SURGe

Research Shadowing

Wish you could tour an interesting lab on campus with SURGe? We're currently seeking professors to lead lab tours in computer science and astronomy. If you have a suggestion for the Research Shadowing committee, please get in contact with one of the committee chairs.

Upcoming Research Shadowing Opportunities

Check back in the future for these upcoming, as-of-yet unscheduled events:

Previously Shadowed Research Projects

The Marcotte lab is located in the Molecular Biology building. After we met up in front of the SURGe office, we walked over to Marcotte's office. Dr. Marcotte explained that the lab space behind him was used for run-of-the-mill experimental work: several long worktables strewn with pipets, test tubes, etc. He then took us into his office to see some of the long-term outcomes of his previous work in establishing relationships between the transcriptional products of genes. This was visualized in complicated constellation-like charts that had been produced using bioinformatics, a blend of laboratory science and computing. After we got a glimpse of what the end goal of his current work is, he took the tour upstairs to his larger lab filled with, as he named them, "toys"--robots that do everything from mass ionization spectroscopy to printing large amounts of DNA microarrays. We toured the lab for a while, and listened to Dr. Marcotte's explanations of what some of the machines did, and how it was useful. One of the activities of this lab right now is determining the different genetic factors that influence the trait spina bifida, which the lab is achieving through manipulation of frog embryos. Dr. Marcotte also explained that, while the work right now may determine the genes at fault for many cases of human spina bifida, the realization of a cure for this is still a long ways off and will take much more time. Many interesting machines later, the tour was over and we thanked Dr. Marcotte for his time. Details: SURGe has organized a great lab tour to be held next week. On Tuesday, we’ll tour the Marcotte Lab, which studies bioinformatics and proteomics. You’ll need to register to before attending, as each tour is limited to fifteen students.

Monday, April 16th, 2007, 2:00 - 3:00 PM: SURGe gave a tour of the newly opened Center for Learning and Memory today led by Dr. Daniel Johnston. We began with an introduction to the Institute and heard about the research plans among the new faculty members. A group of scientist are being put together to create a diverse array of research interests in the brain and neural system. Following a mini lesson of the brain, we visited several labs and observed as students probed tissues with tiny glass pipettes in hopes of retrieving samples containing protein channels. Making our way from lab to lab, all of us were impressed by the neuro art of the photographs lining the halls of the new Neuro and Molecular Science Building. The tour was concluded when we visited with a graduate student setting up for an experiment on a table that absorbs all shock that enters the room by "floating" the huge, heavy metal table on air columns.
“Neurology is one of my major interests, so it was very fascinating. Currently, I am taking Bio 206L, which is molecular biology lab, and it is also my first official laboratory experience. I learned so much from that class and on my lab tour, I felt proud of myself for understanding some of methods that were used in the research.”
~ Won Kyun Koh, '10 UT Austin (Cell and Molecular Biology/Pre-Med)
Details: Michelle will be leading a group to go to Dr. Daniel Johnston's neuroscience lab, with focus directed towards understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of learning and memory. Attention is given to neurons and synapses from the limbic system, mostly the hippocampus, subiculum, and entorhinal cortex. The research uses quantitative electrophysiological, molecular, optical imaging, and computer modeling techniques. If you would like to attend, please register on the Dr. Johnston Lab Tour page.

Friday, March 30th, 2007, 2:00 - 3:00 PM: A group of four SURGe members including a Biology, 2 Biochem and 1 Plan II Honors student went to Patterson to visit the work of Natalia Biani, a graduate student researching the socialist behaviors of bees and their interaction with the parasitic mites who live amongst them. Natalia's work at UT under Dr. Mueller and Dr. Gilbert is supported by her field work collecting and observing samples from the forests in Panama. Natalia also shared the research of her fellow graduate students who are interested in the mating patterns, mutualism and other behavioral patterns of fungus-growing ants. We were able to see the ants and have a Q&A session with one of the undergraduate students working in the ant lab and discuss her progress as a new undergraduate researcher. The tour dispersed after taking a look at a hallway poster chronicling the stages of decay of dead animals aided by several species of beetles and flies who consume the animal.
“I really enjoyed the evolutionary biology insect lab tour...we were able to view and inspect first hand the variety of experiments being run on ants, but also because the graduate student we spoke with was very knowedgeable and exposed us to a unique side of evolutionary biology that I knew very little about.”
~ Rachel Sievert
“I’m not majoring in anything remotely close to neurobiology and Dr. Johnston made me kind of want to work in those labs.”
~ Lauren C.
Details: Michelle will be leading a molecular biology lab tour, hosted by graduate student Natalia Biani who does research on bees. She will show the group research about ants, and we will look at the equipment of a molecular lab. To register, visit the insect lab signup page.

MBB Research Shadowing Tour: The ICMB will host an MBB tour for ten members of SURGe on Monday, March 5, 2007, from 2:00 - 4:00 PM. The visit will include tours of the DNA Sequencing Facility, Imaging Facility, Protein Analysis Facility and three operating labs (Ellington, Georgiou/Iverson, and Iyer). If you'd like to join this tour, please signup at the MMB tour registration page.

On Friday, February 23, 2007, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM, we will hold a Research Shadowing lab tour of Dr. Ditmire's Physics Lab. This lab tour will be about research in Intense Ultrafast Laser Interactions, part of the AMO group, which studies interaction of ultraintense laser light with matter. These interactions can create very extreme and exoctic conditions in the lab. The research is important in areas of astrophysics, fusion research, and ultrafast radiation superdevelopment. If you can join us, please signup at the Ditmire lab tour registrant page.

On Tuesday, February 27, 2007, from 9:45 to 10:55 AM, SURGe will hold a lab tour about neuroendocrinology, and mechanisms by which the brain controls reproductive development and aging. Dr. Andrea Gore will speak for about forty minutes, and then we will see a demonstration on how to check a rat's reproductive cycle. If you can join us, please signup at the Neuroendocrinology lab tour registrant page.

Who: Dr. Jerry Brand
When: Monday, Nov. 20, 4:00
What: Dr. Brand works on cryobiology. This is the field of study that looks at freezing organisms alive in such a way that they can be carefully thawed months or years later and revived. He works specifically with algae. He has offered about an hour of both explanation of his work as well as an up-close look at the collection. This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone interested in immortality.
How: Email surgeshadowing@gmail.com. There is only room for about six people, so please sign up as soon as possible.

Tuesday, February 7th 4:50 PM
Texas Center for High Intensity Laser Science,
home of The University's petawatt laser.
Register at: www.utsurge.org/signups/laserlab/

Saturday, November 12, 2005
When: Meeting at PAI 3.04 11:30 AM
Who/What: Dr. Phil Schappert's Stengl "Lost Pines" Biology Station
401 Old Antioch Rd. C0930
For: All the plant lovers out there!
http://www.sbs.utexas.edu/philjs/Stengl/index.html

Our host, Dr. Schappert, investigates the evolution of plant chemical defenses and of host specialization.

Those attending the trek will visit the Stengl station's research greenhouse and the undisturbed country on which UT faculty are pursuing projects in genetics, ecology, evolution, and entomology.

A EUREKA profile is a prerequisite for all research shadowing events. If you haven't already created your profile, do so at:
www.utexas.edu/research/eureka/.

To register, go to the "Lost Pines" Opportunity Registration.

This Thursday, October 20th, we are having our second research shadowing event of the semester. Attendees will visit the Center for Nano and Molecular Science and Technology. Information about the Center can be found on this page:
http://www.cnm.utexas.edu/

Dr. Bill Lackowski, CNM's Chief Scientist, will be leading the tour personally. If you have any questions about nanotechnology research, you can ask him during the tour. There's a max of 10 slots available for those of you who are interested.

The tour will take place around 3 PM. We will meet outside the SURGe office, PAI 3.02, at 2:50 PM to walk to the CNM.

After filling out your profile, email Tommy Cai and forward a copy to surgeshadowing@gmail.com with "SURGe Lab Tour Reservation" in the subject to reserve a spot. Ten spots will be given out on a first come, first serve basis.

Interested in joining a research project studying insect behavior, or producing a scientific publication?

Part one: Dr. Abbott's lab and the Odonata field guide project
1) Dr. John Abbott and Barrett Klein are working on a pair of books for a new UT Press natural history book series. Their books will serve as field guides of damselflies and dragonflies (order Odonata) of Texas, and will require a great deal of work involving the digitization/imaging of every species of Odonata, as well as digital manipulation of illustrations. Someone with scientific illustration ability, computer experience, and with an interest in the production of scientific publications might enjoy the experience of working with a great local entomological authority (John Abbott) and a scientific illustrator & entomologist (Barrett Klein). These field guides will begin production imminently and are due to go into press in November 2006.
Hours expected: at least 9 per week (flexible)
Hiring: students for credit, or volunteers
Submit: C.V., and brief statement of interest/experience
Contact: Barrett Klein

Part two: Barrett Klein's research on insect sleep and social behavior
2) Barrett Klein is studying social aspects of sleep behavior and physiology. Sleep has been established in several social vertebrates and invertebrates, although virtually nothing has been established concerning sleep's importance with respect to social organization. Honey bees and paper wasps are social insects that engage in variably taxing duties within their colonies and Barrett Klein is examining what role(s) sleep plays in these insect societies. This semester will consist of data organization and analysis, collected during the summer. Future prospects include work in the Adirondacks with honey bees, and local work with paper wasps.
Hours expected: at least 9 per week (flexible)
Hiring: students for credit, or volunteers
Submit: C.V., and brief statement of interest/experience
Contact: Barrett Klein