Biology
Not many universities provide you with an opportunity to be involved in research at the undergraduate level. At UFV, not only do we encourage our faculty to incorporate research in their teaching, but we also support our students to conduct research and share their findings.
Genomics and Drosophila Research: Annotation of Genes and Other Features in Genomic DNA
From 2008-2012 I was Assistant Professor of Biology at Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado, USA, where I began getting involved in providing research opportunities for undergraduate students through the Genomics Education Partnership (GEP). The GEP is a collaboration of faculty from primarily undergraduate institutions and Washington University in St. Louis that is designed to allow students to participate in genomics and bioinformatics research. Here at UFV, my students perform gene annotation in various species of Drosophila, and have presented their findings at regional and international conferences. Further information about the GEP may be found at http://gep.wustl.edu/.
My work research focuses on pollination ecology, with an eye to understanding both basic and applied aspects of pollination. Bumblebees in particular are wide spread and fascinating pollinator species. There are actually 12 different species of bumblebees in the Fraser Valley!
In the past decade, North America has seen severe range contractions and drastic declines of many previously common bumblebee species. Concurrently, the widespread use of managed bumblebee colonies in agriculture – now recognized as potential disease vectors – has been implicated in this decline. My previous research has documented high prevalence of pathogens and parasites in east coast wild bumblebees and others have shown that certain pathogens are more prevalent in declining species and in wild species foraging near commercial colonies.
As faculty at UFV, I am working with students to study the diversity and health of both local bumblebee populations and other wild pollinators.
The overarching goal of her career has been to understand how genomes, traits, environments, and development interact to build the vertebrate body, and how tweaks to all of these factors can facilitate evolution. The research she is conducting at UFV will further develop three-spine stickleback as a powerful model for plasticity, continuing some of the work done by Matt Wund, Susan Foster, and others but taking her unique, multidisciplinary evo/devo approach to these classic evolutionary questions. If you are at all interested in working on this project, please send her an email! She is actively seeking undergraduate research collaborators for the 2024-2025 academic year, and will be happy to advise directed studies and honors thesis projects.
Sensitivity of Net Blotch of Barley to the Organic Fungicide Serenade
Supervised student: Gursimran Gidda, Biol 409. Investigating organic fungicide LD50 in barley diseases.
Identification of Antioxidant Profiles in Goji Berry Cultivars
Supervised student: Michael Moreton , Biol 409.
The Relationship Between Pinus Contorta and Pinus Latifolia
Supervised student: Ariel Brown Bio 499.
The Identification of Air Pollutants Using Lichens as Indicators
Supervised student: Ashley Denis Bio 409.
A Fungal Investigation of Ecological Conditions on UFV Campus
Supervised student: Marlena McCabe, Biol 409.
Can a Rust Fungus Really Be Grown in Culture? Investigations into Poplar and Pear Rust Fungi
Supervised student: Vishesh Oberoi, Biol 409.
Foraging Behaviour in Birds
When birds flock in large groups, each individual is able to eat more food. This may be a consequence of devoting more time to feeding (safer in large groups) or because of increased perceived competition (more birds, food will run out quicker). Our research group (myself and 2-4 students each year) are investigating the importance of these two variables on bird behaviour.
Physiological and Psychological Stress in Students
In the lab, we are estimating physiological stress levels in students with salivary cortisol assays. Used along with the surveys to measure emotional stress, these types of data help us better understand the causal relationships between immunity, psychological, and physiological stress.
The emerging field of microbiological research aims to understand how microorganisms influence our brain function, health, and behavior, often referred to as the "microbial-brain axis." Microbes in the gut can produce molecules such as neurotransmitters, Short-chain fatty acids, and hormones that influence these bidirectional communication pathways, affecting neural function and behavior via the vagus nerve, immune system signals, and circulation.
Here at UFV, along with our students, she will continue to explore how microorganisms can impact our brains. Additionally, we will continue to enhance our understanding of microbes and their diverse roles in health and the environment.
DNA is the universal language and my research involves understanding how this language is translated into function by the ribosome, and particularly how this translation goes awry in genetic disorders, especially the ribosomopathy Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS), a pediatric disorder with multiple organ involvement and an elevated risk of cancer. Part of this exploration includes investigating newly identified genes associated with this disease. If you are interested in molecular cloning, protein interaction studies, bioinformatics, and computer modelling, please email Marina!