Unparalleled research experience with great scientists.
2018 High School Research Hosts
Dr. Sabrina Russo, UNL School of Biological Sciences
Project Title: Friend or Foe? Plants and soil microorganisms
Project Description: Understanding how soil microorganisms help or hurt the growth and development of plants
Dr. Joshua Herr, UNL’s Department of Plant Pathology & UNL’s Center for Plant Science Innovation
Project Title: Microbial Diversity Associated With Maize Plants
Project Description: Our laboratory studies microbes that are associated with plants – with a special focus on those in the soil. The participants in this summer’s research project will work on isolation of these microbes using laboratory, cultural, and computational techniques. Projects will be focused on both above- and below-ground studies.
Dr. Chi Zhang, School of Biological Sciences
Project Title: Development of predictive model to predict phenotyping results from genomic markers
Project Description: We will develop new mathematical models to link the genomic marks to the phenotyping data, and develop an online web server based on the mathematical models.
Dr. Bin Yu, UNL School of Biological Sciences, Center for Plant Science Innovation
Project Title: The Metabolism and activity of small non-coding RNAs
Project Description: Small RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), are 20 to 24 nucleotide (nt) RNAs that function as sequence-specific regulators of gene expression at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels in eukaryotes.
Dr. Tessa Durham Brooks, Doane University Biology Department
Project Title: CSI Root: Collecting 'fingerprints' of chemical exudates of roots to improve plant health
Project Description: Roots secrete (exude) nutrients and other chemicals that can provide important clues regarding their health, much like a urine or blood sample can be used in medicine. In this project, students will join a team of chemists and biologists to develop and use an innovative method for capturing a snapshot of the root exudate 'fingerprint'. The method will be used to better understand how these chemicals help the root attract beneficial microbes (probiotics) that can promote plant health.