BIOrhythms
a publication of the Washington University Biology Department for Undergraduate Majors
Bio 200/500 Research Spotlights
Kristen Reikersdorfer on Hengen Lab
I have spent the last four years as a member of the Hengen Lab, where I have taken a deep dive into neuroscience and neural engineering. Our group focuses on understanding the self-organization of complex brain activity in freely behaving animals. Paramount to this investigation are robust, long-term electrophysiological recordings, which allow us to study the same subset of neurons over many months.
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Michelle Pollowitz on the Penczykowski Lab
Many labs and research opportunities closed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, just as my research in plant disease ecology was beginning. In January 2020, I began research in the Penczykowski lab to study effects of temperature on fungal infection of common weedy plants in the genus Plantago. I spent the first weeks of the semester learning skills and techniques that I would need in the lab-based data collection that would begin after spring break. Things went a little differently than planned.
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Ellie Sapiro on the Herzog Lab
I have had the privilege of working in the Herzog Lab since the spring of my sophomore year. The Herzog Lab studies biological clocks and different cells, circuits, and molecules that affect circadian rhythms. Biological clocks are intrinsic oscillators that coordinate approximately 24 hour physiological and behavioral rhythms in almost all organisms.
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Eka Jose and Ethan Lowder on the Kranz Lab
For both of us, COVID has changed things but we believe that the Kranz lab has adapted well to these challenges. I believe that our openness in communication, adaptation to challenges of zoom, and recognition that COVID has made our personal lives more flexible has greatly added to this success. The support from WashU through technology and study spaces, the Kranz lab, and the WashU research community as a whole has made this change much easier for us. We hope that we can continue to stay safe doing this work and look forward to making the adjustment back to normal in the future!
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Shayna Rosenbloom on the Gordon Lab
My name is Shayna Rosenbloom and I am a senior majoring in Environmental Biology. For the last year and a half, I have been lucky to work with Dr. Swanne Gordon as part of her eco/evo lab with Dr. Andrés López-Sepulcre. Dr. Gordon studies evolution and maintenance of color polymorphisms and sexual selection in the Wood Tiger Moth and the rapidly evolving Trinidadian Guppy.
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Ethan Weiner on Haswell Lab
Hello! My name is Ethan Weiner and I am currently a senior about to graduate with a Biology major with a Biochemistry concentration. Since spring semester of my sophomore year, I have had the privilege of working in Dr. Haswell’s lab. Her lab studies the ways in which plants respond to mechanical stimuli. I have utilized algae and moss as model organisms in order to better understand a specific family of protein channels (Piezos) that are likely involved in not just plants’, but many eukaryotes’ responses to certain mechanical stresses.
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Irene Hamlin on the Budge Lab
In the Budge Lab we focus on the eradication of lymphatic filariasis (LF) which is a neglected tropical disease caused by the Wuchereria bancrofti worm endemic in Western and Central Africa. This disease damages the lymphatic system, often causing lymphoedema and elephantiasis of the limbs. I’ve spent the last year and a half as an undergraduate research assistant working towards improving the rapid diagnostic test for LF. The World Health Organization’s Global Program for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis depends on efficient and accurate diagnoses to inhibit transmission. Currently, cross reactive antigens from the co-endemic Loa loa worm produce false positive test results and impede the successful treatment of those with Lymphatic Filariasis. Misdiagnosis bears significant risks, as treating false positives may lead to encephalopathy and death.
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Maya Dutta on the Olsen Lab
Adaptation to local environments is critically important for a plant’s ability to survive in a variety of ecological settings and persist in the face of climate change. The genetic and physiological mechanisms that regulate these processes, however, are not well known. In the Olsen Lab, we aim to understand the genetic basis of evolution in plants.
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Kevin Yin on the Rentschler Lab
In the Rentschler lab, we aim to address heart disease by looking at how developmental pathways and gene regulation networks are associated with various heart diseases. We are specifically interested in how alterations of genes during development or in the adult can lead to arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia.
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Samuel Kim on the Kummer Lab
In the Kummer lab, we are focused on creating the tools needed to help localize the foci of neural circuit dysfunction. Although the historical attention has been on axonal injury, with synapses below the resolution of classical techniques, new technology enables us to overcome this barrier.
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Mitchell Grinwald on the Chheda Lab
My work in the Chheda lab as a Bio500 independent research student has given me a fantastic opportunity to explore my interests at the intersection of epigenetics and cancer biology. Additionally, the ability to conduct independent research with the exceptional support which my PI (Dr. Chheda) and bench mentor (Dr. Galdieri) provide has enabled me to learn new techniques and think critically about experimental design and analysis.
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BIOrhythms archive
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December 2025
Featuring Tony Smith on the Biology Undergraduate Independent Research Program, plus student experiences, new student group MedGenetiX, and more
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April 2025
This issue features new Assistant Professor Andreas Kautt, BIOL 4523 Molecular Methods in Enzyme Analysis, and Junior Jumpstart
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February 2025
This issue features Kevin Cox, the Spring 2025 Undergraduate Research Symposium, and helpful information about WashU’s new Workday Student system.
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November 2024
This issue features Ben Mansfeld, Bio 4346 Next-Gen Genetics and more
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September 2024
Biology Research Ambassador's program, WashU chapter of the American Society for Microbiology and more
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April 2024
This issue features Jennifer Wang and Bio 3494 Microbes and the Environment
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February 2024
Bio 4935 Research Perspectives with postdocs Tyler Larsen and Margaret Steele, Spring 2024 Undergraduate Research Symposium, Engage Democracy
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November 2023
Faculty Spotlight: George Hoganson, Assistant Prof of Pediatrics, Course Spotlights: Bio 2652 & 2658: PEMRAP I & II; Bio 3057 vs. 3058: changes to Physiological Control Systems, New Student Group: WashU Genomics & Precision Medicine Society
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October 2023
Faculty spotlight: Xuehua Zhong; Course spotlight: Bio 4344 Epigenetics
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April 2023
Features Mark Manteuffel, Instructor; Stella Rusel, new Student Coordinator, Bio 380 and Bio 4193.
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February 2023
This issue features Lecturer Corey Westfall, new courses for fall 2023 and more
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November 2022
This issue features a Faculty Spotlight on Liz Mallott, Course Spotlight on Bio 349 Microbiology, WashU Votes: midterm election party on November 8th, new student group KDSAP offering clinical experience, and more.
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September 2022
Featuring Assistant Professor B. Duygu Özpolat, WashU Votes, Vagelos Fellowship, and best places to study in Biology
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April 2022
Featuring Barbara Schaal and Bio 3900: Science for Agriculture and Environmental Policy
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More BIOrhythms Archive
All issues of BIOrhythms dating back to September 2008