular biology and molecular biological lab techniques.
Project Website
Learn more about the researcher and/or the project here. Zhu Lab
Details:
Preferred Student Year
First-year, Second-Year, Junior, Senior
Academic Term
Fall, Spring, Summer
I prefer to have students start during the above term(s).Volunteer
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to volunteers.Paid
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to paying students they engage in their research, regardless of their work-study eligibility.Work Study
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to hiring work-study-eligible students.