2022
Investigating the Potential Upslope Migration of Magnolia fraseri in Response to Climate Change, John M. Berryhill, Masters Thesis
2021
It takes two : symbiont contributions to the sea anemone (Exaiptasia pallida) stress response, Quinton Oliver Celuzza, Honors Project
Life on a shellfish : the diversity and community dynamics of Epizoic foraminifera, Adena Beth Collens, Honors Project
Machine learning approaches to multi-animal behavioral analysis, Annie Aurora Dobroth, Honors Project
Engineering a cancer vaccine, Yacine Diama Fall, Honors Project
Discerning demographics : biodiversity of testate amoebae based on analyses of single-cell transcriptomes, Clara Rojan Malekshahi, Honors Project
Who is in charge? : exploring the connection between connexin dependent bioelectrics and morphogen signaling during axis determination in zebrafish, Janeth Mora-Martinez, Honors Project
Between a cell and a hard place : mechanisms of shell-building in the Arcellinid testate amoebae, Naomi K. Ostriker, Honors Project
Light and nutrient stress elicit different responses in clonal anemone (Exaiptasia pallida) lines, Giovanna Sylvia Sabini-Leite, Honors Project
Light and nutrient stress elicit different responses in clonal anemone (Exaiptasia pallida) lines, Giovanna Sylvia Sabini-Leite, Honors Project
Differential gene expression of transposable elements in ciliates, Anna Elizabeth Tenerowicz, Honors Project
2020
Modeling variation in brook trout and brown trout seasonal survival under a changing climate, Julia Kreth Barron, Honors Project
Whole-genome sequencing and circadian gene analysis of the Polynesian tiger mosquito Aedes polynesiensis, Renna Bushko, Masters Thesis
Seedlings and photosynthesis : using response curves to inform carbon models, Alonwyn L. Clauser, Honors Project
Testate amoeba community diversity across space and time in New England bogs, Olivia Katherine Dufour, Honors Project
No refuge : decline of a northern forest herb, Clintonia borealis, at multiple sites along a broad elevational gradient suggests impacts of recent climate change, Ashley Marie Fishbein, Honors Project
Characterization of a Brugia malayi POU-homeodomain transcription factor binding to its cognate promoter, McKayla Elizabeth Ford, Honors Project
Fiddler crab burrowing and oil polution alter greenhouse gas fluxes from salt marsh soil, Adrianna K. Grow, Honors Project
Ecological distribution of testate amoebae in New England, Evelyn Grey Elizaabeth Hoffman, Honors Project
Genomic analysis of bacterial resistance to narrow spectrum antibiotics : linking phenotypes to genotypes, Nancy Yoobin Jung, Honors Project
Disease resistance variance in the Great Star Coral, Emma R. Kelley, Honors Project
Species comparison of androgen receptor density and neuron abundance in the lumbar spinal cord of frogs, Kerry Marie LeCure, Honors Project
Investigating forebrain development : robo4 cell guidance, forebrain cellular heterogeneity, and neural crest immigration, Mackenzie Patricia Heffernan Litz, Honors Project
Exploration of the phylogeography of twinleaf (Jeffersonia diphylla), an ant-dispersed forest herb native to the eastern United States, Xufen Liu, Honors Project
The effects of carbon source and oxygen availability on gene expression in uropathogenic Escherichia coli, Grace M. Moore, Honors Project
Analyses of genome structures in testate amoeba (Arcellinida, Amoebozoa) uning single-cell 'omics and flurescence microscopy, Ketty Munyenyembe, Honors Project
Foraminifera over time, space, and in response to temperature, Giovanna M. Noe-Wilson, Honors Project
Mapping the evolutionary history of genes along chromosomes in diverse eukaryotic parasites, Dana Ragooanan, Honors Project
Characterizing the role of meteorin as a midline signaling molecule for developing the embryonic CNS, Madeline Marie Ryan, Honors Project
2019
Status, threats, and restoration of acroporid corals throughout the Caribbean, Sabrina Cordero, Honors Project
Genome dynamics and nuclear changes throughout the life cycles of foraminifera, Eleanor Goetz, Honors Project
Let's face it : ǂb the teratogenic effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on craniofacial development, Aliece Tayia Goodman, Honors Project
Investigating the role of slit signaling during diencephalon development in zebrafish, Cassie Lynne Kemmler, Honors Project
The association between stress, body composition and diet quality among UMass students, Insia Naqvi, Honors Project
Examining the genome content and life cycles of Arcellinid testate amoebae : on the hunt for silicon transporter homologs, Emma Gabrielle Östlund-Sholars, Honors Project
Elucidating the potential symbiotic relationships between ciliates and bacteria, Simran Sahni, Honors Project
2018
Exploring the origin, diversity, and phylogeny of cultivated lettuce (Lactuca sativa), Youngjoo Ahn, Honors Project
Reelin in autism spectrum disorders : an investigation of reelin-disabled signaling in zebrafish neurogenesis and disease, Katrina G. Anderson, Honors Project
Cannibalism in Blepharisma americanum : a genome comparison, Bethaney Gulla-Devaney, Honors Project
A novel quantitative PCR assay for the detection of Ross River virus, Rebecca Anne Kuzma, Honors Project
Putting the "success" in succession : comparing dominant species in a deciduous forest isn't so "clear cut", Madeleine Ann Meadows-McDonnell, Honors Project
Investigating the nature of mutualisms between Rhododendron seedlings and local versus novel communities of ericoid mycorrhizal fungi, Taryn Leigh Mueller, Honors Project
Elucidating testate amoeba biodiversity : an analysis of Hyalosphenia spp, Angela Colleen O'Donnell, Honors Project
Investigating the long-term effects of human land use on soil chemistry and forest vegetation, Linda A. Patterson, Honors Project
[Triangle]Scope : a new method to quantify 3D biological structures and identify differences in zebrafish forebrain development, Morgan Sarah Schwartz, Honors Project
The effect of bumblebee caste on individuals' response to medicinal pollen, Elyse Clarissa Stone, Honors Project
Gene regulation in enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, Nhi My Van, Honors Project
Different coasts and different hosts : investigating speciation in the seal lungworm Otostrongylus circumlitus, Kalani Marie Williams, Honors Project
2017
Effects of Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) decline on forest floor characteristics and macrofungal communities at two sites in western Massachusetts, Aliza M. Boles Fassler, Honors Project
Characterization of hard and soft corals at Mexico Rocks, Belize using underwater and aerial images, Amanda Raquel Castro, Honors Project
Embryo-environment interactions : how PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) impact craniofacial development, Gina Lee Cho, Honors Project
Exogenous oxytocin in the central nucleus of the amygdala of female meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) attenuates peer bond formation, Jennifer D. Christensen, Masters Thesis
A broad-based investigation of body size of Sciurus carolinensis in space and time, Isabella Marie Fielding, Honors Project
Investigating the distribution and diversity of rare endemic forest plant species in the eastern United States, Anna Elizabeth George, Honors Project
Microcosm experiments : assessing microbial community responses to food web perturbations, Doris Lizbeth Juarez, Honors Project
Assessing the ecological relationships between Sphagnum mosses and testate amoebae in a New England peatland, Mallory Rose Kakley, Honors Project
Advantages for Elaeagnus umbellata : implications for expanded invasion in response to increasing environmental and anthropological pressures, Windy Joanne Kelley, Masters Thesis
Searching for signals of selection in crop genomes, Chloe Taylor Lee, Honors Project
The effects of change in foundational species from Tsuga canadensis to Betula lenta on soil chemistry profiles, Veida Lekakh, Honors Project
The role of sex and ovarian cycles in rodent behavioral and physiological variability, Kathleen Jane Moshofsky, Honors Project
Before and after : uncovering temporal patterns of biodiversity in microbial communities of tide pools, Abigail Angelina Onos, Honors Project
Exploring genome architecture, protein evolution and epigenetic processes in ciliates, Olivia A. Pilling, Honors Project
Using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to explore development of the somatic nucleus of the extensive fragmenting ciliate chilodonella uncinata, Anna Jollyette Rogers, Honors Project
Just a "wnt" of division : the role of wnt5b in radial glial proliferation and differentiation during Zebrafish spinal cord development, Carla Michelle Vélez García, Masters Thesis
Investigating genome architecture and composition in the class Litostomatea, Monica Annmarie Wilson, Honors Project
2016
Spatial and temporal distributions of ciliates in New England tidal ponds, Mary Elizabeth Badger, Honors Project
Characterizing PAH-induced teratogenesis of the pharyngeal system during Zebrafish craniofacial development, Kathryn Soule Berg, Honors Project
Bottom-up and top-down controls on red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus) distribution : a possible "landscape of fear" on the forest floor, Elizabeth Mary Besozzi, Honors Project
The biodiversity of gastrointestinal nematodes in South African wildlife, Chalis J. Bird, Masters Thesis
Investigating cytoplasmic dynein function using chimeric proteins to isolate subdomain mechanisms, Ria Anand Deshpande, Honors Project
A metagenomic survey of the equine gastrointestinal tract pre and post treatment with an anthelmintic, Ashanta Chy'rell Ester, Masters Thesis
Migration versus mutualism : can the small-ranged endemic plant Rhododendron catawbinse form specialized ericoid mycorrhizae with soil fungi north of its native range?, Elena Maria Karlsen-Ayala, Honors Project
Analysis of seal heartworm (Acanthocheilonema spirocauds) and identification of unknown harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) parasites using molecular techniques, Caroline Dana Keroack, Masters Thesis
Xq28 sex-linked inversion polymorphism : a teaching laboratory exercise, a population genetics study, Caitlyn Shayne Kirby, Masters Thesis
The evolution of androgen receptor distribution in the spinal cord to support specialized sexual displays : a comparative analysis using a foot-flagging frog, Staurois parvus, Gina Elizabeth Mantica, Honors Project
Developing a molecular method for estimating the effective population size of ciliate morphospecies Chilodonella uncinata, Cynthia Jepkosgei Masai, Honors Project
The presence of lateral gene transfer events in fungal genomes : determining the presence of viral lateral gene transfer events in Eukaryotic genomes, Jiaqi Mei, Honors Project
Evidence of biotic and abiotic effects in small, warm-margin distribution limit populations of a northern forest herb, Clintonia borealis (Liliaceae), Karyn Rae Nelson, Masters Thesis
Analysis of the phylogenetic relationships of genes along chromosomes in the genome of the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum, Esther Nwaka, Honors Project
Analysis of two approaches for inferring lateral gene transfer in the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum, Zuliat Owoade, Honors Project
Assessing the biodiversity and discovering evidence of RNA editing in testate (shelled) amoebae, Natalie Abigail Phillips, Honors Project
Exploring modifications and identification of neurolenin as a potential anti-filarial drug candidate for Lymphatic filariasis, Meghna Purkayastha, Honors Project
Competition and coexistence : interactions between the two herbivorous marine gastropods, Littorina littorea and L. obtusata, Alysha Barbara Putnam, Masters Thesis
Engineering proteins targeting tumor biomarker mesothelin toward applications as cancer diagnostics and therapeutics, Allison R. Sirois, Masters Thesis
Effects of snorkel use on competitive swimming efficiency, Milana Lauren Socha, Masters Thesis
The phylogeography and cytogenetics of Rhipsalis baccifera : the cactus that made it to the Old World, Elizabeth Ann Tan, Honors Project
Investigating the evolution of Wolbachia spp.- derived genes in the genome of Wolbachia-independent filarial nematodes, Eirini Tsekitsidou, Honors Project
Characterization of cyclohexanol modulation of GABA[subscript A], Erin M. Walch, Honors Project
2015
Microbes in the dark : molecular analyses of marine communities below the photic zone, Jessica Nicole Andrade, Honors Project
Assessing seasonal photosynthetic function of dominant species post-clearcut, Kyle Acadia Boyd, Honors Project
Outbreak control : designing a PCR-based diagnostic test for Dengue virus, Katharine Stuyvesant Brien, Honors Project
Novel dimensions in visual media for understanding the biological world : illustrating the effects of aquatic pollution in three case studies, Anna Marie Campbell, Honors Project
Rethinking the antagonistic role of "invasive weeds" within plant communities : a case study from the Chihuahuan Desert, Samantha Jo Danguilan, Honors Project
Modeling rapid phyllotactic transitions in Magnolia x soulangiana 'Verbanica', Madeline Christine Franz, Honors Project
Developing synthetic multi-fluorescence techniques in S. cerevisiae for single molecule microscopy, Malayna A. Hocker, Honors Project
Potential effects of eastern hemlock decline on the hemlock-associated liverwort Bazzania trilobata, Michelle Renee Jackson, Honors Project
Preserving the microbiome : quantifying collateral damage during antibiotic use, Laila Elaine Phillips, Honors Project
Reproduction in mammalian predator and prey : the effects of allometry, phylogeny, and ecology on reproduction in Canidae and Leporidae, Katherine Greer Pielmeier, Honors Project
Miseq transcriptome analysis of A. Viteae versus B. Malayi, a Wolbachia dependent nematode, Marie Jacques Seignon, Honors Project
The biodiversity of and interactions among microbes in New England ecosystems : coastal marine and low pH. bogs, Cameah Corin Wood, Honors Project