The kappa opioid receptor (KOR) system is a promising target for substance use disorder, yet its role in long-term addiction regulation remains unclear. This project investigates how selective activation of the KOR/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway activates the enzyme peroxiredoxin VI (PRDX6), triggering the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and resulting in long-lasting KOR inactivation distinct from its canonical Gαi pathway. I investigate whether JWT-101, a repurposed ligand, acts as a long-term KOR antagonist by inducing JNK-mediated ROS production, potentially offering new therapeutic avenues. KOR-Cre mice were injected in the prefrontal cortex with oROS-Gr, a fluorescent tag that senses ROS concentrations, for selective expression in KOR-positive neurons. Using high-resolution two-photon microscopy, I monitored ROS levels in live brain slices after 2 weeks from these mice. Bath application of JWT-101 led to increased fluorescence, indicating elevated ROS production and thus, JNK activation. To confirm JNK path specificity, I applied MJ33, an inhibitor of PRDX6. Fluorescence was reduced following MJ33 treatment, indicating that JWT-101 acts in a KOR/JNK manner. These findings suggest that JWT-101 induces KOR inactivation through ROS-mediated signaling. This research provides insights into KOR/JNK signaling in substance use disorders, with implications for developing targeted therapies for recovery and relapse prevention.

Dynamic marine environments require long-term spatiotemporal datasets to successfully monitor and understand patterns in ecosystem composition on a decadal scale. High-resolution photography is often used to compensate for the field logistical constraints associated with marine sites, such as personnel availability or weather conditions, and works well to quickly capture data in the field. However, these photos require extensive manual analysis after the fact. As a research mentee, I asked the question: “Can image annotation with machine learning models provide enough clear data to inform community ecology studies of sessile organisms in subtidal habitats?” Using images collected through transect/quadrat sampling by the Sebens Lab’s Salish Sea Long-term Monitoring Project (University of Washington Biology and Friday Harbor Laboratories), a variation of an open-source model (CoralNet) was trained in the identification of relevant sessile flora and fauna. I then used CoralNet to continue the work of the lab by generating sessile assemblage metrics for a single site in the Friday Harbor Laboratories Biological Preserve. This site included images from transects at two different depths, with sampling from 2014 and 2024. After being uploaded, CoralNet identified 200 random points per image to the lowest possible taxon. I then reviewed all annotations for accuracy and corrected them whenever necessary. This technique greatly reduced the time spent per identification, without sacrificing accuracy. Next, I calculated species richness and Simpson’s Diversity for each quadrat and transect, comparing between depth and year. My analysis showed significant increases in both metrics from 2014 to 2024 and no significant differences between depths, demonstrating a successful report on the dynamics of a subtidal marine community. Application of this method to the entire existing dataset (7 sites, 63 transects per year), and others, provides opportunities to streamline analysis of sessile community composition.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a severe neuromuscular disease caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene and characterized by progressive muscle wasting. Dystrophin protein is essential for the stabilization of muscle fibers; without it, continuous muscle damage eventually has devastating consequences in the skeletal, cardiac, and respiratory systems. While prior AAV-mediated editing strategies have been effective in targeting these mutations, there are significant immunological concerns from the uninterrupted expression of bacterial gene editing components. This project utilizes the mdx mouse model of DMD to address these concerns by developing methods to turn gene editing on and off using novel drug-responsive pA regulator vector constructs. I have been part of this project from the start, contributing to the assembly of the expression constructs using bacterial cultures and standard cloning techniques relying on restriction enzymes and high-fidelity cloning kits to piece together our editing constructs. Initial data was acquired from cell culture tests where I helped perform quantitative dual-luciferase reporter assay analyses. Subsequent in vivo experiments were performed by delivering adeno-associated viral vectors, carrying our constructs, into mdx mice via retro orbital injection. Activation of editing activity was achieved via three intraperitoneal injections of Tetracycline.  During analyses, I played a significant role in processing muscle tissues to extract proteins, DNA, and RNA for quantitative assays. Ultimately, our cell culture tests identified two lead pA regulator sequences exhibiting favorable activation levels at therapeutically relevant Tetracycline doses. Initial in vivo tests are promising, showing drug responsive editing and dystrophin expression in mice. We anticipate that our follow up tests will restore sufficient dystrophin expression and improve muscle function, without persistent editing activity. Overall, the outcomes of these studies could have significant implications for a multitude of genetic conditions amenable to genome editing and may help accelerate translation of effective methods towards clinical trials.

Historical archaeologists understand toys in the material record to explicitly mark past activities of children. This project focuses on the play activities of enslaved children on North American plantations through the toys they left behind. We used data from the Digital Archaeological Archive of Comparative Slavery (DAACS) to explore the material evidence for identity formation and socialization of enslaved children based on existing studies on enslaved childhoods. Specifically, we investigated the following questions: what materials and manufacturing techniques were most frequently used in the creation of the toys of enslaved children on North American plantations? Based on the associated costs of these materials, what is the range of expense exhibited by enslaved children's toys? What role might toys have played in enslaved children’s agency or passivity in socialization? To address these questions, we queried the DAACS repository concerning object specifications like material and manufacturing technology for toys excavated from North American plantations. This data was imported into RStudio, where we used programming packages to clean it and create visualizations to convey trends. Our pilot project (48 toys) found that porcelain and a molding technique were most frequently used, materials with varying expenses were present, and some toys exhibited post-manufacture modifications. We now have data on 599 toys from 41 sites on 13 plantations, greatly improving our representation of enslaved children in the material record. In this poster we present the result of our analysis of this large data set and compare the locations. The findings of this research will help to fill in gaps of a larger conversation about the relationship between childhood play and race, and more broadly contribute to archaeology’s attention to past social dynamics.

The Aurignacian, a major cultural phase of the Upper Paleolithic, was characterized by remarkable advancement in the social and cognitive capacities of human beings. This period is marked by technical innovations - such as bone tools and weapons, and artistic developments - in the form of cave paintings and portable art. Evidence from this time period also suggests the emergence of social groups spread across Europe. We investigate interactions between these groups by studying the distribution of objects with engraved geometric signs. We use data from SignBase, a large catalog of archeological data from European Paleolithic sites to quantify group areas and site hierarchies, identifying potential ‘checkpoints’ and ‘central places’. Applying seriation, networks analysis, and measures of sign richness and diversity, we examine how the social dynamics change over the four sub-periods of the Aurignacian. We infer patterns of social group boundaries and interactions, improving our understanding of the structure and complexity of Aurignacian social networks.

Chloroplasts are central to plant immunity and act as a hub for immune signalling and defence-related hormone synthesis. The essential chloroplast-localized protein FtsHi1 is a component of the FtsHi import motor and is vital to translocating proteins across the chloroplastic membrane. Viral-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of FtsHi1 in Nicotiana benthamiana results in a bleached phenotype, indicative of decreased translocation of essential chloroplastic proteins and decreased chlorophyll synthesis. Previous work identified herbivore-induced kinase 1 (HIK1) as a potential interactor of FtsHi1. HIK1 is a receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase (RLCK) implicated in the immune response to caterpillars. FtsHi1 contains a predicted RLCK phosphorylation site, indicating possible phosphorylation of FtsHi1 by HIK1, which could promote defence signalling over photosynthesis. This project aims to test the impact of phosphorylation on FtsHi1 function and its role in protein translocation across the chloroplastic membrane. This work utilises engineered FtsHi1 variants, which mutate the serine phosphosite to either mimic FtsHi1 phosphorylation (Ser→Asp), prevent it (Ser→Ala), or recapitulate the wild-type protein sequence. To test the phosphosite mutation effects, FtsHi1 VIGS knockdown of N. benthamiana leaves will be transiently modified using Agrobacterium tumefaciens bacteria to express WT or phosphorylation-modified FtsHi1 constructs. The resulting colour phenotype for each construct will then be compared to the bleached phenotype of TRV2:FtsHi1 plants and the phenotype of wild-type plants. I hypothesise that the FtsHi1 phospho-null mutant will result in a rescue phenotype similar to wild-type FtsHi1, whereas FtsHi1(phospho-mimic) will retain the bleached phenotype.Examining FtsHi1 phosphorylation enhances our understanding of its potential interaction with HIK1 in herbivory-induced plant defences. Future studies will explore FtsHi1's role in defence mechanisms, with implications for engineering herbivory-resistant crops. 

Kappa opioid receptor (KOR) ligands have been explored for anti-anxiolytic, anti-depressive, pain, and substance use disorder therapeutics. These therapeutic effects are partly due to biased signaling through the cJun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) pathway, which involves complex molecular interactions and downstream effects that inactivate the receptor by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS). JWT-101, a clinically approved compound, has been shown to produce therapeutic effects for these conditions. We hypothesize that its mechanisms of action are through KOR antagonism. I previously assessed KOR agonist-induced analgesia by measuring the latency of tail withdrawal from 52.5°C water after treatment with U50,488, a KOR agonist. Pretreatment with 15mg/kg JWT-101 24 hours before U50,488 injection effectively blocked KOR-induced analgesia in wild-type male mice. This effect was reversed by the short-acting, KOR-selective antagonist Aticaprant (5 mg/kg), suggesting that JWT-101’s action is mediated through KOR. Further investigation using in-vivo fiber photometry with the novel peroxide sensor AAV oROS-Gr revealed that JWT-101 significantly increases ROS production in KOR-expressing cells. Injection of 15 mg/kg of JWT-101 increases oROS fluorescence compared to control post-injection. Pretreatment with Aticaprant 15 minutes prior to JWT-101, blocks oROS fluorescence, suggesting that JWT-101’s activity is mediated by KOR. Pretreatment with MJ33 (a PRDX6 inhibitor upstream of JNK activity) 50 minutes before treatment with JWT-101 blocked oROS fluorescence, suggesting that this ROS production is through the JNK/PRDX6 pathway of KOR activation. This study provides insights into the mechanism of action of JWT-101 and examines the underlying molecular mechanisms of KOR-associated effects.

Plants utilize molecular patterns in order to detect threats to the plant. Through the recognition of molecular patterns by their associated receptor, plants are able to initiate an appropriate immune response, measurable by the increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana, the pathogen associated molecular pattern flg22 is detected by the pattern recognition receptor Flagellin Sensitive 2 (FLS2) to initiate intracellular signaling. The immune signaling kinase Botrytis-Induced Kinase 1 (BIK1) is then phosphorylated by FLS2 to transduce the immune signal, initiating ROS production. However, A. thaliana lacks a group of immune signaling kinases related to BIK1 called Herbivory-Induced Kinase Like Kinases (HLKs), which are present in multiple species including tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). The goal of this project is to determine the role of HLKs in immune signaling. To investigate the role of HLKs in immune signaling, A. thaliana were transformed with transgenes to express HLKs or overexpress BIK1. Stably transformed A. thaliana lines were then bred to produce progeny that are homozygous for the transgenes. These lines are treated with flg22 in order to initiate an immune response. ROS is used to measure the immune response of each transgenic line, where HLK expressing individuals are compared with BIK1 overexpressing individuals as a control group. I anticipate that HLKs will increase the ROS production when compared with the controls, signifying an increased immune response, since HLKs are related to the native BIK1. An understanding of the role of HLKs in FLS2 immune signaling in the model organism A. thaliana can be applied to crop species that employ HLK mediated immune signaling.

Machu Picchu is an archaeological site in Peru that is an important source of information about the Incas. In the middle of the 15th century, Machu Picchu was established as an ancient city by the Inca Empire. However, their lives were disrupted by Spanish contact and disease. Smallpox spread from 1519 to 1520, which killed the emperor of the Inca Empire, Huayna Capac. Spanish contact in 1532 forced the Inca people to abandon Machu Picchu. My research investigates whether there may have been epidemics before Spanish contact and how they may have affected the Inca people. I applied survival analysis statistics to the raw data on human remains and compared the results to a known plague population from Europe. I also analyzed radiocarbon ages to detect epidemics in earlier time periods. The skeletal data analysis did not find strong evidence of pre-contact epidemics. The radiocarbon analysis suggests potential depopulation due to epidemics. I encourage future scientists to investigate with more data and a bigger range of periods before and after Spanish contact to further explore possible past epidemics in this region.

Archaeology offers a way to understand the lives of people in the past. By analyzing the material that people left behind, we gain insight into their lives and behavior.  Here, I present investigations into ochre grinding technology from the Tanginak Springs site, in Kodiak, Alaska. The Tanginak Springs site dates to the earliest (Ocean Bay 1) culture-historical period on the Kodiak Archipelago. As is typical of sites of the time, there are several red ochre “floors,” along with the tools used to manufacture the ochre pigment in the archaeological record. There appears to have been a significant ochre manufacturing industry during the Ocean Bay 1 period, although the specifics of that industry are not well understood. I analyzed the tools that people used to produce ochre pigment at Tanginak Springs, looking for patterns of continuity and change through the site’s 1,500 year occupation. The grindstones show the amount of use at the time that Alutiiq ancestors stopped using that specific tool. Using the size of the marks on the grindstones, I describe changes in the intensity of ochre grinding across the stratigraphic record of the site, correlating to change over time. Understanding the ways that Alutiiq ancestors produced ochre has potential implications for our understandings of the ways that they understood and used their landscape, as well as the function of red ochre in their lives.

Chronic pain affects about 20% of the adult population in the US, with more than 25% of these being pain that severely limit a person’s daily activities. In recent years, scientists in the field have been classifying pain as both a sensory response and emotional experience influenced by physiological and social factors. Newer research on pain behaviors and social behaviors have indicated that there is a positive association between the presence of cage mate in pain and the sensitivity to pain for a mouse. Although the behavioral responses are observed, the neural circuits mechanisms have yet to be examined. I will inject wild type mice with GCaMP in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and RCaMP in the basolateral amygdala (BLA). GCaMP and RCaMP are both genetically encoded Calcium indicators and are sensitive proxies for measuring excitatory transmission between brain regions. I will then implant fibers in both brain regions of all mice for fiber photometry recordings. After sensor expression time, I will check Calcium signals using a stressful stimulus known to stimulate excitatory pathways in mice then surgically induce pain in half of the mice. Mice will be split into chronic pain and pain-free groups, with their cage mate being either in pain or pain-free. I will perform a triad of behavioral pain testing simultaneously with fiber photometry recording, including tests for mechanical and thermal pain. I predict that for pain-free mice housed with a cage mate in pain, their pain threshold will decrease, as measured by all behavioral experiments. This should be accompanied by a stronger increase in BLA to mPFC Calcium signal when the mice are receiving painful stimuli. 

The ongoing opioid epidemic has made the need for alternative pain management strategies more urgent than ever. Nearly 1 in 5 Americans suffer from chronic pain, which has traditionally been treated with opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). However, both classes of drugs come with significant drawbacks. NSAIDs are often ineffective for managing chronic pain and can cause kidney and liver damage with prolonged use. Meanwhile, opioids lose their effectiveness over time, contributing to misuse, substance use disorders, and an increased risk of overdose. With few alternatives available that don't carry these risks, researchers are exploring new pain management options. One promising avenue is the use of cannabinoids, which are known for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. In this study, I employ machine learning to create an unbiased kinematic and behavioral profile of mice experiencing chronic neuropathic pain using a custom-built linear track. Chronic pain and limb impairment are induced through partial sciatic nerve ligation, and a deep learning system analyzes videos of the mice to assess their movement patterns before and after treatment. I then compare these profiles to those of mice treated with NSAIDs, opioids, and cannabinoids, evaluating the effects of each treatment on behavioral measures like body position, which serves as a proxy for pain state and stress. We expect the mice treated with analgesics to show increased rearing and grooming behaviors. This research not only compares the analgesic effectiveness of cannabinoids to traditional pain-relief drugs but also helps reduce the stigma surrounding cannabinoid-based treatments.

Recent technological breakthroughs have allowed important advances in the description of deep reefs (below 30 m). However most research has been restricted to the upper section of deep reefs (down to 80 m) and has primarily focused on fish and coral communities. By contrast, the composition of the lower portion of deep reefs, and of non-coral habitat-forming communities remains limited. This work focuses on how the composition and structure of habitat-forming communities change across the entire depth range of a tropical reef-dominated ecosystem, from 5 to 300 m. Using a combination of SCUBA and manned submersible diving, benthic transects were performed in  Curaçao , an island in the Southern Caribbean Sea. Using a combination of morphology, taxonomy, and trait ecology, I will evaluate the faunal breaks of habitat-forming communities with depth. In addition to providing one of the first descriptions of the diversity and community structure of habitat-forming communities across the entire range of a reef’s slope, this work will contextualize over a decade of deep-reef fish observations conducted at this study site. This study will also provide insights into the vertical reef connectivity and resilience, informing future management efforts of deep Caribbean reefs. 

Understanding the structure and habitat preferences of deep-reef fishes is crucial for effective conservation management. Mesophotic ecosystems, occurring between 40 and 150 m, are understudied ecosystems with limited biodiversity assessments, although their importance in supporting species of commercial interest is established.  In particular, very few studies have described mesophotic fish assemblages in the Mediterranean, where essential fish ecosystems face increasing pressures from human activities. This study investigates fish species composition, abundance, and depth distribution at two sites in the Aegean Sea (Eastern Mediterranean).  Fish observations were collected by technical rebreather divers from the surface to 90 meters depth, along with information on habitat and fishing pressure. I will complement this dataset with information collected from the IUCN to identify patterns in species distribution, vulnerability, and habitat associations. This study will provide valuable insights into the community structure and habitat associations of mesophotic fish assemblages, ultimately contributing to conservation strategies that protect vulnerable marine ecosystems in the Mediterranean.

The rapid evolution of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria poses a critical global health challenge, predicted to cause 10 million deaths annually by 2050 if left unaddressed. AMR genes frequently reside on plasmids– small, circular DNA separate from bacterial chromosomes. These plasmids spread between bacteria through horizontal gene transfer (HGT), where genetic material moves directly from one cell to another, rapidly disseminating resistance genes across populations and species. In contrast, vertical gene transfer (VGT) occurs during bacterial reproduction, passing genes from parent to daughter cells. The machinery plasmids use for HGT imposes a fitness cost on the host, slowing its growth and reproduction (VGT). This means plasmids typically face a trade-off: investing resources in HGT limits the host’s ability to reproduce efficiently through VGT. My research uncovered a “trade-off-breaking mutation” that simultaneously enhances both HGT and VGT, accelerating the spread of AMR genes. Such mutations have significant public health implications, potentially leading to highly virulent, drug-resistant bacterial strains. I am creating a genotype-to-phenotype map to link specific plasmid mutations to their effects on HGT and VGT rates, aiming to understand the dynamics of resistance spread. This work involves verifying mutations in our mutant plasmid library using targeted sequencing techniques and applying the Luria-Delbrück method, a specialized approach developed by my mentor, Dr. Olivia Kosterlitz, to measure gene transfer rates. By analyzing these mutations, I seek to uncover how some plasmids avoid the typical trade-offs, enabling them to reproduce quickly while spreading resistance efficiently. Understanding the relationship between HGT and VGT is critical for predicting how antibiotic resistance evolves and for developing strategies to slow its spread. This research reveals the importance of trade-off-breaking mutations in resistance management, providing new insights into how we might combat one of our time's greatest public health challenges.

Bacteria can shuttle pieces of DNA between unrelated cells via a process called horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Genes that undergo HGT (i.e. mobile genes) evolve in different host bacteria with different genomic backgrounds, which can influence the types of mutations the mobile gene acquires. Studying the effect of HGT on mobile gene evolution is important as many clinically relevant antibiotic resistance genes are mobile. In a prior study, we used a simple model to simulate mobile gene evolution as they engage in HGT. Under the simple model, the mobile gene evolves in only one species at a time. With this model, we found that fitness landscape similarity between two host species engaging in HGT is highly indicative of the effect HGT has on mobile gene fitness outcomes (i.e. whether performing HGT has a positive, negative, or neutral effect on fitness). We expanded the simple model into a more ecologically realistic consumer-resource model (CRM), in which the mobile gene continuously transfers between species. We observed similar outcomes between the two models; however, in the CRM there was an increase in cases in which performing HGT had a positive fitness effect. We hypothesize that the CRM highlights features like the continuous existence of host species, resulting in constant gene flow between the two species. To further probe how gene flow influences the effect HGT has on mobile gene evolution, I tested how varying the HGT rate with the CRM (effectively allowing us to control the amount of gene flow) affects mobile gene fitness outcomes. I used the same host landscape pairs used in our pilot study while varying the HGT rate along a biologically relevant range. I expect to find a positive correlation between HGT rate and the magnitude of positive fitness effects conferred by a mobile gene that has undergone HGT.

Downregulation of the mTOR complex has been shown to increase lifespan and delay development of multiple organisms, including Drosophila melanogaster. Rapamycin, an inhibitor of this complex, is undergoing FDA-approved clinical trials as a promising anti-aging drug. However the impact of genetic variation on rapamycin's response is unknown. Our study of 140+ genetically diverse Drosophila strains revealed significant variation in pupation time after rapamycin exposure, however, the underlying mechanisms of this variation remain poorly understood. Surprisingly, this sensitivity does not correlate with genetic variation in or around the mTOR gene. We therefore hypothesize that differences in phosphorylation of downstream mTOR targets may explain this variation. Currently, we are using multiple approaches to investigate how activation of downstream targets differs between highly resistant and sensitive strains. We aim to characterize the phosphoproteome of first instar Drosophila larvae from highly sensitive and resistant strains. First instar larvae were treated with rapamycin for 12 hours, followed by mass spectrometry analysis to identify phosphorylation changes in mTOR pathway targets. To validate that 12 hours of treatment induces a rapamycin response, we monitored the growth of a parallel group of larvae until 72 hours and measured their size. Sensitive DGRP strains, 348 and 517, showed a twofold reduction in length when treated with 20uM rapamycin compared to control (p-value <0.0001), while the resistant strain, 441, showed no significant decrease. Comparing the phosphoproteome of multiple resistant and sensitive lines will uncover molecular factors associated with resistance or sensitivity. Additionally, whole-larvae RNA-seq will assess the expression profile of these factors, revealing whether gene expression of tor pathway-related genes contributes to sensitivity. Understanding the mechanisms behind rapamycin resistance or sensitivity is critical for its clinical application. This project highlights the value of accounting for genetic variation in drug development, guiding future approaches for developing new drugs.

Northern Australian landscapes are dominated by termite mounds, raising questions about how these insects might have bioturbated local archaeological sites. In this research we aimed to investigate termite bioturbation at Madjedbebe, Australia’s oldest archaeological site, located in the Northern Territory. We analyzed stone artefact data from Madjedbebe to investigate possible clustering of artifacts, which could have been influenced by termite activity. Specifically, we explored the following questions: Do mass distributions of lithic materials within each of the phases at Madjebebe reflect a non-uniform redistribution associated with termite bioturbation? How does this affect the reliability of the earliest occupation date of Australia? To address these questions, we visualized trends in artifact location and mass in the strata to evaluate artifact size-sorting in each phase as well as within excavation squares B2, C2, and C6. We contextualized our findings using previous experimental and observational research on termite bioturbation to robustly assess the extent of disturbance caused by termites at Madjedbebe. On both site-wide and excavation square levels, we did not find any significant trends that reflected clustering patterns. Thus, we found that mass distributions do not corroborate size sorting at Madjedbebe. This research will contribute to our broader understanding of termite effects on sites in Northern Australia and help with assessments of the validity of dated artifacts at Madjedbebe, enriching our knowledge of the earliest known human activity in Australia.

Lithic artifacts are global phenomena that prevail throughout the archaeological record. Unretouched lithic flakes, though highly abundant, are often ignored as diagnostic parts of an assemblage. However, a recently developed method, FLEXDIST by Will and Rathmann (2025), handles mixed, correlated, incomplete, and high-dimensional data and so is ideal for revealing detailed information from unretouched flakes. We apply this FLEXDIST method to an assemblage of lithic artifacts from Nguom Rock Shelter in Vietnam to understand how people adapted their technology to climatic changes of the Last Glacial Maximum. During the transition from Marine Isotope Stage 3, to Marine Isotope Stage 2 (Last Glacial Maximum), the climate became cooler and drier. Our results suggest that this shift in climate resulted in people adjusting their lithic technology to make longer, heavier, and thicker flakes. We interpret this as a strategic reduction of mobility, perhaps using the Nguom Rock Shelter as a refuge during the peak glacial conditions of the Last Glacial Maximum. Our application of the FLEXDIST method to a novel dataset validates its use as an analytical tool on unretouched flakes and encourages more investigation into what can be learned from this abundant and under-studied component of the archaeological record. In addition, we hope that the application of this method to the Nguom dataset will further our understanding of not only how ancient humans adapted to climate change, but how modern humans might adapt to our changing climate both in the present and in the future. 

In our biochemistry teaching labs, students conduct 10-week projects using recombinant protein expression and purification protocols, adapted from Fred Hutch, distributed and tracked via GENI-ACT.org, to identify immunoproteins of research or biomedical interest. We hypothesize they can produce antigen fragments for antibody studies and siderocalin proteins, which bind bacterial siderophores, yielding different amounts and results. In Winter 2023, students modeled antibody fragments with I-TASSER, expressed top constructs with His-tags, and purified them using Ni-NTA resin. In Winter and Fall 2024, siderocalins were expressed as GST-tagged constructs in BL21 and DH5alpha cells using longer expression. The human siderocalin in DH5alpha formed an orange solution, consistent with known siderocalin-enterobactin-Fe complexes. Unexpectedly, other species’ siderocalins appeared yellow, pink, or blue, suggesting functional diversity. Students produced enough immunoproteins for viability tests and are now expressing homologs of the blue siderocalin. They participated in all stages, developing spectroscopy and protein crystallization skills for research careers.

Mutations, which arise spontaneously, are the foundation of genetic variation and play a key role in evolution. Understanding mutation dynamics has relevance for public health, as antibiotic resistance in bacteria often results from genetic mutations that allow them to thrive in the presence of drugs that would typically inhibit their growth. Our research builds on the Luria-Delbrück method, originally designed to estimate mutation rates phenotypically, by using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) to measure base-level mutation rates in Escherichia coli that confer resistance to rifampicin. Rifampicin targets the β-subunit of RNA polymerase, and resistance arises from single nucleotide mutations in the rpoB gene. My team and I conducted experiments by inoculating E. coli populations, exposing them to rifampicin at specific times, and sequencing resistant mutants to calculate mutation rates for each base change. Interestingly, our data revealed that identical base changes at different genomic positions can have significantly different mutation rates. However, our mutation rate estimation does assume that every mutant cell has the same probability of establishing a lineage in the presence of rifampicin. If a certain mutant has a lower probability of lineage survival, its mutation rate will be underestimated. Thus, to determine whether the mutation rate variability we found is due to actual differences and not survival differences, I developed an assay to measure the probability that a mutant fails to establish a lineage. To date, I have isolated nine distinct rifampicin-resistant mutants and tested the extinction rates of two, finding no observable extinction, supporting the accuracy of our mutation rate estimates for these mutants. This research refines mutation rate calculations and enhances our understanding of bacterial adaptation, with implications for developing strategies to predict and mitigate antibiotic resistance. Additionally, it contributes to evolutionary biology by revealing the complexities of mutation and survival in microbial populations

Invasive Red lionfish (Pterois volitans) are responsible for the heavy destruction of reefs, resulting in a decline in biodiversity and negative impacts on commercial fishing. Their success in their non-native range is attributed to their lack of predators in their invasive range. Parasites are often overlooked as predators, but low parasitic loads make for a more biologically fit individual, allowing for higher invasion success. For this reason, it is hypothesized that lionfish carry a lower parasitic load in their invasive range. This project aims to assess the parasite abundance in lionfish collected from along the entire reef slope in Curaçao in 2019 and 2022 by the Tornabene Lab. Using these fish I am conducting dissections examining various parts of the fish under a dissection microscope and carefully looking for parasites. The parts that are examined are the skin, body cavity, buccal cavity, fins, gonad, liver, spleen, eye, heart, intestine, filet, and gills. Using data collected from dissections, I am performing descriptive analyses to summarize parasite presence and quantity by species and body site where they were found. It is most likely that there is a low abundance of parasites within these lionfish, suggesting that parasites could play a major role in regulating populations. Understanding the role that predation plays in invasive species can help us develop strategies to control their spread and prevent ecological damage.

Fishes are the most species-rich and ecologically diverse group of vertebrates, and display a broad array of sensory adaptations that are essential for survival. Included in this evolutionary toolkit are appendages on or around their heads that may act as additional sensory organs. Such attachments, which are often referred to as cirri, occur in dozens of lineages across the fish phylogeny, and are present in species such as decorated warbonnets (Chirolophis decoratus) in the Stichaeidae family, roughhead blennies (Acanthemblemaaria aspera), in the Chaenopsidae family, and kelp greenlings (Hexagrammos decagrammus), in the Hexagrammidae family. While there is limited research on the purpose of cirri, I hypothesize that they serve a role in chemoreception or some other sensory behavior, due to their location on the body, their structure, and their appearance. With the use of electron microscopy, clearing and staining, and histological sectioning to observe cirri morphology, I analyze the types of cells, physical support systems, and signals cirri may receive from the surrounding environment. These methods help determine possible roles of cirri in chemoreception, mechanoreception, camouflage, or mating, although predicted results lean towards chemoreception for gustation or olfaction. These result can help fill gaps in the fish phylogeny, shed light on fish morphology, and indicate possible signs of convergent evolution across diverse lineages of fishes.