{"id":10048,"date":"2015-10-29T10:26:53","date_gmt":"2015-10-29T14:26:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/?p=10048"},"modified":"2015-10-29T10:26:53","modified_gmt":"2015-10-29T14:26:53","slug":"profiles-in-graduate-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/2015\/10\/29\/profiles-in-graduate-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Profiles in graduate student research"},"content":{"rendered":"

University of Rhode Island<\/a> graduate students presented their research Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, at a Science Caf\u00e9<\/a> hosted by Rhode Island NSF EPSCoR<\/a> with URI College of the Environment and Life Sciences<\/a>, College of Pharmacy<\/a>, IDeA Network<\/a>, and Rhode Island INBRE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Olivia<\/h1>\n

Olivia Ahern<\/h2>\n

Degree:\u00a0<\/strong>MS, Biological Oceanography
\nAdvisor:<\/strong>\u00a0Tatiana Rynearson<\/a>
\nCompletion date:<\/strong>\u00a0Spring 2016
\nResearch:<\/strong>\u00a0I explore microscale microbial interactions and ecological relationships between a species of cosmopolitan marine diatom –\u00a0Thalassiosira rotula<\/i>\u00a0– and its associated heterotrophic bacterial assemblage using molecular barcoding techniques, population genetics, and co-growth experiments.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Abigail<\/a><\/h2>\n

Abigail Bockus<\/h2>\n

Degree:<\/strong> Ph.D., IEB, BES
\nCompletion date:<\/strong> Spring 2016
\nAdvisor:<\/strong> Brad Seibel<\/a>
\nResearch:<\/strong> As a comparative physiologist I study how marine animals adapt to extreme environments. My dissertation work has focused on a small protein stabilizer trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) and its ability to combat different stressors such as hydrostatic pressure and temperature. I have used a number of model organisms in my research including deep-sea fishes, sharks and Antarctic krill.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Melissa<\/a><\/h2>\n

Melissa Burger<\/h2>\n

Degree:<\/strong>\u00a0Ph.D., Ecology and Ecosystem Sciences specialization, Department of\u00a0Biological and Environmental Sciences
\nAdvisor:<\/strong>\u00a0Laura Meyerson<\/a>
\nExpected completion:\u00a0<\/strong>May 2017
\nResearch:<\/strong> My research examines genome size variation in an invasive grass across North America. I’m particularly interested in how this genome size variation may cause certain plants to be favored under climate change.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Zachary<\/a><\/h2>\n

Zachary Chejanovski<\/h2>\n
Degree:<\/strong> Ph.D., Biology, Ecology and Ecosystem Sciences specialization<\/div>\n
Completion date:<\/strong> Spring 2018<\/div>\n
Advisor:<\/strong> Jason Kolbe<\/a><\/div>\n
Research:<\/strong> Species interactions in novel environments<\/div>\n
\n

Nicholas A. DaSilva<\/h2>\n

Degree:<\/strong> Ph.D., Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharmacology specialization)
\nAdviser:<\/strong> Navindra Seeram<\/a> | co-adviser: Angela Slitt<\/a>
\nResearch focus:<\/strong> The core of my research interests are centered around investigating natural products (typically from plants and dietary sources) and their role in preventing inflammation and ultimately cancer. I am also currently exploring the influence of Adipocytes on the bone marrow microenvironment and the initiation\/progression of Multiple Myeloma.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Keith<\/a><\/h2>\n

Keith Dufault-Thompson<\/h2>\n
Degree:\u00a0<\/strong>Ph.D., Cell and Molecular Biology<\/div>\n
Advisor:<\/strong>\u00a0Ying Zhang<\/a><\/div>\n
Research:<\/strong>\u00a0My project focused on analyzing the genomes of various members of the bacterial genus Shewanella. This genus lives in deep sea environments as well as in the upper oceans. As a result the genus has adapted to many different temperature ranges making it a unique focus of study with respect to rising ocean temperatures. The genomic analysis of the genus seeks to identify some of the genes that make this genus so adaptable and then analyze the presence of these genes in various ocean samples in an effort to gain some perspective on the adaptability of the bacterial communities and how they might respond to global climate change.<\/div>\n
\n
\n

\"Mike<\/a><\/h2>\n

Mike Fong<\/h2>\n

Degree:<\/strong>\u00a0MS, Biological Oceanography
\nAdvisor:<\/strong>\u00a0Susanne Menden-Deuer<\/a>
\nCompletion date:<\/strong> thesis submitted, Fall 2015 graduate
\nResearch:<\/strong>\u00a0I study the signals used by microzooplankton to direct and mediate motile behaviors to encounter their prey. Using three-dimensional filming techniques, I am able to quantify the modifications in individual swimming behaviors in response to different environmental conditions and estimate how this change is reflected at the community level.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Niels-Viggo<\/a><\/h2>\n

Niels-Viggo S. Hobbs<\/h2>\n

Degree:<\/strong> Ph.D.,\u00a0Ecology and Ecosystem Sciences specialization, Department of Biological Sciences
\nCompletion date:<\/strong> Spring 2016
\nAdvisor:<\/strong> Carol Thornber<\/a>
\nResearch:<\/strong> I study the ecological and life history costs of aggression in decapod crustaceans, with a particular emphasis on how invasive crabs compare to native species, and how these behaviors affect community dynamics. As I pursue this subject, I\u2019m increasingly interested in differing forms of association within and between invertebrate species, particularly facilitation, cooperation, and mutualism.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Wa<\/a><\/h2>\n

Wa Iba<\/h2>\n

Degree:<\/strong> \u00a0Ph.D., Aquaculture
\nAdvisor:\u00a0<\/strong>Michael A. Rice<\/a>
\nCompletion date:<\/strong>\u00a0Spring 2016
\nResearch:<\/strong>\u00a0I investigate the possibility of using local isolated\u00a0micro algae from SE-Sulawesi, Indonesia to be used in aquaculture hatcheries using white shrimp larvae as a model.\u00a0 I compare the performance of Indonesian\u00a0micro algae to widely used\u00a0micro algae\u00a0species in Aquaculture,\u00a0Thalaisiosira weissflogii and Chaetoceros neogracile<\/p>\n

\n

\"Ryan<\/h2>\n

Ryan Sullivan<\/h2>\n
Degree:<\/strong> MS, Civil and Environmental Engineering<\/div>\n
Advisor:<\/strong> Vinka Oyanedel-Craver<\/div>\n
Completion date:<\/strong> Spring 2016
\nResearch:<\/strong> I am working in conjuction with the University of Johannesburg in South Africa to develop and promote point-of-use water treatment systems utilizing ceramic water filters made from local clay that are impregnated with silver nanoparticles to increase removal of pathogens in drinking water sources.<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n

\"Joselynn<\/a><\/h2>\n

Joselynn Wallace<\/h2>\n
Degree:<\/strong> Ph.D., Biological and Environmental Sciences<\/div>\n
Advisor:<\/strong> Bethany Jenkins<\/a><\/div>\n
Research:<\/strong> I study diatoms \u2014\u00a0microscopic algae that are responsible for every fourth breath we\u00a0take.\u00a0 Like green land plants that we need to live and grow, diatoms are an important source of nutrients for marine organisms like whales and fish.\u00a0 I am using molecular methods to describe two things that affect their role at the base of the ocean food web \u2014\u00a0how they cope with nutrient stress and how they respond to rising carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.<\/div>\n
\n
\n

\"Claire<\/a><\/h2>\n

Claire Wilson<\/h2>\n

Degree:<\/strong> MS, Biological Environmental Sciences (EES specialization)
\nAdvisor:<\/strong>\u00a0Evan Preisser<\/a>
\nCompletion Date:<\/strong> Spring 2017
\nResearch:<\/strong> I study the interaction between two invasive insects (hemlock woolly adelgid and elongate hemlock scale) on eastern hemlock, a native conifer. We explore how priority effects of infestation may alter overall impact on tree health.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

\"Shuwen<\/a><\/h2>\n

Shuwen Zhang<\/h2>\n

Degree:<\/strong> Ph.D., Oceanography
\nAdvisor:<\/strong>\u00a0Lewis M. Rothstein<\/a>
\nCompletion date:<\/strong> Defended Sep 15, 2015; officially graduate in December 2015
\nResearch:<\/strong>\u00a0My current research focuses on the numerical modeling of the physical and ecological environments in the Mid-Atlantic Bight and Rhode Island coastal waters. The model system I constructed is being used to obtain a quantitative understanding of the long-term variability of the shelfbreak circulations in the Mid- Atlantic Bight, and to investigate the impacts of physical processes on the ecological processes in Rhode Island coastal waters.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

University of Rhode Island graduate students presented their research Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, at a Science Caf\u00e9 hosted by Rhode Island NSF EPSCoR with URI College of the Environment and Life Sciences, College of Pharmacy, IDeA Network, and Rhode Island INBRE. Olivia Ahern Degree:\u00a0MS, Biological Oceanography Advisor:\u00a0Tatiana Rynearson Completion date:\u00a0Spring 2016 Research:\u00a0I explore microscale microbial […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10048","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10048","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10048"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10048\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10048"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10048"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10048"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}