Student Honors Research: 2020 - 2024
Amherst's Biology Department has a long tradition of active research by its faculty and participation of senior majors and other students in this research. Biology majors who enter the Honors Program devote about half of their academic effort during the senior year to research, and the resulting thesis is often the basis of their first scientific publication.
Class of 2024
Andrade, Carolina (BIOL)
Advisors: Evie Wieters & Miriam Fernandez
Assessing Hypoxia Acclimatization Potential: Depth-dependent Variations in the Lethal and Functional Thresholds of the Sea Urchin Tetrapygus niger
Balwdin, Annika (BIOL)
Advisor: Ethan Temeles
Trait Variation and Selection in Two Closely Related Jewelweed Species
Bawendi, Mia (BIOL)
Advisor: Jill Miller
Characterization of newly diverged polyploid taxon Lycium sp. De Hoop and its relation to other South African Lycium (Solanaceae) species
Cassata, Bridget (BIOL)
Advisor: Alix Purdy
A Putative Nuclease Regulating the Vibrio cholerae Acetate Metabolic Pathway
Davis, Isabel (BIOL)
Advisor: Michael Hood
The Effect of Phylogenetic Distance and Host Resistance Phenotype on Infection Success in Novel Hosts
Gonzalez, Agustina (BIOL)
Advisor: Ethan Clotfelter
Does Fortune Favor the Bold? The Effects of Boldness and Social Dominance on Body Condition in Mixed-Species Groups of Birds
Gonzalez-Kosasky, Dan (BIOL)
Advisor: Jill Miller
Species Delimitation in Lycium (Solanaceae) using Whole Plastid Genomes
Gracia-David, Jared (BIOL)
Advisor: Jeffrey Blanchard
Activities and Distributions of the Soil Bacteriophage
Harris, Kathleen (BIOL)
Advisor: Jill Miller
Resolving phylogenetic relationships using the whole plastome: An examination of Lycium (Solanaceae)
Hundley, Callie (BIOL)
Advisor: Justin Baumann
Investigating the Acclimatization Potential of Cross-transplanted Tropical Coral (Pseudodiploria strigosa and Siderastrea siderea) from the South of Belize
Seojin Jung (BIOL)
Advisor: Jeffrey Blanchard
Metagenome analysis of soil-dwelling bacterial decomposers following long-term warming using a reference genome approach
Lee, Grace (BIOL)
Advisor: Katerina Ragkousi
Characterizing the surface proteins NCAM1 and NCAM2 involved in the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis epithelial organization
MacArthur-Waltz, Evan (BIOL)
Advisor: Jill Miller
Sterility and Separate Sexes in Lycium australe: RNA Sequencing for Candidate Genes
Mezzetti, Olivia (BIOL)
Advisor: Marc Edwards
Uncovering the Structure and Dynamics of the Contractile Vacuole Network in Dictyostelium discoideum
Palreddy, Siri (BIOL)
Advisor: Michael Hood
Genetic mechanisms in Silene vulgaris underlying resistance to its endemic Microbotryum pathogen
Park, Sarah (BIOL)
Advisor: Mona Wu Orr
The Potential Interaction of Novel Pseudomonas aerugiosa Small Protein 21 with Amino Acids and Role in Chemotaxis
Quiros, Sarah (BIOL)
Advisor: Alix Purdy
The Core Functions and Evolution of the CrbS/R Two-Component System
Strothkamp, Zoe (BIOL)
Advisor: Ethan Clotfelter
Dominance informs spatiotemporal foraging behavior of mixed-species flocks
Hamaski, Katelyn (BCBP)
Advisor: Jeeyon Jeong
Investigating How Chromatin Remodeling Through the Removal of H3K27me3 Affects the FIT-dependent Iron Deficiency Response in Arabidopsis thaliana
Kang, Emily (BCBP)
Advisor: Katerina Ragkousi
Investigating the role of Lgl in organizing cytoskeletal polarity in the early embryonic epithelia of Nematostella vectensis
Soderstrom, Carl (BCBP)
Advisor: Mona Wu Orr
Characterization of Novel Small Protein 14 and Investigation of its Potential Role in Iron Acquisition in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14
Chang, Eugena (NEUR)
Advisor: Josef Trapani
The Role of Nfe2 in Hair Cell Function During Oxidative Stress
Chen, Annie (NEUR)
Advisor: Josef Trapani
The Ribbon Riddle: Understanding Ribbon-Mediated Sensory Encoding in the Zebrafish Lateral Line via Evoked and Spontaneous Activity Analysis
Grossman, Jasmine (NEUR)
Advisor: Josef Trapani
The Role of the Lateral Line in Zebrafish Startle Response Circuitry Across Development
Guzman-Clavel, Luis (NEUR)
Advisor: Sally Kim
Investigating the Role of Zyxin in Neuron and Astrocyte Development and Cytoskeletal Function
Kim, Erick (NEUR)
Advisor: John Roche
The Exocyst Subunit Sec15 Regulates Extracellular Vesicle Traffic at the Drosophila NMJ
Varona Ortiz, Ana (NEUR)
Advisor: Sally Kim
Characterizing Early Stage Tau Aggregation and the Role of Zinc in Tauopathies
Class of 2023
Augustine, Alexa (BIOL)
Advisor: Caroline Goutte
Exploring Functional Differences Between Alternative γ Secretase Subunits SEL-12 and HOP-1 in C. elegans
Butler, Jessica (BIOL)
Advisor: Ethan Clotfelter
Do Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Offset the Negative Consequences of Ectoparasites for Nestling Birds?
Carias, Diego (BIOL)
Advisor: Josef Trapani
Understanding the Role of Lateral Line and Auditory Hair Cell Stimulus Encoding in the Larval Zebrafish Startle Response
Gans, Molly (BIOL)
Advisor: Michael Hood
Disease transmission as an outcome of pathogen competition and resistance specificity
Kim, Isabelle (BIOL)
Advisor: Michael Hood
Comparing resistance responses effective against endemic and/or foreign Microbotryum pathogens in Silene vulgaris
Merickel, Lucy (BIOL)
Advisor: Alexandra Purdy
Investigating the Role of VC0299, a Putative Exonuclease, in the Acetate Metabolic Pathway
Rose, Ella (BIOL)
Advisor: Ethan Temeles
Character Displacement and Reproductive Success in Impatiens capensis
Rosenkilde, Renee (BIOL)
Advisor: Ethan Temeles
Character Displacement and Competitive Exclusion in Local Populations of Impatiens capensis and I. pallida
Tello, Julissa (BIOL)
Advisor: Katerina Ragkousi
Investigating the role of unexplored surface proteins in Nematostella vectensis embryonic epithelia
Yu, Steven (BIOL)
Advisor: Mona Wu Orr
The Potential Role of Novel Small Protein 21 in Chemotaxis Towards Amino Acids and the Discovery of Novel Small Proteins in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14
Atajanova, Tavus (BCBP)
Advisor: Katerina Ragkousi
Examining the roles of Lgl in Nematostella vectensis development through characterization of epithelial deformity
Farinas, Ali (BCBP)
Advisor: Mona Wu Orr
Discovery and Characterization of a Novel Small Protein in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14
Gordon, Jessica (BCBP)
Advisor: Jeeyon Jeong
Investigating the Potential Role of Ferroportin 3 in Mitigating Oxidative Stress in the Roots of Arabidopsis thaliana
Khoddam Mohammadi, Alireza (BCBP)
Advisor: Marc Edwards
Utilizing a Hybrid Reverse Genetic Screen to Uncover Dictyostelium Contractile Vacuole Regulators
Kim, Chloe (BCBP)
Advisor: Caroline Goutte
Investigating the role of γ-secretase extracellular domain in C. elegans Notch signaling
Kiptoo, Yvette (BCBP)
Advisor: Mona Wu Orr
Mutagenizing the bacterial small protein AcrZ and observing its effects on antibiotic resistance in E. Coli
Lopez, Leslie (BCBP)
Advisor: Alexandra Purdy
Defining the biological roles of uncharacterized genes regulated by CrbSR in the bacterial symbiont Vibrio fischeri
Omer, Sara (BCBP)
Advisor: Jeeyon Jeong
Investigating FPN3’s role in iron acquisition and intracellular transport in Arabidopsis Thaliana
Sha, Calista (BCBP)
Advisor: Caroline Goutte
Understanding the role of APH-2 in Notch signaling mediated C. elegans vulva formation
Shen, Jacqueline (BCBP)
Advisor: Marc Edwards
Characterization of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases PikG and PikH in Dictyostelium discoideum
Kibowen, Alfred (NEUR)
Advisor: Sally Kim
Proximity Biotinylation of a Trans-Synaptic Protein Neuroligin3
Min, Esther (NEUR)
Advisor: Josef Trapani
The Role of Nfe2 in the Inner Ear and the Oxidative Stress Response of Larval Zebrafish
Nayak, Aditi (NEUR)
Advisor: Sally Kim
Establishing a Role for Zinc and Mitochondria in Neuronal Response to Spaceflight
Wickland Shearer (NEUR)
Advisor: John Roche
Par-1 Kinase-Mediated Mechanisms of Active Zone Protein Localization
Class of 2022
Baird, Peter (BIOL)
Advisor: Caroline Goutte
Genomic Insertion of an Inducible Degron intoC. elegansAPH-1 and APH-2 to Allowin vivoProtein Depletion
Bloxham, Talia (BIOL)
Advisor: Alexandra Purdy
Concentrating the Search for the Signal of a Two-Component System in Vibrio cholerae
Case, Nicole (BIOL)
Advisor: Katerina Ragkousi
Investigating the Biochemical Basis of Dynamic Polarity Proteins during Development of Epitheliain Nematostella vectensis
de Pablo, Luis (BIOL)
Advisor: Ethan Clotfelter
Shocking Results: Substrate Interactions in the Escape Response of Faxonius spp. Crayfish
Fernandes, Sophia (BIOL)
Advisor: Katerina Ragkousi
Epithelial Specific Transgenesis of Nematostella vectensis via CRISPR-Cas9
Goldberg, Hannah (BIOL)
Advisor: Rebecca Hewitt
Aboveground traits suggest role of belowground processes as mediators of growth responses to nutrient limitation at the white spruce tree line in the Brooks Range, Alaska
Gulow, Nick (BIOL)
Advisor: Ethan Clotfelter
Loser Effects and Initiation Behavior in Contests Between Crayfish Species
Jonas, Zachary (BIOL)
Advisor: Mona Wu Orr
Characterization of a Novel Pseudomonas aeruginosa Small Protein and Identification of Its Potential Interacting Partners
Lingen, Kathryn (BIOL)
Advisor: Marc Edwards
Outlining a Role for a Putative Type II Phosphoinositide 4-Kinase in Multicellular Development of Dictyostelium discoideum
Madden, Anna (BIOL)
Advisor: Michael Hood
Correlated Resistance of an Endemic and a Foreign Fungal Pathogen in Silene latifolia
Mirow, Andrea (BIOL)
Advisor: Josef Trapani
Multisensory Integration of Lateral Line and Auditory Inputs in Larval Zebrafish Startle Circuitry
Nelson, Eva (BIOL)
Advisor: Alexandra Purdy
Research in the Time of Cholera: Is the CrbSR Virulence Pathway Dependent on External Osmotic and pH Conditions in Vibrio cholerae?
Park, Aidan (BIOL)
Advisor: Jill Miller
Speciation in the face of polymorphism: An examination of polyploidy in Lycium austral
Zheng, Kelly (BIOL)
Advisor: Jeeyon Jeong
Investigating the effect of FPN3 on membrane trafficking and root iron homeostasis in Arabidopsis thaliana
Drebin, Harrison (BCBP)
Advisor: Marc Edwards
Investigating the Physiological Role of Dictyostelium discoideum PikF: A Putative Class II Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase Functional Analog
Han, Bella (BCBP)
Advisor: Jeeyon Jeong
Unfolding the Interaction of FIT and bHLH39 with H3K27me3 during Iron Deficiency Response in Arabidopsis thaliana
Jeon, Jin (BCBP)
Advisor: Katerina Ragkousi
Keratin homolog (“lamin-L(I)”) and Vimentin homolog (“lamin-L(I) X2”) enable Nematostella vectensis embryos under osmotic stress to withstand ectodermal rupturing
Johnson, Maja (BCBP)
Advisor: Jeeyon Jeong
Investigating the Potential Role of Ferroportin 3 in Mitigating Iron Induced Oxidative Stress in Arabidopsis thaliana
Lim, Birkley (BCBP)
Advisor: Caroline Goutte
HOP-1 Presenilin Reduces Notch Signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans Germline
Nyamaa, Atekana (BCBP)
Advisor: Alexandra Purdy
Understanding Host-Microbe Interactions by Dissecting the Signaling Network of the Two-Component System, CrbRS, in Vibrios
Reyad, Amira (BCBP)
Advisor: Mona Wu Orr
The Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Escherichia coli AcrZ Mutants
To, Steven (NEUR)
Advisor: John Roche
The Effects of the Actin Regulator Pod-1 on PAR-1 Kinase at the Drosophila NMJ
Wood, Izzy (NEUR)
Advisor: Sally Kim
Investigating the Role of Zyxin in the Regulation of Synaptogenesis
Zabinska, Julia (NEUR)
Advisor: Sally Kim
Identifying the Role of the Zyxin-VASP Complex on Actin Regulation in Dendritic Spines
Class of 2021
Benson, Derek (BIOL)
Advisor: Ethan Clotfelter
Biomechanical performance and material properties of the claws and exoskeleton of Faxonius crayfish
Calderon, Stephanie (BIOL)
Advisor: Michael Hood
Resistance Transitivity in Silene vulgaris to two necrotrophic pathogens
Hollers, Eleanor (BIOL)
Advisor: Thea Kristensen
Source-sink Dynamics and Impact of Human Density on Black Bears (Ursus americanus) in Massachusetts, USA
Hsu, John (BIOL)
Advisor: Joohyun Lee
Identifying Upstream Regulators of PRC2 in the Cold-induced Epigenetic Response in Arabidopsis thaliana
Jung, Eric (BIOL)
Advisor: Marc Edwards
Functional Consequences in Chemotaxis and Nutrient Uptake Processes in Dictyostelium discoideum Lacking Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase 4 (PikF)
Liu, Samantha (BIOL)
Advisor: Alexandra Purdy
Identifying signals and regulatory targets of the Vibrio cholerae virulence regulator CrbSR
Rothberg, Samantha (BIOL)
Advisor: Ethan Clotfelter
Choosing Between Six Degrees and Six Feet of Separation: Weather’s Influence on Social Behavior in Winter Flocks of Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus)
Ugenti, Alicia (BIOL)
Advisor: Katerina Ragkousi
Using Tissue Reaggregation to Screen for Essential Epithelial Proteins in Nematostella vectensis
Yue, Lindsay (BIOL)
Advisor: Michelle Staudinger/UMass
Using Stable Isotope Analysis to Determine Variation in Seabird Foraging Ecology in the Gulf of Maine
Zhang, Samuel (BIOL)
Advisor: Ethan Clotfelter
Effects of Blow Fly (Protocalliphora sialia) Larvae on Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) Nestling Telomere Length
Grondin, Samuel (BCBP)
Advisor: Mona Wu Orr
Discovery of Novel Small Proteins in a Highly Virulent Strain of the Human Pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14
Neiditz, Hannah (NEUR)
Advisor: Josef Trapani
The Role of Nfe2 in Inner Ear Development and the Oxidative Stress Response in Larval Zebrafish
Paine, Isabelle (NEUR)
Advisor: Caroline Goutte
Comparison of Endogenous Presenilins in C. elegans: Two Alternative Subunits for Gamma Secretase
Schuldt, Braxton (NEUR)
Advisor: Sally Kim
Characterizing the role of zyxin in dendritic spine morphogenesis
Sele, Nisan (NEUR)
Advisor: Sally Kim
Signaling and dynamics of LIM and SH3 Protein-1 (LASP-1) in developing neurons
Class of 2020
Brooks, Jacqueline (BIOL)
Advisor: Thea Kristensen
Initial Density Estimates and Population Structure of the American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) in Massachusetts, USA
Burnett, Julia (BIOL)
Advisor: Jeeyon Jeong
Investigating the effect of APH-2 on germline stem cell proliferation in compromisedC. elegans gonads
Colwell, James (BIOL)
Advisor: Jill Miller
The Evolution and Maintenance of Gynodioecy in Diploid Lycium australe (Solanaceae)
Friend, Patrick (BIOL)
Advisor: Craig Albertson
Morphological Effects of the Inhibition of Normal Epigenome Function in the Craniofacial Complex of Metriaclima zebra
Gallegos Iraheta, Jennifer (BIOL)
Advisor: Jeeyon Jeong
The Role of Ferroportin 3 on Iron Homeostasis in Arabidopsis thaliana
Gendelman, Jacob (BIOL)
Advisor: Michael Hood
Evidence of Bipolarity and Loss of Specificity at the HD Locus in Microbotryum scorzonerae
Hong, Emily (BIOL)
Advisor: Katerina Ragkousi
Investigating the role of phosphorylation on Par-6 localization in Nematostella vectensis mitotic epithelia
Parsons, Elizabeth (BIOL)
Advisor: Jeeyon Jeong
Chromatin Remodeling as a Regulatory Mechanism of the Iron Deficiency Response in Arabidopsis thaliana
Phillips, Allan (BIOL)
Advisor: Caroline Goutte
Visualization of tagged γ-secretase subunits in C. elegans embryos
Raines, Kyra (BIOL)
Advisor: Joohyun Lee
The role of ArcAB and redox in regulating acetate metabolism in Vibrio fischeri
Schneider, Derek (BIOL)
Advisor: Jill Miller
Reproductive, phylogeographic, and ecological consequences of whole genome duplication: Evidence for polyploid speciation in Lycium australe (Solanaceae)
Ibrahimi, Sarah (BCBP)
Advisor: Alexandra Purdy
Exploring the Evolution of Bacterial Regulatory Systems: A Genomics Approach to UnderstandingCrbR/CrbS Function
Lopez, Amanda (BCBP)
Advisor: Katerina Ragkousi
Agglutination mechanism disrupts epithelial organization and lumen formation in embryos of the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis
Simoncelli, Ava (BCBP)
Advisor: Nidanie Henderson-Stull
Zhangxu, Kevin (BCBP)Advisor: Marc Edwards
Elucidating the molecular architecture of PI(3,4) P2 regulation in Dictyostelium discoideum one actin nucleator at a time
Auguste, Yohan (NEUR)
Advisor: John Roche
Barghout, Rana (NEUR)
Advisor: Josef Trapani
Contributions of Lateral Line Inputs to the Larval Zebrafish Startle Response
Ivenitsky, Anna (NEUR)
Advisor: Josef Trapani
Calcium Imaging as a Tool for Studying the Encoding Process in the Zebrafish Lateral Line
Kim, Min Kyung (NEUR)
Advisor: Josef Trapani
Using Calcium Imaging to Visualize the Effects of Lateral Line Ablation on Ear Hair Cell Activity in Larval Zebrafish
Kwon, Emily (NEUR)
Advisor: Nidanie Henderson-Stull
Verma, Ana (NEUR)
Advisor: Josef Trapani
Exploring inner ear phenotypes of Nfe2 Δ/Δ KO zebrafish larvae pre- and post-oxidative stress