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Principal Investigator: Daniel Hahn
Our lab uses insects as models for basic physiological processes in human diseases. One current project explores how flies regulate blood sugar and fat loads in response to seasonal cycles. Flies enter a hibernation-like state during the winter; and like hibernating grizzly bears, over wintering flies accumulate greater fat stores than summer flies. We are studying the roles of two important endocrine signaling pathways in this process, insulin (yes, flies have an insulin signaling system!) and the glucagon-like adipokinetic hormone in this process.
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Principal Investigator: Michael Dukes
With all water use categories increasing in Florida each year, efficient use of water resources will be essential to sustaining the current agriculture, industry, and quality of life. Florida is the largest agricultural water user in the humid region and has the second largest withdrawal of groundwater for public supply in the U.S. Although irrigation is practiced widely in Florida, there are recent advances in computer technology and water delivery systems that can make irrigation systems more efficient.
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Principal Investigator: Roland Staud
Acupuncture (AP) has been found to be effective for the treatment of postoperative and chemotherapy-induced nausea/vomiting as well as post-operative dental pain. Several recent randomized, controlled trials have provided strong evidence for beneficial AP effects on chronic low back pain and knee pain from osteoarthritis. For many other chronic pain conditions, including headaches, neck pain, and fibromyalgia pain, the evidence supporting AP’s efficacy is less convincing. Furthermore, AP seems to be ineffective in treating addiction, insomnia, obesity, asthma, or stroke deficits. AP’s effects on experimental pain appear to be mediated by analgesic brain mechanisms through the release of neurohumoral factors, some of which can be inhibited by the opioid antagonist naloxone. In contrast to placebo analgesia, AP related pain relief takes considerable time to develop and to resolve. Thus, some of the long-term effects of AP analgesia cannot be explained by placebo mechanisms. Furthermore, repetitive use of AP analgesia can result in tolerance as well as cross-tolerance with morphine. It appears that some forms of AP are more effective for providing analgesia than others. Particularly, electro-AP seems best to activate powerful opioid and non-opioid analgesic mechanisms.
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Principal Investigator: Brian Harfe
How an individual cell decides what type of cell it will become has been a fundamental problem in biology for decades. The improper specification of just a single cell can have catastrophic consequences for the developing embryo. In my laboratory we investigate the molecular pathways responsible for pattering the developing embryo using the mouse and chick model systems. Projects in the lab include:

1. Elucidate how digits form in the developing limb using both the mouse and chick model systems. Each digit is composed of a unique amount of bone and cartilage depending on its location within the hand-plate. The molecular factors involved in establishing the invariant digit pattern are not well understood.
2. Identifying the molecular pathways required for forming the intervertebral disks. An unfortunate consequence of aging is the eventual failure of tissues and organs, which leads to pain, loss of mobility and eventually to death. A tissue that commonly deteriorates in older vertebrates is the intervertebral disks (located between the vertebrae). Age-related changes in the intervertebral disks are thought to cause most cases of back pain. Presently there is no cure for disk degeneration.
3. The role of microRNAs in development. MicroRNAs are processed by the enzyme Dicer into their mature form. These genes are part of a novel mechanism involved in regulating gene expression. Using a conditional allele of Dicer we have constructed, we removed Dicer from a large number of tissues during mouse development. In these animals, numerous defects were observed demonstrating the important role microRNAs play in vertebrate development.
4. Student initiated projects on ANY topic using the mouse or chick model systems are also encouraged.

The projects in the lab involve extensive work with mice in the new mouse facility (Genetics /Cancer Buildings) and common molecular biology techniques. Students who can commit to working in the lab for AT LEAST 12 hours a week for a year or longer are encouraged to apply. By working in my laboratory students will be well positioned for further research in the fields of developmental biology and genetics.

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Principal Investigator: Heather McAuslane
An undergraduate research position is available in insect nutritional ecology. The successful applicant will help identify feeding stimulants for the pepper weevil (Anthonomus eugenii), a major pest of sweet and hot peppers. The overall goals of this research are to: 1) develop an effective feeding assay for testing pepper weevil feeding stimulants, and 2) isolate and identify stimulatory compounds in the surface waxes of pepper fruit.

This project will be carried out at UF’s Entomology and Nematology Department in the McAuslane Lab during the Summer of 2009. This is an unpaid research position, but can be completed for credit through the University of Florida. A summer stipend may also be available to competitive students through application to the University Scholars Program or the CALS Summer Research Internship Program (CALS students only). Interested students should email Dr. Karla Addesso (addesso@ufl.edu) or Dr. Heather McAuslane (hjmca@ufl.edu) with a letter of interest and resume.

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Principal Investigator: Heather McAuslane
An undergraduate research position is available in insect chemical ecology. The successful applicant will help investigate the response of southern chinch bug (Blissus insularis), a major pest of St. Augustinegrass, to volatiles produced by aggregations of conspecifics. The overall goals of this research are to: 1) observe the response of adult and nymphal bugs to volatiles produced by chinch bug aggregations, 2) determine whether the attractive volatiles are produced by adult males, females, or both sexes, and 3) identify the components of the aggregation pheromone.

This project will be carried out at UF’s Entomology and Nematology Department in the McAuslane Lab during the Summer of 2009 and may be continued through the Fall semester. This is an unpaid research position, but can be completed for credit through the University of Florida. A summer stipend may also be available to competitive students through application to the University Scholars Program or the CALS Summer Research Internship Program (CALS students only). Interested students should email Dr. Karla Addesso (addesso@ufl.edu) or Dr. Heather McAuslane (hjmca@ufl.edu) with a letter of interest and resume.

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Principal Investigator: Christine Miller
Undergraduate research assistant positions in insect behavioral ecology are available during spring semester 2010. The successful applicants will help investigate parent-offspring communication in Platycotis vittata (Hemiptera: Membracidae) at Ordway-Swisher Biological Station (OSBS).

Platycotis vittata are phloem-feeding insects that occur on several species of oaks at OSBS. A P. vittata family develops over the course of about a month on an oak branch. The mother defends her 30-50 offspring from invertebrate predators during this time. Mother and offspring communicate via vibrational signals through the branch, and offspring signals appear to elicit defensive behavior from the mother.

The goals of this research include investigating the function(s) of signals produced by the mother after predator encounters and assessing abundance of some known invertebrate predators.

The successful applicant will be advised by Dr. Christine Miller and will assist Jennifer Hamel (University of Missouri) in all aspects of field research, including locating P. vittata families, conducting vibrational playback experiments, and ecological sampling. Research will be conducted in the field at OSBS from late February-early April 2010. Some preparatory reading will be assigned prior to the start of field season, and the successful applicant may assist in data analysis after field research is completed.

During the field season, assistants must be able to transport themselves to and from the station and preferably work one weekday and one weekend day each week. These are non-pay research positions but can be completed for credit through University of Florida.

Students with background and interests in ecology, evolution and behavior are especially encouraged to apply, though all applicants will be considered. Interested applicants should email jahtf7@mail.missouri.edu (Jennifer Hamel)
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Principal Investigator: Shirley Baker
The selected student will assist with various aspects of laboratory research related to bivalve physiology. Projects this year include 1)Completing physiological tolerance experiments in the lab, and 2) Measuring energy budgets of clams. We will provide the student with a variety of laboratory research experiences.
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Principal Investigator: Daniel Hahn
How important is size? Our lab combines techniques from a number of fields including ecology, evolutionary biology, physiology and biochemistry to determine how traits such as body size and nutritional status affect survival and reproduction in insects. Training could include a number of techniques including behavior, field collections, artificial selection, respirometry, molecular genetics/proteomics and analytical biochemistry.
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Principal Investigator: David Julian
We are currently investigating the cellular and molecular adaptations of marine and aquatic invertebrates to hypoxia, environmental toxins and other physiological stresses. The objectives of our research are to understand cellular and molecular mechanisms by which some marine invertebrates can tolerate, and even thrive, in extreme and seemingly toxic conditions. Students may learn a variety of techniques, including cell culture, microscopy, enzyme biochemistry and high-throughput screening.
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Principal Investigator: Don Samuelson
We are examining the histology of the Florida manatee for development of an internet atlas. In addition to performing microanatomical analysis of different organ systems, various histochemical and immunohistochemical procedures will be used to establish functional-structural correlates. The collected information will be placed on a website.
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Principal Investigator: Robert Burne
Molecular genetic aspects of microbial biofilm formation. Biofilms are adherent populations of microbes imbedded in a polymer matrix and adhering to a surface. Biofilm diseases are highly prevalent in humans and eradication of biofilms is a major challenge. We are using a Functional Genomics approach to identify genes that are essential for the formation of pathogenic biofilms by bacteria. Using genome sequence information and DNA microarrays, we have identified a variety of genes of as-yet-unknown function that are essential for maturation of biofilms and tolerance of environmental stress. This project involves a combination of recombinant DNA methodology, biochemistry, physiology and microbiology to understand how bacteria form structurally complex biofilms and to identify new targets for combating infectious agents.
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Principal Investigator: Connie Mulligan
We are analyzing molecular genetic variation in human populations located throughout the Horn of Africa and the Arabian peninsula to test hypotheses concerning migrations across the Red Sea and the evolution of language and food production methods. This region of the world is known to be important for the emergence of anatomically modern humans, but it is also important for more recent evolution. We are interested in determining the origin and directionality of migrations across the Red Sea and the evolution of the Afro-Asiatic language family. Mitochondrial, X and Y, and autosomal genes and variants are assayed in order to address these questions. Specific regions of interest include Ethiopia, Eritrea, Oman and Yemen. Additional countries will be included as the project develops.
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Principal Investigator: Susan Percival
Assistance is needed to help recruit subjects, enroll subjects in the studies, obtain and analyze data, input data into spreadsheets, & laboratory maintenance. Students showing interest and aptitude can develop their own research project within the larger project. See more information on my home page.
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Principal Investigator: Jacqueline Hobbs
My laboratory is interested in the basic biology of parvovirus-brain-thyroid interactions. Parvoviruses are small DNA-containing viruses. We study two parvoviruses of human concern: 1) adeno-associated virus (AAV) which is not known to cause human disease, and 2) parvovirus B19 (B19) which causes multiple human disorders from benign to life-threatening conditions. There is some clinical evidence that B19 can infect the brain and thyroid and cause disease, but very little is known about this area. We are asking the questions of whether or not these viruses infect the brain and thyroid and at what point in development is the infection most likely to occur. We are also determining what factors enhance the ability of these viruses to infect brain and thyroid cells. Another area of interest in the lab is potential viral etiologies of mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism. We have a large number of post-mortem human brain tissues for studies. Our studies utilize the following techniques: cell culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), RT-PCR, nested PCR, flow cytometry, and RNA/DNA analysis by agarose gel electrophoresis. There are a variety of projects that could be undertaken by undergraduate students.
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Principal Investigator: Joanna Long
Multiple projects examining protein structure and function in lipid membranes and extracellular matrices. Use of molecular biology or solid phase peptide synthesis for protein expression, biophysical characterization techniques, spectroscopy, computer modeling. Projects: 1) Ion channel function in heterogeneous membranes, 2) Mechanism of lung surfactant protein B, 3) Bone Sialoprotein and biomineralization, 4) Integrin association in membranes. Preference given to students in their second year at UF.
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Principal Investigator: Kyle Roux
Our overall research focus is on the structure and function of the nuclear envelope. Recently, two important discoveries have enhanced interest in this field. The first was identification of multiple diseases associated with mutations in nuclear envelope constituents. The second was identification of two families of proteins that interact to form the LINC-complex.

We are one of several groups involved in the recent characterization of a structure that links the nucleoskeleton to the cytoskeleton, which we have termed the LINC-complex. This complex consists of interactions between inner nuclear membrane sun proteins and outer nuclear membrane nesprin proteins that translumenally connect these two membranes. However, it is the association of nesprins with cytoskeletal constituents and the interaction of sun proteins with A-type lamins and chromatin that has generated the most interest. This system appears to provide a direct two-way mechanical communication between the nuclear contents and the rest of the cell, and perturbation of this link may have deleterious effects on cellular physiology. We currently have multiple projects designed to reveal the function of novel nesprins as well as the role of the LINC-complex in cellular organization.

Mutations in LMNA, which encodes a type of nuclear intermediate filament called A-type lamins, are associated with multiple diseases. These diverse diseases include forms of lipodystrophy, muscular dystrophy, neuropathy and progeria. Thus far, the mechanism by which altered expression of A-type lamins leads to these variable phenotypes has yet to be established. We are investigating fundamental principles of lamin biology in an attempt to uncover the disease mechanisms relating to A-type lamins.
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Principal Investigator: Christine Miller
Sexual selection has resulted in the evolution of some of nature's most elaborate traits such as the tails of peacocks, the antlers of elk, and the horns of beetles. While genes are undoubtably important in the expression of these traits, increasing evidence suggest that variation in the natural environment also shapes these traits. The nutrition experienced while young, the care of parents, and disease can all be important. In my lab, we work to understand the influence of natural environments in the evolution of these elaborate traits. We also specifically look at how this environmental variation influences male competitive success, female mate choice, and reproductive success.

These studies are done with leaf-footed bugs, and in particular the cactus bugs that live on prickly pear cactus. Males fight with each other for territories on cactus fruits, and females fly in to mate, feed, and lay eggs. The nutrition that males experience when young influences their weapons (spiny hind legs) and probably their success as well.

The lab is full for Spring, Summer, and Fall terms. The next positions available will be for Spring Semester 2010. Please email me between December 1-7, 2009 if you are interested! At that time, please send me a well-written cover letter explaining why you would like to work on this project, a resume or CV, and your grades at UF (an unofficial transcript is fine). I will be conducting interviews during the month of December and before classes start in January.
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Principal Investigator: Z. Hugh Fan
The student will be taught to fabricate microfluidic devices that consists of hairthin microfeatures. The fabrication process involves molding, milling, and lamination. After training, the student will be responsible for producing devices that are primarily used for chemical and biological applications. Some degrees of research may be performed depending on the student's interest.
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Principal Investigator: Jorg Peters
Modeling and animation of 3-dimensional objects; use of force-feedback mechanisms
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Principal Investigator: Rick Lind
The student will adopt biologically-inspired concepts for flight control. Specifically, research will consider morphing, or shape changing, to alter flight dynamics. Projects can consider identification of flight shapes, implementation of mechanisms to mimic those shapes, and computational modeling of the resulting flight dynamics. Research can consider birds, insects, bats, and dinosaur flights as pertaining to micro air vehicles.
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Principal Investigator: Justin Sanchez
The goal of the NRG is to develop state-of-the-art novel medical treatments by operating at the interface between basic neural engineering research and clinical care. This direction of research is motivated by the potential of direct neural interfaces for delivering therapy and restoring functionality to disabled individuals using engineering principles. Two clinical outcomes of the lab’s mission are to restore movement to the paralyzed and control epileptic seizures. The mechanism by which we can achieve these outcomes is through the sampling of large ensembles of cells from the cortex and deep brain structures, from which we have a window of opportunity to study the functional relationships of neural systems (motor system, limbic system). The process of transitioning this technology into a clinically useful device will require two parallel paths of research. In the first path, experimental paradigms involving microelectrode array recordings in behaving animals will be developed in conjunction with signal processing techniques for studying the unknown aspects of neural coding and functional neurophysiology. These signal processing techniques will then be implemented in portable, low-power, wireless hardware (electrodes, DSPs) that is feasible for a clinical implementation of a BMI. The second path, high-density array ECoG recordings in humans, provides a less invasive technique for neural interfaces however it still remains unknown how to extract BMI control signatures that are sufficiently spatially and temporally resolved. Moreover, it will be critical to obtain feedback about interactions of the individual’s intent and the engineered interface; a necessary condition for improving the performance of the interface. Ultimately, it will take the culmination of new functional neurophysiologic knowledge, clinical interaction, signal processing, and low-power, portable electronics to demonstrate the clinical utility for human subjects.
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Principal Investigator: Scott Banks
Participate in the development of an open-source software platform for measuring skeletal motion from x-ray images. The software utilizes computer graphics techniques to measure the pose of 3D objects from one or more 2D X-ray images. Computer graphics, imaging processing, and numerical optimization are main parts of the project.
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Principal Investigator: Alan George
Undergraduate research in one of the projects of CHREC, the new NSF Center for High-Performance Reconfigurable Computing (CHREC) at the University of Florida. CHREC is the only national research center currently in existence that is sanctioned by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and led by the University of Florida. More information on mission, projects, university sites, industry and government partners, facilities, etc. can be found at http://www.chrec.org.
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Principal Investigator: Rick Lind
This project will investigate techniques to utilize synthetic vision for control of autonomous robotics. Various approaches, such as optic flow and structure from motion, will be used to learn information about the position and attitude of the vehicle along with distance to objects. Commands can then be generated to maneuver the vehicle and plan a path around obstacles. The tools can be applied to aircraft and spacecraft along with automobiles and underwater vehicles.
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Principal Investigator: Edith Kaan
Co-investigator on this project is Ratree Wayland (Linguistics; ratree@ufl.edu). The aim of this project is to determine to what extent English speakers can learn to distinguish among lexical tones (found in languages such as Thai, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, Yoruba and many others). Several training methods and subject populations will be compared. The (honors) student's focus will be on conducting behavioral experiments; however the student may be able to assist in running experiments using electrophysiology (funding pending).
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Principal Investigator: Roland Staud
Acupuncture (AP) has been found to be effective for the treatment of postoperative and chemotherapy-induced nausea/vomiting as well as post-operative dental pain. Several recent randomized, controlled trials have provided strong evidence for beneficial AP effects on chronic low back pain and knee pain from osteoarthritis. For many other chronic pain conditions, including headaches, neck pain, and fibromyalgia pain, the evidence supporting AP’s efficacy is less convincing. Furthermore, AP seems to be ineffective in treating addiction, insomnia, obesity, asthma, or stroke deficits. AP’s effects on experimental pain appear to be mediated by analgesic brain mechanisms through the release of neurohumoral factors, some of which can be inhibited by the opioid antagonist naloxone. In contrast to placebo analgesia, AP related pain relief takes considerable time to develop and to resolve. Thus, some of the long-term effects of AP analgesia cannot be explained by placebo mechanisms. Furthermore, repetitive use of AP analgesia can result in tolerance as well as cross-tolerance with morphine. It appears that some forms of AP are more effective for providing analgesia than others. Particularly, electro-AP seems best to activate powerful opioid and non-opioid analgesic mechanisms.
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Principal Investigator: Zhen Su
The recent discovery of cancer stem cells has not only expanded our knowledge regarding the oncogenic process, but also has provided new opportunities to develop new and more effective anticancer therapies. Recent studies have demonstrated that cancer stem cells are chemo- and radiation-resistant, explaining the frequent failures of conventional therapies. Most importantly, the migration of cancer stem cells from its origin to other sites has shown to be responsible for the development of metastases, the main cause of cancer death. Therefore, targeting cancer stem cells in conjunction with conventional therapies (i.e. irradiation or chemotherapy) is a novel and appealing concept that is pursued in many research and development programs. Although there is recent evidence that prostate cancer stem cells exist, little is known about their exact phenotype and function in the human prostate environment. In preliminary work, we have recently shown that cancer stem cells can be isolated from human prostate cancer cells using the stem cell markers. Currently, we are conducting research that could directly target cancer stem cells for disrupting tumor regeneration in the cancer patients.
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Principal Investigator: Roland Staud
Functional neuroimaging with Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have begun to provide new insights into the cortical and subcortical processing of pain. These techniques can measure alterations in cerebral blood flow, which reflect changes in neuronal activity. The brain areas identified to be relevant to pain processing in human subjects include the thalamus, primary and secondary somatosensory cortex (S1, S2) the anterior insula and the anterior cingulate cortex. Previous results of heat sensory testing in subjects with fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) showed signs of central sensitization as well as abnormalities of pain aftersensations when compared to normal controls. The proposed study will evaluate the brain activation of FM and NC subjects during wind-up testing. FM patients will undergo measurements of clinical pain and heat sensory testing during fMRI. The quantitative methods of evaluation involve the use of a validated visual analogue scale (VAS) for measuring clinical pain as well as repetitive application of brief, non-injurious thermal and mechanical stimulation that normally produces a moderate degree of central sensitization. The subjects will verbally rate the magnitude of early and late sensations elicited by each stimulus, using a numerical scale.
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Principal Investigator: Roland Staud
Pain is a complex experience and almost always requires acitvation of nociceptors. However, in many pain syndromes such activation is not readily detectable. Low back pain and fibromyalgia (FM) are such pain disorders. This research project will examine the role of tonic nociceptive input on chronic pain in patients with FM syndrome. Age/sex matched participants will be used as normal controls. Tonic pain will be induced by muscle stimulation and reduced by muscle injection with a local anesthetic. Psychophysical testing of the skin and muscle via computerized thermal/mechanical probes will be used to examine the role of tonic mechanical stimulations on pain and pain processing. In a subsequent study the same manipulations will be used during functional magnetic resonance scans (fMRI) to characterize the pain related brain areas related to tonic impulse input.
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Principal Investigator: Soo-Jeong Kim
We are interested in finding contributing genetic factors for specific behavioral and psychiatric phenotypes of neurodevelopmental genetic disorders. Currently, we have enlisted two clinical populations for our study: Autism Spectrum Disorder and Prader-Willi syndrome. Our project consists of clinical assessments of participating subjects (phenotypic assessment) and molecular genetic study (genotyping) to find phenotype-genotype correlations.
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Principal Investigator: Edward Chan
Our laboratory is primarily interested in cell biology and autoimmunity with the focus in autoantigens and autoantibodies associated with systemic autoimmune diseases, such as Sjögren’s’ syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus, and, more recently, oral cancer. The two main directions are 1) to identify and characterize specific autoimmune target antigens and understand why autoantibodies are induced and continually produced in different disease states and 2) to use human autoantibodies as unique probes to reveal the molecular and cellular functions of interesting macromolecules and subcellular organelles that are autoimmune targets. By understanding the biology of autoantigens in health and disease states, we can appreciate the functional and pathogenic potentials of autoantibodies.
In the past 5 years, our laboratory has been actively characterizing the RNA binding protein GW182 which is a macromolecular marker of the novel cytoplasmic foci known as GW bodies (GWB). GWB were first considered as both storage centers for a specific subset of mRNAs and degradation sites for mRNAs. GWB are the mammalian counterpart of processing bodies (P bodies) identified in yeast. Interestingly, GWB are known to vary in size and number throughout the cell cycle and are largest in size and most abundant in number during the late S and G2 phases. Recent studies in our laboratory have linked RNA interference (RNAi) to GWBs, in that disruption or disassembly of GWB impairs short interference RNA (siRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) silencing activity. Furthermore, we showed that the biogensis of miRNA is closely linked to GWB formation. Gene silencing via RNAi is a remarkable form of gene regulation. The best known macromolecule essential for this biological process is the protein known as Ago2, also a significant autoantigen in lupus and related disorders, is the catalytic core of the RNA induced silencing complex (RISC). We and others have demonstrated that Ago2 is highly enriched in GWBs suggesting that RNAi function is compartmentalized in most cells examined to date. As miRNAs are implicated in the regulation of cell cycle progression and cell proliferation, it is very likely that GWBs may very well be also linked to these cellular processes. Our laboratory will continue to examine the role of GWB in cellular miRNA function, their contribution to different disease processes, and the use of RNAi for therapeutics especially in oral medicine.
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Principal Investigator: Zhen Su
Active immunotherapy using antigen-loaded antigen presenting cells (APC) has now become the focus of many academic and industry-based research and development programs since they are highly effective in overcoming immune tolerance by priming potent T-cell immunity in models for cancer or viral disease. The primary drawback of using autologous APC vaccines in clinical trials is that this mode of vaccination is a customized form of cell therapy, necessitating APC generation from every individual patient. For example, preparing human dendritic cells (DC) from progenitor cells remains a complex and laborious task, thereby limiting the availability of cells for vaccination. Moreover, the time interval between the initial cell harvest and the ultimate availability of the vaccine significantly delays or even precludes immunization of patients with progressing tumors or with acute viral disease. Allogeneic vaccines may overcome some of these obstacles, but lack the appropriate HLA or costimulatory molecules to achieve optimal antigen presentation. Our recent evidence suggests that human embryonic stem (hES) cell lines can serve as a virtually unlimited source for generating antigen-loaded APC with either immunostimulatory or immunosuppressive capacity. We are working on bring this cutting edge stem cell technology from bench to the clinic.
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Principal Investigator: Daniel Hahn
Our lab uses insects as models for basic physiological processes in human diseases. One current project explores how flies regulate blood sugar and fat loads in response to seasonal cycles. Flies enter a hibernation-like state during the winter; and like hibernating grizzly bears, over wintering flies accumulate greater fat stores than summer flies. We are studying the roles of two important endocrine signaling pathways in this process, insulin (yes, flies have an insulin signaling system!) and the glucagon-like adipokinetic hormone in this process.
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Principal Investigator: Peggy Borum
There are positions available for undergraduate students with a desire to be involved in a meaningful research experience. These projects emphasize independent, critical and creative thinking. The undergraduate research program is composed of three research teams. The Gator Team works with children who are HIV positive. There are patient support activities as well as nutritional and body composition data collection and analyses for clinical studies. The Carnitine Team studies the long-chain fatty acid carrier, carnitine, by working with animal models and analyzing data gathered in both human and animal studies. The KetoGator Team works with children participating in Ketogenic Therapy for seizures, which is a dietary alternative to anticonvulsant medications. There is an emphasis on patient support, data collection, and data analyses for clinical studies. Members of all three teams make up the InvestiGators. InvestiGators is a research-based honor society that provides students who are involved in intensive research a forum to practice good research procedure, share knowledge, and foster friendships (http://borum.ifas.ufl.edu/Investigators/ ). Undergraduate students with adequate commitment to the project have opportunities to be involved in either patient interaction and/or bench research. With time, there is a potential for leadership positions and personal thesis projects.
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Principal Investigator: Alex Angerhofer
This project will test the hypothesis that radical reactions involving uric acid are responsible for cellular disfunction. Adipocytes (fat cells)will be grown in a magnetic field with various levels of uric acid in the growth medium. Control cells will be grown without a magnetic field. Since radical reactions are sensitive to an externally applied magnetic field the cells will react differently if uric acid decays via a radical pathway.
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Principal Investigator: Margaret James
Research in this laboratory has shown that several currently used drugs and household chemicals influence the biotransformation of the steroid hormone, estradiol. The project will further examine the interaction of these chemicals with estrogen sulfotransferase and other sulfotransferase enzymes
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Principal Investigator: Keith White
This research involves perceptual alternation, its brain mechanisms, and how these differ in selected populations. Perceptual alternation happens when stimuli can be seen in more than one way, such as a drawing that looks briefly like a vase but then switches to look like two faces. Studies compare these time courses in various subjects; patients with bipolar or schizophrenic disorders, patients with Parkinson's or Alzheimer's diseas, adults with a history of 'lazy eye', and non-patient groups of various ages.
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Principal Investigator: Keith White
This research on neuroplasticity involves functional magnetic resornance imaging to identify processes in the brain which change as stroke patients recover functions during their rehabilitation.
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Principal Investigator: Adriaan Bruijnzeel
Research in our laboratory focuses on the development of novel, non-addictive, treatments for nicotine and alcohol withdrawal and relapse. We use the rodent intracranial self-stimulation procedure to investigate the negative mood state associated with drug withdrawal. In addition, we use rodent drug self-administration procedures to investigate the neuronal substrates underlying stress-induced relapse. We also have projects that investigate the long-term effects of childhood second hand smoke exposure (rat model). It is suggested that childhood second hand smoke exposure potentiates the rewarding effects of drugs of abuse later in life.
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Principal Investigator: Daiqing Liao
Our research program focuses on understanding function and regulation of tumor suppressor p53 and its homologous transcriptional activators by viral oncogenes and cellular proteins. In one project, we are studying how adenovirus E1B 55-kDa oncoprotein impacts on p53 pathway and roles of this viral oncoprotein in cell transformation induced by adenovirus, a DNA tumor virus. We have found that the E1B 55-kDa protein inhibits p53’s functions through several distinct biochemical mechanisms including inhibition of posttranslational modifications of p53, sequestration of p53 in the cytoplasm and impairs regulation of p53 by cellular proteins. Current efforts focus on understanding how E1B 55-kDa oncoprotein represses transcription and potential role of cytoplasmic sequestration of p53 by this viral oncogene in apoptosis. In another project, we are investigating the interplay between acetylase and coactivator PCAF and p53 family of proteins and the impact of their interactions on expression of p53 target genes and on tumor suppression. We are also interested in understanding how stresses relay signals to p53. To this end, we have found that p53 is phosphorylated at specific serine residues in the C-terminal regulatory domain by a yet to be identified kinase. We are making progress in identify this kinase through proteomic approaches. Our goal here is to identify this kinase and study its role in signaling pathways converging on p53. Finally, we have been interested in understanding the interactions between p53 family proteins and Daxx. We and others have found that Daxx binds to p53 and p73. These interactions may play important roles in the diverse functions of Daxx ranging from transcriptional regulation to apoptosis, as well as cell cycle control. Our long-term goal is to understand the cellular regulatory circuitries that govern cell growth and transformation through focused research on the p53 pathway by using cutting-edge technologies in cell biology, genomics and proteomics. We believe that such approaches will likely yield useful knowledge that will have major impact in cancer cell biology and may also have translational values in designing treatments for cancer patients. See: http://plaza.ufl.edu/dliao/
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Principal Investigator: Eric Storch
These projects investigate:
1) new methods of assessing symptoms and impairment in adults with Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
2) Parental experiences of having a child with an anxiety disorder
3) Insight in childhood OCD
4) There are also opportunities to conduct senior theses in this lab.
5) Perceptions of psychiatric illnesses
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Principal Investigator: Joanna Long
The project will use computer based optimization of solid state magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) to design radiofrequency experiments for high magnetic field applications. Applicant will help with design and writing Matlab programs, TCL scripts, and bash scripts to do the optimization. Applicant will also help with experimental verification of optimized solutions on spectrometers at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. Tasks will include programming, spectroscopy, working with large, superconducting magnets, and general maintenance and repair of various mechanical and electrical devices.

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Principal Investigator: Ronald Castellano
The Castellano research group uses the tools of organic synthesis to create new functional organic molecules. These molecules have potential applications in molecular recognition and self-assembly, molecular electronics and sensors, and/or as bio-inspired materials. These efforts fall within the sub-discipline known as "supramolecular chemistry". An undergraduate will synthesize small molecules to further studies in one of two specific areas: a) through-bond donor-acceptor interactions in advanced materials; b) nucleobases and related bio-derived heterocycles as optical probes, sensors, and monomers for novel responsive materials. Although this research is largely based in synthetic chemistry and solution-phase characterization (e.g. NMR, UV/Vis, fluorescence, IR, etc.), aspects of the project could involve computation (for design and study) and X-ray crystallography.
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Principal Investigator: Philip Neuhoff
We explore fundamental chemical processes controlling the evolution of the earth's surface and upper crust. Current research projects involve experimental and geological sample-based studies of thermodynamic properties and chemical phase relations, thermodynamic properties, and reaction rates. Students can obtain training in laboratory studies of reactions between minerals and aqueous solutions, calorimetric measurements of thermodynamic properties, and petrographic and chemical analysis of geological samples.
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Principal Investigator: Corene Matyas
The project uses radar data to determine where heavy rainfall occurs in landfalling hurricanes. A GIS is used to spatially analyze the rainfall patterns, which is a new approach for this type of work. The results of this project will be used to develop a rainfall forecast model that could be tested at the National Hurricane Center.
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Principal Investigator: Robin West
Several projects are being conducted to examine age differences in everyday memory performance and factors that affect these age differences, such as motivation, goal-setting, memory training, self-confidence, etc. Valuable research training will be provided. For each project, students would be trained to serve as interviewers and collect data and/or score data that has already been collected.
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Principal Investigator: Taylor Stein
The purpose of this project is to generate use estimates of hikers on the Florida National Scenic Trail. The trail extends 1300 miles from Gulf Islands National Seashore to Big Cypress National Preserve. Hiker estimates are generated at specified locations from observation periods and mechanical pedestrian counters. On-site interviews are also conducted to better understand hiker characteristics and experiences. Students will conduct on-site interviews with visitors, maintain and collect data from mechanical pedestrian counters, enter data, and conduct data analysis.
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Principal Investigator: Lise Abrams
In my Cognition and Aging Laboratory, we study memory and language processes and the effects of aging on these processes. Current studies are investigating: (1) memory retrieval failures such as the tip-of-the-tongue states, which are naturally-occurring retrieval failures that are characterized by a temporary inability to recall a known word; and (2) language errors such as the production of spelling errors and the detection of spelling errors during reading. The general goals of my research are to understand the causes of these cognitive failures as well as to explain why certain aspects of language and memory functioning are impaired in old age while others are spared.
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Principal Investigator: Troy Sadler
My research agenda relates to understanding how people learn science and what approaches to teaching facilitate learning. I have an ongoing project related to student discourse and argumentation in classrooms. We will be investigating how students learn about science and technology through the social negotiation of experiments and their findings.
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Principal Investigator: Catherine Cottrell
Our social psychology lab is looking for conscientious, motivated, and enthusiastic research assistants to help us investigate how people feel, think, and act toward various stigmatized people and groups, and why they react in these ways. This is a valuable opportunity to learn first-hand about research, gain important experience for graduate school and the job market, and earn PSY 3912 credit. You will collect data, explore the research literature, participate in lab group discussions, and perform various other research-related tasks--all while learning about stigma, prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination.
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Principal Investigator: Dan Connaughton
Projects may include assisting with various aspects of: (1) survey research on risk management practices in sport, recreation and physical activity programs; and (2) case law (judicial opinions) research pertaining to the field of sport management. Experiences may involve literature searches and reviews, and data collection and entry. NOTE: Assistants may be eligible to be named on published articles and/or presentations.
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Principal Investigator: Marsiske Michael
We have one major study for which we are recruiting students.

1. "Video Games to improve cognition" study: (belchior@phhp.ufl.edu) or (ayam@phhp.ufl.edu). We are conducting a study that examines whether training older adults to play a particular class of action video games will improve everyday functioning. Participants will be randomized to one of several groups across studies: A "gold-standard" visual attention program, Crazy Taxi, control group. After orientation sessions at UF, the main intervention occurs in participants own homes over several months, as they engage in sixty hours of game play. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether increases in mental activity (as measured by gaming logs) improves cognition, as well several secondary outcomes.

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Principal Investigator: Marsiske Michael
We have one major study for which we are recruiting students.

1. "Video Games to improve cognition" study: (belchior@phhp.ufl.edu) or (ayam@phhp.ufl.edu). We are conducting a study that examines whether training older adults to play a particular class of action video games will improve everyday functioning. Participants will be randomized to one of several groups across studies: A "gold-standard" visual attention program, Crazy Taxi, control group. After orientation sessions at UF, the main intervention occurs in participants own homes over several months, as they engage in sixty hours of game play. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether increases in mental activity (as measured by gaming logs) improves cognition, as well several secondary outcomes.

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