Instructions for students - Read first
Step 1: Review the faculty project summaries (see below).
Step 2: Once you have found a project that interests you, email the project mentor (see guide to writing emails to faculty here) to set up a time to connect and learn more about the project. NOTE: Only contact 2 faculty mentors at a time. If you haven't heard back in 4 business days, followup with a second email.
Step 3: Meet with potential faculty mentors to discuss the project and potential acceptance into their lab. It is also recommended to schedule a 1-on-1 meeting with CAS Student Engagement Coordinator, Rachel Jones, to learn more about the program and conducting undergraduate research.
Step 4: Apply to the Beginning Researcher Support Program, indicating your preferred projects. Application opens April 24 and closes May 12 @ 11:59pm. Applications will include a resume, cover letter outlining your research interests, and unofficial transcript. NOTE: if you haven't had a chance to do steps 2&3, please still submit an application so that you can be considered. There will be time after the application deadline to have meetings with faculty.
Projects
Faculty Mentor Names:
Dr. David Dallas (Dave.Dallas@oregonstate.edu)
Faculty Mentor Department:
Food Science and Technology (and Nutrition)
Research modality:
In-person lab/field
Project Abstract:
This internship is part of a large NIH and Gerber-funded project. The student will take charge of a part of this overall work. They may examine things like the abundance of specific bioactive proteins with ELISA, test the functional activity of the milk (antibacterial, prebiotic, immune-modulation, intestinal cell modulation) or measure key enzymes in milk like lipases and proteases. This project is also being extended to a feeding study with preterm infants at the Oregon Health & Sciences University in Portland to determine how feeding with these differently processed milks affects infant digestion and macronutrient absorption, and later growth. Our long-term goal is to optimize feeding practices for preterm infants to improve their health outcomes. Our central hypothesis is that minimal HPP and UV-C treatment conditions will better preserve donor milk bioactive proteins’ structure and function compared with Holder pasteurization. The positive impact of this research will be guidance for donor milk processors on how to optimally process donor milk for feeding preterm infants and information for clinicians on how to evaluate available donor milk sources. Changes in milk processing to better preserve bioactive milk proteins could improve preterm infant health outcomes.
Project Description:
Project will be designed with input from the student, but will focus on the specific goals listed above.
Description of Work Environment:
Dallas laboratory, 001 Milam Hall.
Description of Student Responsibilities:
The student will participate in an array of activities, including lab work (ELISA, mass spectrometry, protein extractions, bioactivity assays), manuscript preparation, creation of powerpoint presentations, etc.
Skills:
No prior skills required.
Learning Outcomes:
How to carry out a research project through lab analysis, report writing, manuscript preparation and result presentation.
Expected start and end date:
As early as desired
Anticipated hours per week:
As many as desired (minimum 3 hours per week)
Anticipated hourly wage:
$13.50/hr
Faculty Mentors Names:
Dr. Lucas Nebert (nebertl@oregonstate.edu) and Dr. Jim Myers (james.myers@oregonstate.edu)
Faculty Mentors Departments:
Horticulture
Research modality:
Hybrid of remote and in-person
Project Abstract:
This student project advances the objectives of the OSU Dry Farming Project, which include breeding diverse crop varieties to perform well when dry farmed in Oregon. Rather than using irrigation, dry farmers rely on accessing soil moisture that is stored throughout the soil profile to grow crops through western Oregon's seasonally-arid summers. Commercially available crop varieties tend to be bred for irrigated agriculture, so we are breeding genetically diverse heirloom and landrace corn and bush dry bean varieties to efficiently use deep subsoil moisture during the hot, dry summer months in the Willamette Valley.
Project Description:
Our agriculture is in a water crisis. In Oregon, water used for irrigation accounts for 78% of all freshwater consumed in the state, due to farmers’ dependence on irrigating crops throughout the arid growing season. Reliance on irrigation accelerates the depletion of rivers and groundwater, and makes Oregon’s agriculture particularly vulnerable to droughts caused by climate change. Dry farming is a traditional farming method that utilizes water stored in the soil to grow crops in arid climates by using appropriate crops and soil moisture conservation practices. Dry farming holds great potential for climate change adaptation in the maritime Pacific Northwest, notably the Willamette Valley, which receives plentiful winter rainfall that is then stored in deep, water-holding soils throughout the arid summer months. In addition to crop and soil management practices, dry farming relies heavily on the crops’ own genetic potential for dry farming, such as water use efficiency and rooting ability, and stress tolerance. The OSU Dry Farming Project has been adapting diverse field corn and bush dry bean varieties to dry farming in the Willamette Valley. Our Dry Farmed Culinary Corn project focuses on open-pollinated grain corn varieties, particularly those suitable for nixtamalization into masa dough for tortilla making. We create and maintain corn breeding lines using hand pollination, and are evaluating the performance of these breeding lines in the field, as well as in the tortillaria. Furthermore, we are investigating the genetic basis for corn symbiosis with a fungus that confers drought tolerance to some of our breeding lines. Our bush dry bean work includes heirloom common bean varieties, as well as drought-tolerant tepary beans from the U.S. Southwest, and cowpeas which are native to northern Africa. We are evaluating the performance of diverse varieties and breeding lines when dry farmed in the field. The overall goal of these research efforts are to make drought-tolerant, climate adapted crop varieties commercially available from seed companies in Oregon, and also to other markets seeking drought-tolerant alternatives to the conventional crop varieties that are available.
Description of Work Environment:
The student will be primarily working in the field at Lewis Brown Farm and the OSU Vegetable Research Farm, and Oak Creek Center for Urban Horticulture. These locations are all within five miles of campus, but a car is recommended to commute to Lewis Brown Farm. Students are expected to be available during the work week throughout the season, and will not be asked to work during weekends. Multiple days off can be negotiated in advance. Students should expect to work in the summer heat with sometimes strenuous physical activity, including hand weeding, walking plots for data collection, and carrying 30-50 lb harvest totes. Note, that this project may not be a good fit for students with grass pollen allergies, as researchers will be exposed to significant amounts of corn pollen. A small portion will be office work that would include managing collected data and entering it into a computer, and emailing.
Description of Student Responsibilities:
Student responsibilities include managing research plots through weeding, thinning crops, and harvest. The student researcher will be walking to plots and recording field data on corn and bean plants, including plant counts, leaf photosynthesis rates, soil moisture measurements, pollination timing, plant phenotyping, and yield measures. In addition, students will be assisting with hand pollination of corn, which includes bagging silks and tassels and transferring pollen. Students are expected to participate in field days in mid to late August, in which they will engage with the public about this dry farming project. There are many opportunities for more independent student projects within these larger breeding projects, depending on student interests. Furthermore, while corn and beans is the primary subject of this research, students will be exposed to adjacent research projects including dry farming tomatoes, melon, squash and potatoes, and dry farming within solar arrays.
Skills:
Pre-existing skills include hand weeding, data collection and management, attention to detail, plant care. Students will develop skills in field data collection, management and basic statistical analysis. Field data collection will include being trained in corn pollination, and to use a field fluorometer to measure plant photosynthesis. They will learn skills in farm-scale sustainable vegetable production, and with communicating research projects to diverse farmers and other stakeholders.
Learning Outcomes:
- How a plant breeding program works, including the design of field evaluations, basic principles in genetics, and generation of breeding families
- Principles and practices around corn and dry bean production, as well dry farming in general
- Soil moisture monitoring, and how soil physical properties determine its suitability for dry farming
- Plant physiological traits for drought tolerance
- The use of microbial inoculants in agriculture, and interactions with the plant and the plant microbiome
Expected start and end date:
May 29th - September 29th
Anticipated hours per week:
30
Anticipated hourly wage:
$16/hr
Faculty Mentor Name:
Dr. Sascha Hallett (sascha.hallett@oregonstate.edu)
Faculty Mentor Department:
Microbiology
Research modality:
In-person lab/field
Project Abstract:
Proliferative Kidney Disease (PKD) is of great economic and ecological concern for salmonid fishes in Europe and North America. The causative agent is the myxozoan parasite Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae, which has a complex life cycle involving a bryozoan and a salmonid host. In 2020, an unprecedented PKD outbreak caused significant mortality of Chinook salmon at the Leaburg Hatchery (LBH) in Oregon. In response to the parasite’s re-emergence, a monitoring survey was conducted along the McKenzie River both upstream and downstream of the LBH in 2021 and 2022. There is now an opportunity for a Beginning Researcher to assist with the processing and analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) from the water samples collected in those years to determine the spatial distribution of T. bryosalmonae in the McKenzie River. Results from this project would fill a significant information gap on this emerging parasite, as its distribution in the state of Oregon remains largely unknown. The core project entails conducting DNA extractions and quantitative PCR on existing samples, and these experiences will be supplemented with opportunities to assist other ongoing projects on myxozoan parasites which involve conducting necropsies on fishes and participating in fieldwork to collect water samples from the McKenzie and Klamath rivers.
Project Description:
Myxozoan parasites are microscopic cnidarians that are known to be important pathogens of fresh and saltwater fishes. One such parasite, Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae, is responsible for causing Proliferative Kidney Disease (PKD) in a wide range of salmonid species. Infected fish experience severe inflammation of the kidney and increased susceptibility to other bacterial and parasitic diseases, which can result in up to 90% mortality in affected populations. Though this parasite is known to be endemic in the state of Oregon, there have only been four recorded instances of PKD in the past 25 years. That was until 2020, when the Leaburg Hatchery on the McKenzie River began experiencing annual mortality events caused by PKD, though the cause for the sudden re- emergence of this parasite are still being investigated. Currently, limited information exists on the spatial distribution of T. bryosalmonae throughout the McKenzie River where the hatchery is located. During its life cycle, T. bryosalmonae spores travel through the water to infect two types of hosts, a vertebrate salmonid host and an invertebrate bryozoan host. To detect these spore stages in the river, a longitudinal water sampling survey was conducted in 2021 and 2022 both up and downstream of the Leaburg hatchery. Water samples were collected from eight sites and brought back to the lab, where they were passed through filter paper with a pore size small enough to catch the parasite spores. These filters were frozen for eventual molecular analysis. Responsibilities for a student researcher now include processing water filters to extract the parasite DNA, and utilizing quantitative PCR to detect the abundance of parasites in river water at each survey site. These results will fill an important gap in our understanding of the parasite's prevalence and distribution in the state and in proximity to the Leaburg Hatchery. Depending on the student’s interest, there may be opportunities for continued work funded by the faculty mentor after the duration of the CAS Beginning Researcher Support Program. Work on this project will also be supplemented with opportunities several times during the summer and fall to assist with fieldwork relating to the student’s own project, and also trips being conducted by other graduate students for different host-parasite systems such as Ceratonova shasta in salmonids of the Klamath River Basin.
Description of Work Environment:
Initial lab safety training would occur remotely through a series of virtual training guides. Laboratory work would primarily take place on the 5th floor of Nash Hall in the Department of Microbiology. This laboratory is the main site of molecular work carried out by the lab’s graduate students and senior researchers which can include water eDNA sample processing, DNA extractions, conventional and quantitative PCR, microscopy, and immunohistochemistry. The student will have their own dedicated work space alongside current graduate students to facilitate discussions about research in addition to mentoring and support with laboratory methods. Opportunities to assist graduate students with fieldwork will occur once a month, and entail day trips to the Leaburg Hatchery and various sites along the McKenzie River. Collecting tissue samples from hatchery fishes entails killing live fish and conducting aseptic dissections. Water eDNA sampling is completed from the shore of the river at all sites and does not require getting into the water.
Description of Student Responsibilities:
The student will primarily be mentored by graduate student Nilanjana Das, with additional supervision provided by Dr. Sascha Hallett. The student’s responsibilities are initially to complete virtual lab safety training and conduct a simple literature review. Once appropriate safety training has been completed, they will receive hands-on training for protocols on DNA extraction and qPCR. These techniques require basic calculations, pipetting small volumes, and strong attention to detail. Field work days entail traveling with at least one other graduate student to river sites or fish hatcheries to collect fish tissue or water samples. Following the collection of water samples, filtration would be completed in the laboratory within 24 hours. The student is also welcome to join weekly lab meetings to gain broader exposure to work being conducted on fish diseases in the Jerri Bartholomew lab.
Skills:
Students will develop skills in: Laboratory safety Performing a literature review Molecular techniques performed in a sterile laboratory environment =Water filtration to collect eDNA =DNA Extraction =Quantitative PCR =Sequencing Data analysis Scientific communication (written and spoken) Field work =Water sampling =Aseptic dissections and tissue collection from hatchery fishes.
Learning Outcomes:
Students will gain familiarity with the scientific method by carrying out a literature review, developing hypotheses, learning advanced molecular methods, analyzing data and communicating results through a poster presentation. Additional learning outcomes include a familiarity with the impacts of myxozoan parasites on fish health, and molecular techniques used for eDNA surveillance of aquatic organisms.
Expected start and end date:
June, 2023 - November, 2023
Anticipated hours per week:
6
Anticipated hourly wage:
$13.50/hr (**Note: The faculty mentor will pay student for hours worked beyond program stipend ($1000) at a rate of $13.50/hour)
Faculty Mentor Names:
Dr. Jooyeoun Jung (jooyeoun.jung@oregonstate.edu)
Faculty Mentor Departments:
Food Science and Technology
Research modality:
In-person lab/field
Project Abstract:
Active edible packaging is food packaging made of biopolymers and active compounds that interact with the food. Biopolymers must be recognized as safe and with characteristics to be consumed by human and not toxic and capable of carrying an active compound, like antimicrobial or antioxidant compounds, colorants, flavors, nutrients, to extend the product shelf-life, reduce contamination and maintain or even enhance the nutritional value. Our lab has extensively worked on developing active edible films, which are aimed to replace the single-use plastics for specific food items, including fruit leather, muffin liner, and sachet. We would like to extend our project and focus on developing active edible packaging stable at a wide range of storage temperature conditions. Students will work on making film packaging and analyzing packaging properties at a wide range of temperature conditions and understanding their stabilities in terms of quality changes and microbial safety during the storage.
Project Description:
The US Environmental Protection Agency has estimated 14.5 million tons of plastic containers and flexible packaging were generated in 2018, of which only 30% is recycled or combusted for energy recovery, and the remainder is landfilled. The excessive use of plastics contributes significantly to greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions and the mechanical breakdown of plastics, microplastic particles (<5 mm dimensions) poses a great threat to the ecosystem. Edible food packaging is made of edible materials, which can be cast into a film and then engineered into different forms such as pouches, wraps or liners. Edible food packaging can be a potential future solution to reducing single-use plastic food packaging. We had conducted a sensory test for edible food packaging. Overall, the consumers liked the edible packaging in its food application (fruit leather, muffin liner, and powdered drink bag). Based on the positive reaction from consumers, edible packaging seems to be a possible solution to reducing single use plastic packaging in the food industry. Consumers are ready to a change to their single-use plastic packaging and this study can be the catalyst for further investigation to be conducted to study the efficacy of different applications of edible food packaging as well as consumer perceptions of eating their packaging. Hence, the objective of this project is to evaluate quality changes and microbial safety of edible films during the storage at different temperatures. Three types of active edible films developed for packaging fruit leather, muffin liner, and powdered drink bag will be investigated for their stability at a wide range of temperature conditions during the storage. All prepared films are conditioned in a self-assembled chamber at 25 °C and 50% RH for 2-day, sterilized under ultraviolet light for 10-15 min, and packaged in the Ziploc bag before storage. Film storage conditions: Four typical storage conditions will be tested in this study: refrigerated conditions (0 °C), supermarket storage environment (6 °C), room temperature (25 °C) and high temperature (35 °C). Note that temperatures and relative humidity (RH) should be monitored during the storage study. Microbial growth and film properties will be measured in each week for 2-month (can be extended depending on results). Following film quality and safety properties will be measured: • Thickness • Moisture content • Color of CPE film (colorimeter) • Transmittance of the films (UV/Visible spectrophotometer) • Water vapor permeability (WVP) • Mechanical properties (tensile strength (TS) and elongation at break (EAB)) • Microbial growth
Description of Work Environment:
This project will be primarily done in the Corvallis campus lab. Students should work on making film formulations and films and analyzing film properties during the storage. Students should work with various chemicals and use instruments, including texture analyzer, colorimeter, UV/Vis spectrophotometer, etc. Students will also work closely with graduate students.
Description of Student Responsibilities:
Firstly, students will go through the learning process required for conducting research. This learning process will be critical for students to conduct research and most of the learning (shadowing) process will be with one of graduate students who are also working on a similar project. After students will have a thorough plan with the tentative schedule, they will conduct experiments independently. Every week students should submit the weekly report to advisor so the progress of research will be discussed timely.
Skills:
Students will learn various skills during the research project. Students don’t require any pre-existing skills. Students should complete the lab safety training before working in the lab.
Learning outcomes:
- Preparing film formulations and making active edible films
- Measuring film properties, including physicochemical, mechanical, and microbial safety properties
- Designing storage studies by considering storage temperatures, storage times, and sampling intervals, etc.
Expected start and end date:
Summer or Fall 2023
Anticipated hours per week:
8-10
Anticipated hourly wage:
$14/hr
Faculty Mentor Name:
Dr. Hannah Rowe (hannah.rowe@oregonstate.edu)
Faculty Mentor Department:
Microbiology
Research modality:
In-person lab/field
Project Abstract:
The animal microbiome is important for health and disease. My lab studies the roles of bacteria and their products in the transmission of Influenza virus. While most bacteria of the microbiome exert their effects to block infections by altering immune signaling or availability of metabolites, recent studies have shown bacteria, or their products can also impact viruses during host-to-host transmission. Bacteria could act to help viruses bind receptors and infect new cells, or could help viruses survive in the environment, increasing the chances of successful infection. The microbiome differences between different animals could also be important in determining what species can be infected by what viral strains. As influenza virus can sometimes easily transmit from wild birds to domestic birds, understanding the roles of typical bacteria found in wild and domestic birds in transmission is important to protect the health and productivity of poultry producers. Further, avian influenzas are a risk to infections of humans and understanding the roles of avian or human bacteria in allowing zoonotic transmission is important to protect the health of poultry workers, people who interact with wild birds and the human population in general.
Project Description:
Working with the PI, you will grow bacteria species bacteria typical of duck (wild bird), chicken (domestic bird) and bacteria shared by both types of birds. These bacteria will be washed and then mixed with avian influenza virus and subjected to environmental stressors to determine if the bacteria promote the survival of the virus in the environment and therefore impact viral transmission. To determine the viability of the virus you will assist the PI in infection of eggs or cells and endpoint titer calculations to determine viral viability. Working with the PI, you will also use these bacterial strains, and mixes of virus plus bacteria, to infect cultured avian cells to determine the impact of the bacteria on the replication of viruses in host cells, and the impact of species matched microbial community on the viability of the host cells and the viral replication.
Description of Work Environment:
The Rowe lab is located in Nash Hall on the Corvallis campus, and all work will be performed in the lab. The lab is small, consisting of one graduate student and three undergrads. As the PI is still junior, you will also get to work directly with the PI for much of your research experience.
Description of Student Responsibilities:
The student will be responsible for learning how to perform the experiments, taking good notes and being able to replicate the experiments after training. The student will be responsible for keeping complete and correct records of the methods and results of the experiments. The student will be responsible for assisting with laboratory chores, and with participating in weekly lab meetings. The week to week schedule will depend on the experiments and the availability of the PI or other supervising lab members if the student requires training on new techniques that week. Lab hours are typically 8-4 on weekdays. After successful completion of training the PI may allow the student to work outside of these hours.
Skills:
No skills are needed at the start of the project. In this project the student will first become familiar with bacterial culture techniques, and will determine optimal growth conditions for bacteria typical of duck (wild bird), chicken (domestic bird) and bacteria shared by both types of birds. The student will then assist the PI, and may become independent, in culture of virus in eggs and in cell lines. Further the student will assist the PI, and may become independent, in the culture of avian cells, and the infection of avian cells with bacteria and viruses.
Learning Outcomes:
Bacterial and viral culture and enumeration techniques Cell culture techniques Keeping a laboratory notebook Scientific communication skills
Expected start and end date:
June 2023- end of fall term 2023. Potential to continue
Anticipated hours per week:
5-20
Anticipated hourly wage :
$13.50/hr
Faculty Mentor Names:
Dr. Sascha Hallett (halletts@oregonstate.edu) and Dr. Julie Alexander (alexanju@oregonstate.edu)
Faculty Mentor Departments:
Microbiology
Research modality:
In-person lab/field
Project Abstract:
This project is part of a larger effort to characterize two salmonid parasites in the hydroelectric reach of the Klamath River. These myxozoan parasites have complex life cycles requiring both a freshwater annelid and a salmonid host, as well as existing in two waterborne spore stages. Sampling the annelids, the salmon, as well as the water provides an overall understanding of spatial and temporal distribution of these parasites in the river. Student research will focus on the density of annelid hosts as well as the prevalence of infection of the two parasites.
Project Description:
Removing four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River along the border of Oregon and California is to be the largest dam removal and river restoration project in the world. This project will allow salmon to reach historic spawning grounds for the first time in over 100 years. Understanding disease risk to salmon in this area of the river is critical to inform monitoring efforts for salmon reestablishment. In this project, we aim to describe two pathogens of concern, Ceratonova shasta and Parvicapsula minibicornis. These myxozoan parasites are found in rivers throughout the Pacific Northwest, and can cause disease in salmonids. They require an invertebrate annelid host to complete their complex life cycle, thus the density of infected annelids is needed for assessing disease risk. The annelid host will be collected during summer field work and preserved in ethanol in the field. These samples are returned to the lab on campus and subsampled into manageable quantities. The subsampled worms are sorted, counted, and processed using molecular techniques to determine the prevalence of infection in the annelids.
Description of Work Environment:
Work environment will be primarily a lab setting in Nash Hall on the Corvallis campus. This position requires extended time using a dissecting microscope. There may be an opportunity to participate in field collection in the Klamath River.
Description of Student Responsibilities:
Specific tasks will vary week to week as the project proceeds and samples move through processing steps. Each day, the student will be responsible for keeping detailed and accurate notes in a lab notebook. Project responsibilities include: Sorting and identifying tiny (3-5mm) freshwater invertebrates from stream samples under a dissecting microscope DNA extraction Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to test the annelids for infection with pathogens Data entry and data visualization (creating graphs and tables) The undergraduate researcher will work closely with current graduate student, Elliott Cameron, for training on each of the above responsibilities as well as discussion regarding results. Presentation of findings at an undergraduate-focused local event will be encouraged.
Skills:
Ideally, the student will have experience with using microscopes to identify and/or manipulate organisms. The student will be expected to become proficient in identifying and counting Manayunkia occidentalis using a dissecting microscope. Student will learn to extract DNA following a standard operating protocol, analyze samples using qPCR, as well as general microbiology bench skills such as accurate labeling, pipetting, and simple calculations.
Learning Outcomes:
- General lab safety and etiquette
- Best practices for keeping a detailed lab notebook
- Learn about the life cycle of an endemic salmonid pathogen in the Klamath River
- DNA analysis workflow
Expected start and end date:
September 25, 2023 to December 8, 2023
Anticipated hours per week:
6-7
Anticipated hourly wage:
$13.50/hr
Faculty Mentor Name:
Dr. Desiree Tullos (desiree.tullos@oregonstate.edu)
Faculty Mentor Department:
Biological & Ecological Engineering
Research Modality:
In-person lab/field
Project Abstract:
The largest dam removal in history will occur in 2023-2024 when four dams will be removed on the Klamath River. This project is examining how water quality and primary producers (plants and algae growing in the river) change during and following dam removal. Students will join a small team of researchers to establish field sites and collect baseline data prior to the removal of the dams, with a front row view of the decommissioning activities. Field conditions will be challenging, but student researchers will be mentored by faculty and graduate students with a strong interest in providing a supportive environment for people with limited experience and who come from backgrounds that are nontraditional and historically excluded from field research.
Project Description:
The Klamath Dam removals are a large-scale experiment that will inform engineering and ecological science on rivers for decades. This project emphasizes ecological research on the water quality-food web interactions of the Klamath River and how they change as the river responds to dam removal. More specifically, research activities will focus on integrating existing datasets and new data collected during and following dam removal. The results will include new analysis and models of how the primary producers that fuel the food web respond to water quality changes. 2023 represents the last opportunity to document the pre-removal river before reservoir drawdown begins in January 2024, which will release high concentrations of suspended sediment, nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon, and will modify river temperatures and dissolved oxygen. These changes are not unlike water quality changes associated with other environmental events, including climate change and wildfires. Thus, data and models developed under this project are expected to be generalizeable to other settings. Ecological research on the response of primary producers, including various forms of aquatic plants and algae, is limited, despite their critical role in the base of the food web. This work aims to address the question of how the assemblages and biomass of primary producers respond to changes in water quality. Data collection will involve biweekly snorkeling to survey the types and biomass of different algal and plant communities and establishing fixed cameras to document changes in the algae between surveys. Additional work will involve compiling datasets from other agencies and documenting and archiving all data collected. Compiled data will be used to develop statistical and mathematical models of interactions between water quality and primary producers. This effort contributes to a larger project to student the socio-cultural and ecological interactions around river health in a system undergoing change. Student researchers will interact with other project partners that include environmental anthropologists, outreach/engagement specialists, and Tribal members.
Description of Work Environment:
This is a field-work based project that occurs in the Klamath basin. The project team will travel down to the Klamath on Monday afternoons, spend 2-3 days doing field work, then return to Corvallis by Thursday pm. The work environment will be challenging. This work will involve wading and snorkeling the river, hiking steep terrain, working in hot/dry conditions, and camping overnight in tents at established campgrounds. Students should consider the rugged work environment before applying to this position. Field safety is our number one priority and student researchers should be prepared to participate in safety trainings and regular check ins, and follow all safety guidelines.
Description of Student Responsibilities:
On alternate weeks this summer, we will travel as a team down to the Klamath basin to survey algae, manage fixed cameras, and collect sediment samples. We will be going down every other week this summer for three days of field work. Other tasks may include data processing tasks (in Excel), processing images, data management, and possibly some lab work back on campus. I expect it will be an average of 30 hours/week during the field work. Students who are a good fit for the field work and who wish to continue with this team may be hired as an hourly assistant beyond the term of this funding program.
Skills:
Students will learn new field methods for surveying river ecosystems, gain insight into the impacts of dam removal on rivers, and learn best practice for managing field data. Required qualifications include: 1) Ability and willingness to drive a motor pool truck or car; 2) Enthusiasm for getting wet and dirty in the river, working in hot and challenging outdoor conditions, and camping; 3) Are responsible - can show up on time, communicate regularly and professionally/respectfully, etc.; and 4) Attention to detail in assembling field gear, data collection and processing, etc.
Learning outcomes:
Learning outcomes for the students are the same as the skills acquired during the project: Learning new field methods, developing data management skills, and becoming experts on the world's largest dam removal.
Expected start and end date:
June 15, 2023 to October 01, 2023
Anticipated hours per week:
~30 hours during field work, which will occur every other week.
Anticipated hourly wage:
$15/hr
Faculty Mentor Names:
Dr. Tim Delbridge (timothy.delbridge@oregonstate.edu)
Faculty Mentor Department:
Applied Economics
Research modality:
Hybrid of remote and in-person
Project Abstract:
The number of wolves in Oregon has grown each year since they arrived to the state in 2008. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) reports that the minimum known wolf population grew from 4 in 2009 to 175 by the end of 2021. Over this period, the number of confirmed livestock depredations grew by more than a factor of 10 (ODFW, 2022). As the Oregon wolf population grows and expands from the Northeast to other parts of the state, a better understanding of the total economic costs and the uneven distribution of these costs across individual producers in affected areas is needed. This analysis will help inform policy decisions and, potentially, the development of more efficient producer support mechanisms. This student project will be a first step in the economic analysis of wolf depredation in Oregon. The student will contribute through a review of the publicly available data on forest service grazing leases, wolf populations and movements, and potentially other factors, and will work to construct a spatial dataset that can be used in the subsequent analysis of the economic impact of wolf depredation over space and time.
Project Description:
This student project will be part of a larger project focused on estimating the economic impact of wolf depredation on Oregon livestock producers. A description of the larger project is included below. This Beginning Undergraduate Research Support Program project will involve data consolidation from the OR Department and Fish and Wildlife, National Forest Service, and perhaps other sources, and creating GIS maps that can be used in the future economic analysis of interactions between wolves and livestock producers. While management cost and wolf impact data has not yet been gathered, the goal of the student project is to prepare a mapping system that can be adapted easily to include these producer data once it is ready. Experience with GIS software is required and a background in agricultural and/or environmental economics is preferred.
Larger Project Description Title: Estimating the Economic Impact of Wolf Depredation on Oregon Livestock Producers
The number of wolves in Oregon has grown each year since they arrived to the state in 2008. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) reports that the minimum known wolf population grew from 4 in 2009 to 175 by the end of 2021. Over this period, the number of confirmed livestock depredations grew by more than a factor of 10 (ODFW, 2022). With the increase in wolf populations in Oregon and other western states, and wolf reintroductions being considered in new jurisdictions (e.g. Colorado), the costs and benefits of wolf presence have continued to be the topic of much discussion in both the academic and popular press. Claimed economic benefits are often intangible and may include existence value, non-consumptive and consumptive use, and indirect ecosystem benefits. Economic damages borne by livestock producers include direct losses due to depredation events, increased management costs, and perhaps most significantly, reduced birth rates, calf weight gain, and decreases in general animal condition resulting from stress in areas of active wolf pressure (Williams, 2015; Ramler et al., 2014). While it is possible for livestock producers to apply for compensation for confirmed wolf depredations and non-lethal deterrence measures, the steps required to achieve approval for compensation can be cumbersome and may not cover the full cost to ranchers of undetected kills or indirect costs. Despite the continued attention to the topic of wolf reintroduction and the increases in Oregon wolf populations, there are no up-to-date estimates of the economic costs borne by livestock producers resulting from the presence of wolfs in the state. Previous estimates of economic damages experienced by Oregon ranchers (Willliams, 2015) were developed when wolf populations were considerably lower than they are now. Moreover, several useful scientific studies have been published in recent years that clarify the impacts that the presence of wolves has on cattle stress, and the geographic patterns of interactions between wolves and livestock. This project would combine the animal science and rangeland management literature with updated economic data from affected ranchers to establish an updated estimate of total economic cost of wolf presence in Oregon. The project directly addresses beef industry needs identified in the 2021 OSU Cattle Plan.
Objectives
There are two main objectives to this project.
- Estimate the total annual economic costs experienced by the Oregon cattle industry that result from the presence of wolves on the landscape. These costs must reflect the current state of wolf populations and up-to-date expenses and livestock prices. Expenses considered will include increased management to protect livestock, livestock lost to confirmed and suspected kills, and reductions in calf weights and birth rates.
- Develop a greater understanding of the distribution of these economic damages across producers, and how that distribution relates to the proximity of wolf packs to livestock operations. Recognizing that the damages caused by wolf depredation can be concentrated quite strongly on specific regions and individual producers, we will go beyond aggregate estimates and investigate detailed cost outcomes of those ranches that are most heavily impacted. As the Oregon wolf population grows and expands from the Northeast to other parts of the state, a better understanding of the total economic costs and the uneven distribution of these costs across individual producers in affected areas is needed. This analysis will help inform policy decisions and, potentially, the development of more efficient producer support mechanisms.
References:
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. 2022. Oregon Wolf Conservation and Management 2021 Annual Report. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE. Salem, OR, 97302
- Ramler, J.P., M. Hebblewhite, D. Kellenberg, and C. Sime. 2014. “Crying Wolf? A Spatial Analysis of Wolf Location and Depredations on Calf Weight.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 96(3):631–656.
- Williams, John. 2015. Estimates of Economic Losses to Stock Growers due to the Presence of Wolves in North Eastern Oregon. Available at: http://wethepeopleradiorecords.com/20160306/Estimates-of-Economic-Losses...
Description of Work Environment:
This will be mostly computer work but will include weekly meetings between student and professor to plan activities. Schedule is flexible.
Description of Student Responsibilities:
The student will be collaborating with Dr. Delbridge on project planning and then will work independently to gather, merge, and develop datasets. Most of time commitment will be working on a personal computer or University lab computer that has the capability to run GIS software. Some writing will be required to describe methods and datasets, and phone calls and email correspondence may be required when the student is working to identify appropriate data sources.
Skills:
Experience with GIS software is required and an interest in agricultural and/or environmental economics is preferred. Participation in this project will help develop skills in data management, cleaning, and manipulation. The student will develop skills in problem solving and critical thinking as they identify relevant datasets and use them to achieve research goals. As is always the case, there will be surprises and challenges along the way, and we will adapt our approach as needed.
Learning outcomes:
- Develop and improve data management techniques
- Improve GIS data skills
- Develop the ability to identify relevant data to answer a research question
- Improve written and verbal communication skills
Expected start and end date:
June 20th - September 1 (flexible)
Anticipated hours per week:
6-7 but may vary by week
Anticipated hourly wage:
$15/hr
Faculty Mentor Name:
Dr. Elizabeth Tomasino (elizabeth.tomasino@oregonstate.edu)
Faculty Mentor Department:
Food Science and Technology
Research Modality:
In-person lab/field
Project Abstract:
This project is a systems approach to create risk-predictive models for the grape and wine industry. To determine the air, grape, and wine measurements associated with high, medium, and low smoke risk, we propose to integrate atmospheric science, horticulture, plant physiology, food science, sensory science, and applied economics. The long-term goals of this project will produce tools linking environmental, chemical, and sensory data to create predictive modeling of risk to grape and wine quality for use by the grape and wine industries. New and low-cost technologies will determine real time risk from smoke events in the vineyard. Should a smoke event occur, grape coatings developed in this project could be applied to the fruit to limit or halt uptake of smoke. We will further determine the potential long-term damage to grapevines due to smoke exposure. The complexities of correlating grape smoke composition to wine smoke composition will be alleviated by validating an established, representative small-scale fermentation that can predict the smoke taint risk in resulting wines prior to harvest. This information will be related to the end point sensory thresholds in wine as economic control levels for wine and grape quality.
Project Description:
This announcement will fill position(s) conducting work associated with a federal grant. Recent wine vintages (2017, 2018, and 2020) have been notable for the number and extent of wildfires affecting west coast wine grape growing regions, including a complex of fires throughout the summer and autumn of 2020 which damaged significant acreage in California, Oregon and Washington vineyards. A primary concern following exposure of grapevines to smoke is that wines made from affected grapes can develop smoke related off-aromas and flavors. In the wake of these fires, west coast growers and winemakers were left with difficult questions about whether to harvest fruit from wildfire smoke exposed vineyards and how to manage that fruit before and during fermentation. Many producers chose not to harvest any grapes or make wine due to the extensive fires and related smoke exposures in 2020. A number of challenges must be addressed to better prepare the industry for future smoke events. Widespread smoke exposure events in 2020 resulted in an overwhelming volume of grape and wine samples being submitted to the relatively few labs available to industry. In many instances, vineyards and wineries could not receive smoke analysis results until long after picking and processing decisions had to have been made. Primary industry needs include real time risk determination as to crop damage. Such information allows informed decisions to be made in a timely fashion. Additional needs include methods to reduce the uptake of smoke related compounds in grapes when smoke exposure occurs, sensory and economic thresholds for smoke exposure risk in grapes and wine, among others. To fully address the challenges faced by the wine industry, an integrated systems approach that can link what is happening in the air, to the grape and final wine is required. An economic analysis, with a strong communication and extension strategy, will ensure this new knowledge is correctly understood and implemented. The long-term goals of this project are designed to provide solutions to the grape and wine industries, so they can better prepare for and respond to future smoke exposure events and creating innovative solutions to maintain and improve sustainability across the primary and supporting industries. These long-term goals include:
- Network vineyards with low-cost sensors and sensor networks for real-time risk assessment.
- Assess the physiological impact of smoke exposure to grapes and grapevines.
- Develop grape coatings to reduce or eliminate uptake of smoke components into grapes.
- Optimize a representative, rapid small batch fermentation assay to predict outcomes of commercial-scale fermentations.
- Determine sensory quality thresholds of smoke compounds in wine
- Link environmental, chemical and sensory data to create predictive modeling of the risk to grape and wine quality from smoke exposure.
- Communicate the research findings and their use, and so enable industry to benefit from them.
Description of Work Environment:
This job combines field work and lab work. Field work will be conducted outdoors in summer and fall weather. Successful applicants will be prepared to work outdoors in the sun, heat, and rain, and to walk fair distances over hilly terrain. Successful applicants will be able to lift 50 pounds from the floor to shoulder height. Laboratory settings will be climate controlled indoor settings but may be windowless spaces. Students will work under close supervision.
Description of Student Responsibilities:
- Students must follow all safety and lab protocols and work under close supervision.
- Students are expected to ask questions when directions are unclear.
- Data entry must be timely and meet established data entry protocols.
- Timely communication is important. Errors and accidents occur, but can often be dealt with if the information is shared in a timely manner.
Skills:
Desired pre – existing skills:
- Experience in science classes
- Enthusiasm for Food Science and Chemistry
- Punctuality and reliability
- Drivers’ license
- Basic MS Office suite skills
Skills acquired on the job:
- Agricultural sampling, labeling samples and tracking in spreadsheet
- How the environment impacts agricultural products
- How to conduct and track small-scale ferments
- Basic grape and wine chemistry analysis including use of a refractometer, pH meter, enzymatic analysis, titrations
Learning outcomes:
Students joining our research team will gain significant professional development including:
- How to be an integral part of a team;
- How to present your work in a public forum;
- How to conduct scientific work in an ethical manner.
Expected start and end date:
August 1 through December 15
Anticipated hours per week:
Summer: 20-30 h/wk; Academic year ~10 h/wk
Anticipated hourly wage:
$15/h
Faculty Mentor Names:
Dr. Chris Adams (chris.adams@oregonstate.edu) and Maggie Freeman (freemmag@oregonstate.edu)
Faculty Mentor Department:
Horticulture- Tree Fruit Entomology
Research Modalitiy:
In-person lab/field
Project Abstract:
The Adams Tree Fruit Entomology Lab located in Hood River has undergraduate research opportunities available looking at a number of insect pests of tree fruit. We are currently working on a number of insects that impact tree fruit including codling moth, pear psylla, brown marmorated stink bug, spotted wing drosophila, leafhoppers that vector diseases, natural enemies that prey on insect pests, parasitoid wasps against both BMSB and SWD, and pear pollinators. In-person participation in Hood River is required, but we unfortunately do not have housing available. For those that can arrange their own housing, we have many opportunities available.
Project Description:
Below is a description of the various insect pests the lab is studying and the projects currently being conducted: Pests: Pear psylla This small sap-feeding insect is a serious pest of pears. Damage to fruit is caused by the abundant secretion of honeydew which drips onto the fruit, causing rusting and fungal growth. Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) This invasive stink bug feeds on a large number of high-value crops, including pears. Feeding damage can cause misshapen fruit, brown spots, and secondary fungal infections. Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) This invasive fruit fly has become a major pest in cherries, berries, and other soft bodied fruits due to its ability to lay eggs in ripening fruit, in contrast with other fruit fly species that infest only rotting fruit. Projects: Natural enemy monitoring traps in pear orchards Natural enemies provide biological control services in pear orchards by eating psylla. In many orchards psylla populations can be managed solely by natural enemies. Natural enemies can be attracted to monitoring traps using combinations of plant and floral volatiles. Our lab is working to understand how beneficial catch data, in these novel plant-volatile baited monitoring traps, translates into various levels of control to create a valuable tool for pest management in pear orchards. BMSB and SWD Trapping Network Our lab helps monitor populations of BMSB and SWD near pear and cherry orchards by placing traps throughout Hood River and Wasco counties. There traps are monitored weekly from May-September. Weekly trap data is shared with growers to help alert them to building populations of these pests. BMSB and SWD parasitoid release program Our lab is raising and releasing parasitoid wasp species (natural enemies) that attack BMSB and SWD. Introducing predators that specifically seek out and attack these invasive species will help reduce their abundance, eventually leading to the reduction in pesticide sprays needed to control these pests in orchards. Tracking leafhopper movement in cherry orchards The pathogenic phytoplasma that causes X-disease in cherry trees is vectored by several species of leafhopper. Infected trees produce fruit that is small, discolored, and bitter. Currently there is no cure for X-disease and infected trees must be removed to prevent further spread through the orchard. The disease is spread when leafhoppers feed on infected trees or weeds and then pass the phytoplasma on to healthy plants. The rate of spread of the disease through an orchard is related to the movement of the leafhoppers. At this time, little is known about the dispersive capabilities of these key insect vectors. Understanding leafhopper movement from surrounding landscapes, as well as the in-orchard movement, is critical to designing control programs. Our research will help describe dispersive distance and rate of movement of key leafhopper vector species, within cherry orchards. Identifying Pear Pollinator Species Our lab will collect and identify insect species that visit pear blossoms to help determine which species (besides the supplemental honeys bees brought into orchards) are involved in the pollination of pear orchards in the Mid-Columbia area.
Description of Work Environment:
The OSU Mid-Columbia Research and Extension Center is located in Hood River, Oregon. Field work will be conducted in pear and cherry orchards located in Hood River, and Wasco Counties. This position will require collection of field data from commercial orchards, where students will need to traverse uneven terrain and be comfortable working in various weather conditions.
Description of Student Responsibilities:
Students will help gather supplies needed for the days research project (e.g. traps, lures, sweep nets, sharpies, etc.) and then assist in data collection at the designated orchards. Students will help process samples by sorting and identifying insects using the stereo microscope. Findings will be recorded into data sheets.
Skills:
Anyone interested in learning more about sustainable food production and entomology is encouraged to apply.
Learning outcomes:
Students will gain a better understanding in the role insects play in farming systems, and the fundamentals of integrated pest management. Students will gain experience setting up and maintaining trapping experiments, collecting and organizing large data sets, navigating to field sites, and learning to identify insect species using a stereo microscope.
Expected start and end date:
Start: 6/19/2023 End:9/08/2023
Anticipated hours per week:
20-40
Anticipated hourly wage:
$15/hr
Faculty Mentor Name:
Dr. Erica Chernoh (erica.chernoh@oregonstate.edu) and Cora Bobo-Shisler (cora.bobo-shisler@oregonstate.edu)
Faculty Mentor Department:
Horticulture
Research Modality:
In-person lab/field
Project Abstract:
Oregon-grown strawberries are a valuable product with high-quality and exceptionally flavorful fruit. This project focuses on season extension of organic, day-neutral strawberries for the fresh market. This project contributes to the larger work of the OSU Berry Initiative, which conducts research to assist Oregon growers in developing better production practices for Oregon berries. The selected student will assist with a field trial at the North Willamette Research and Extension Center (NWREC) in Aurora, OR that is focused on organic strawberry production under high and low tunnels to extend the harvest season. The student will develop a research project focused on an aspect of strawberry production under high tunnels or low tunnels. This may include fruit quality, pollination, yield, or temperature. The student will work with faculty to develop a research project in addition to assisting with general field maintenance, data collection, and lab work.
Project Description:
Strawberries for fresh market are commonly grown on raised beds with plastic mulch to achieve better weed management, temperature regulation, and water drainage. These strawberry cultivars are “day-neutral” and therefore produce fruit beginning in late-May and continuing through early October depending on the season’s weather conditions. This harvest window can be extended, and the fruit quality improved through optimized pest-management practices and the use of low tunnels and high tunnels for frost and precipitation protection. Growers who use organic practices can achieve significant price premiums on their fruit, as the demand for local, organic strawberries is not met with current production methods in the early and late season. We seek a student to help manage a project related to the production of organic strawberries in the Willamette Valley. Potential projects could focus on yield, fruit quality, pollination, or temperature.
Description of Work Environment:
Work will primarily be field and lab work (~80%) at the North Willamette Research and Extension Center (NWREC), with occasional computer-based data entry and analysis (~20%) done remotely. Please note that NWREC is in Aurora, a 1-hour drive from Corvallis. Opportunities for carpooling are possible but not guaranteed. Students will generally be expected to work at least 1-2 days per week at NWREC during the summer and fall terms, though there is some flexibility. The majority of work onsite will be completed outdoors or in open-air hoophouse settings, the remainder of the time will be spent in a lab setting. Students must have a valid driver’s license. Students will be able to take home fresh berries from the trial.
Description of Student Responsibilities:
The student will focus on project design and planning at the beginning of the summer and will then transition to data collection and fieldwork for the remainder of the project. The student will be expected to work 8-20 hours a week depending on funding and work availability. During this time, the student will be expected to spend an estimated total of: (a) 25 hours assisting with the preparation of the study, (b) 100 hours managing the crop and collecting data, and (3) 25 hours working remotely giving regular progress reports and collaborating with student coworkers. Additional duties may include literature review, data collection and analysis, and writing up results. The student may be given opportunities for more hours if they are a good fit for the team and are interested in more work. The student will have a flexible schedule but must be communicative and responsible for this system to work. Scheduling may need to be adjusted depending on weather and the needs of the project.
Skills:
It is preferred that students have a basic understanding of plant biology, academic research, and data collection. Good organization, communication, and problem-solving will be critical to student success. The student must have an interest in agriculture and willingness to do hands-on work. All essential training and ongoing support will be provided to the student, so experience and knowledge in these areas is not required.
Learning outcomes:
The chosen student will actively participate in the development and management of their research project, as well as general field maintenance, including tractor work, harvest, pest monitoring and management, data collection and analysis, and write-up. The mentor will provide training on research and field trial management basics, data collection and analysis, as necessary. There will be additional learning opportunities to prepare and develop educational materials and activities. Students will likely learn a lot about organic strawberry production methods.
Expected start and end date:
Start date – June 2023. End date –October or November 2023.
Anticipated hours per week:
8-20
Anticipated hourly wage:
$13.50/hr
Faculty Mentor Names:
Dr. David Hannaway (david.hannaway@oregonstate.edu) and Linda Brewer (linda.brewer@oregonstate.edu)
Faculty Mentor Department:
Crops and Soil Science and Horticulture
Research Modality:
Entirely remote/virtual
Project Abstract:
Cattle and calves are inextricably linked with forages; these commodities rank second and third in farmgate value in Oregon (Oregon Department of Agriculture, 2021, based on 2020 data), with dairy coming in a close 4th. If considered together, the three commodities would rank first in the state. Climate variability puts forage production at risk, with production on non-irrigated lands and by junior water rights holders especially threatened. To optimize production, our research group has created an online tool, MatchForage, that recommends forages species to producers according to soil and climate factors and the intended use and desired level of management. Soil factors include pH, salinity, drainage class, and potential aluminum toxicity. Climate characteristics include minimum January and maximum July temperatures, and seasonal and annual precipitation. MatchClover is the prototypic tool that was developed for forage legumes, with the support of the Oregon Clover Commission. We are expanding the scope of MatchClover with an additional 50-some forage species, including grasses, legumes, and forb forage species. Dr. Hannaway has been leveraging the world wide web as a tool for extension outreach and training of stakeholders and field faculty since the early 1980’s. Student researchers will improve the OSU Forage Information System by working on the MatchForage segment.
Project Description:
Objectives will be translated into action by a team of undergraduate researchers working under faculty supervision. These students are hired for their interest and skill in gathering and formatting data, writing models, creating GIS-based maps, and populating websites according to OSU standards. This work is desk- rather than laboratory-based. Students are given assignments based on groupings of forages – for example, perennial clovers or cool-season annual grasses. Based on their skill set, this next generation of researchers assemble the information specific to their assignment. Some find and document yield data and soil and climate information. Some find and document the source of images. Imaging is especially valued in web presentation of information. Some are gifted in translating yield vs. soil or climate data into equations or models. Some have experience in GIS mapping. Our team, which is dispersed throughout the state and the southwestern United States, meets weekly to provide updates on their progress, discuss barriers, ask questions, and to develop team connections among themselves and with the faculty on this project. Student researchers are in frequent communication with FRA Linda Brewer by text or email for on-the-spot answers to questions. These meetings and less formal communications provide a good deal of professional development to the students, whether by direct instruction or by example of the faculty. By providing forage producers with optimized species recommendations, we believe this tool will contribute to the economic and social stability of farmers and ranchers, as well as producers engaged in the cattle and calves and dairy sectors. It will reduce crop failures due to sub-optimal species selection, and will present producers with options perhaps not considered, and the information required to make informed decisions about their existing stands compared to new opportunities. An additional impact will be on the professional development of the student for whom we seek this funding. The first undergraduate researcher to join our effort graduated June 2022, and went straight to a data-analysis position at the PNW National Laboratory in Richland WA. In a recent communication, she indicated the value of our project’s professional development activities to her career development and success. We anticipate similar success for students working with our research group.
Description of Work Environment:
This is data research, documentation and formatting. All work is done on computer. It may be done on the student's own computer or on university computers. In the case of the former, it is essential that applicants have up to date versions of MS Office and web browsers.
Description of Student Responsibilities:
A weekly team meeting is required. Students will variously identify, document, and format data, retrieve and cite open sources for photos, assemble tables or spreadsheets, model forage yield according to soil or environmental limitations. There may be some need for skilled writing in the fall term. Applicants must be reliable self-starters who take pride in their work and are precise and accurate.
Skills:
REQUIRED Timeliness Responsive to emails and text messages Committed to accuracy and willing to check your work Skilled with Excel and MS Word PREFERRED: R Suite capable ARC-GIS literate
Learning outcomes:
Students working on this project: Gain professional development, including improved networking and collaborative skills. Can demonstrate an understanding of forage yield limiters. Gain experience in synthesizing data.
Expected start and end date:
June 15 through December 15 - negotiable
Anticipated hours per week:
20
Anticipated hourly wage:
$15/hr
Faculty Mentor Name:
Carlos Ochoa (Carlos.Ochoa@oregonstate.edu)
Faculty Mentor Department:
Ecohydrology Lab - Animal and Rangeland Sciences
Research Modality:
In-person lab/field
Project Abstract:
An integrated understanding of ecohydrological relationships and land use information that can be used to develop adaptive management practices for achieving or maintaining resilience in natural and agricultural ecosystems.
Project Description:
A proper understanding of surface water and groundwater interactions and how they can be impacted through agriculture-related practices become critical to properly addressing concerns related to water quality. The need for better information regarding water quality issues in river systems in the state has been discussed by different stakeholders, including producers, state and federal agency personnel, and researchers. Watershed-riparian systems can provide ecosystem services such as water quality, biodiversity, aesthetic beauty, and wildlife habitat, to mention a few. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) elevated the awareness of the concept of “ecosystem services,” documenting that the set of ecosystem services may be compromised if the ecological integrity of the ecosystem is at risk. Optimizing ecosystem service benefits requires identifying ecological functionality and quantifying the resulting services from competing for land practices over time and larger scale. A systems-based approach is used to assess ecological and hydrological relationships occurring in the Oak Creek watershed.
Description of Work Environment:
Mostly monitoring and assessment fieldwork in areas near campus and also includes data entry and some lab analysis of soil, water, and vegetation.
Description of Student Responsibilities:
- Assist with the sampling of water, soils, and vegetation
- Help install monitoring equipment (e.g., weather stations, soil moisture sensors)
Skills:
- Field monitoring, data entry, and organization.
- Basic calculations of water levels, soil moisture, and water quality parameters.
Learning outcomes:
The student learns how different ecohydrologic processes can be altered through different land use practices.
Expected start and end date:
Summer and Fall 2023
Anticipated hours per week:
4
Anticipated hourly wage:
$14/hr
Faculty Mentor Name:
Dr. Jennifer Duringer (jennifer.duringer@oregonstate.edu)
Faculty Mentor Department:
Environmental & Molecular Toxicology
Research Modality:
In-person lab/field
Project Abstract:
Experience and skills related to extraction and quantitation of cannabinoids in industrial hemp will be explored in an analytical chemistry lab setting.
Project Description:
The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp (Cannabis sativa) from the Controlled Substances Act, thereby allowing its classification as an agricultural product. Currently, thirty-eight states in the United States are in the process of implementing a program for regulating industrial hemp and developing methods and standards for its cultivation. As part of an overall objective to determine how climate and geographical features influence cannabinoid expression and growth parameters in the plant, this project will quantitate cannabinoids in plant samples from specific C. sativa varieties grown across different locations in the United States via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-diode array. Data will be assimilated and compared amongst locations to determine if any patterns exist.
Description of Work Environment:
Work will take place in an analytical chemistry lab on the Corvallis campus.
Description of Student Responsibilities:
Student will work with mentor and other lab members on sample preparation, extraction and data analysis within the campus lab. A group of 10-15 personnel will work in the lab each day, roughly 8am-5pm Monday-Friday.
Skills:
Skills and techniques related to sample processing, organic extraction and data analysis will be gained as well as knowledge around implementation of a quality assurance/quality management system in an analytical chemistry laboratory.
Learning outcomes:
- Learn the process of experiment planning, development, execution and reporting.
- Obtain skills used for quantitation of target compounds in an analytical chemistry laboratory.
- Learn how to engage with and work collaboratively among a group of researchers.
Expected start and end date:
July 10-September 15, 2023
Anticipated hours per week:
8-12
Anticipated hourly wage:
$13.50/hr
Faculty Mentor Name:
Dr. Ryan Mueller (ryan.mueller@oregonstate.edu)
Faculty Mentor Department:
Microbiology
Research Modality:
In-person lab/field
Project Abstract:
Seagrasses are bioengineers of crucial ecosystems in estuaries throughout Oregon. We will combine field work and experimentation to characterize the health of these habitats under changing environmental conditions.Project Description:
Seagrass beds are foundation species that define and support coastal ecosystems globally, yet their persistence is threatened by human-induced climate change and disturbances. Seagrass die-offs and their associated ecological consequences are increasingly observed along the west coast of the US, including Oregon. The objectives of this project are to characterize the health of Z. marina beds in coastal sites to better understand their resilience to stressors and natural recovery potential. You will aid in the investigation of the impacts of climate change stressors on factors such as disease, density and reproductive output. You will gain skills in experimental design, seagrass and microbial ecology, as well as field and laboratory sampling techniques, and will be interacting with graduate and undergraduate students involved in different aspects of the project.
Description of Work Environment:
Main work will be based in Corvallis OSU campus, where the student will be performing lab work in collaboration with other undergraduates and under the supervision of the PI and collaborators (graduate students and PI Dr. Mueller from Dept. Microbiology). Field work will be conducted in estuaries in Oregon (e.g., Coos Bay and Yaquina Bay). When performing this fieldwork, housing and transport will be covered by the PI. Transport to and from Corvallis and Newport will be covered by PI.
Description of Student Responsibilities:
The student will be involved in different activities that require different organizations and logistics. For example, laboratory work will imply a regular normal schedule Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm (approximately; hours are flexible). On the other hand, given that the field sampling times are driven by the tides (2 per month), this means that field work can imply some early morning rises / or late nights and long days of work. In order to process the time-sensitive samples collected during the morning.
Skills:
Strong organizational skills, accurate data recording, and time management skills are desired. The student will gain skills in experimental design, skills in field and laboratory sampling techniques, particularly regarding seagrass physiology and ecology, microbial ecology, and molecular biology.
Learning outcomes:
Students will develop an understanding of the organisms, environments, and ecological processes occurring in estuarine systems, particularly regarding the ecological processes that affect estuarine habitats, such as seagrass beds, and how different environmental and biological factors affect bed and plant health. Students will develop the ability to understand how experimental design works (for both field sampling and laboratory experiments) and will also be able to evaluate seagrass physiology and ecology.
Expected start and end date:
Summer Term
Anticipated hours per week:
minimum of 10, all the way to 40, depending on time availability
Anticipated hourly wage:
$13.50/hr
Faculty Mentor Name:
Dr. Michelle Kutzler (michelle.kutzler@oregonstate.edu)
Faculty Mentor Department:
Animal and Rangeland Sciences
Research Modality:
In-person lab/field
Project Abstract:
We will compare results from monitoring data sent from SmaXtec intra-reticular boluses with serum calcium concentrations in peripartum dairy cows. This information will inform producers when to treat cows before they become clinically ill.
Project Description:
Dairy cows struggle to maintain normal blood calcium levels at the start of each lactation. The lowest blood calcium concentration occurs 12-24 hours after calving, which can lead to milk fever. Diagnosis of hypocalcemia before milk fever is difficult but treating every cow for milk fever whether she shows signs or not is wasteful and therefore impractical. In cattle, hypocalcemia is accompanied by a decrease in body temperature such that each decrease in 0.1 mmol/L in serum calcium concentration is associated with a decrease of about 2°F. Smart sensors (SmaXtec™ boluses) administered with a balling gun into the reticulum of cattle for will remain function for four years and will collect core body temperature measurements every 10 minutes. The data is sent to a computer for analysis. For this research project, continuous data recorded from 30 cows from 2 weeks before calving to 2 weeks after calving will be stored on a computer hard drive for later analysis. Blood samples will be collected from these cows at 1 day and 1 week after calving to measure serum calcium concentrations. After collecting the blood sample, the blood tubes will be centrifuged so that serum can be collected and stored at -20°C until analyzed. Serum calcium concentrations will be determined using a calcium colorimetric assay. Individual cow data will be managed using Microsoft Excel. A statistical analysis will be performed to determine if there is an association between serum calcium concentration and reticular temperature. We expect that SmaXtec boluses will accurately identify dairy cows with subclinical hypocalcemia, thereby making quick and inexpensive correction with oral medications possible. The results from this research will enhance profitability and sustainability of dairies by improving animal health and welfare and by reducing animal disease and increasing milk quality and quantity. The results from this research will be submitted to the Journal of Dairy Science for publication.
Description of Work Environment:
The main work environment will be at the Oregon State University Dairy Research Center (where sample collection will occur) and in Weniger Hall rooms 540/542 (where sample analysis will occur). The dairy is walking distance from campus. Work pertaining to literature review, data analysis, results write-up, and weekly meetings with the mentor will occur where is to convenient for the student to work on their computer with internet access.
Description of Student Responsibilities:
Sample collection will start in June and go through October. The student will collect blood samples from the dairy. The samples will be transported back to Weniger Hall to be centrifuged. The sera will be removed from the samples and transferred into labeled tubes for storage in the freezer. Once all of the samples have been collected, assays will be run in the lab to measure calcium concentrations. The data will be analyzed and the results will be reported in a scientific paper.
Skills:
The student will learn how blood samples are collected from cows, how to separate serum from blood samples, and how to perform laboratory assays to measure calcium concentrations. The student will also learn regulatory compliance regarding live animal use for research and safe laboratory practices. In addition, the student will learn how to perform a literature review, how to manage and analyze data, and how to write a scientific paper. Previous experience with cattle is preferred. The dairy is walking distance from campus.
Learning outcomes:
The student will learn how blood samples are collected from cows, how to separate serum from blood samples, and how to perform laboratory assays to measure calcium concentrations. The student will also learn regulatory compliance regarding live animal use for research and safe laboratory practices. In addition, the student will learn how to perform a literature review, how to manage and analyze data, and how to write a scientific paper.
Expected start and end date:
June 26, 2023 - December 1, 2023
Anticipated hours per week:
3-4
Anticipated hourly wage:
$13.50/hr
Faculty Mentor Name:
Dr. Chet Udell (udellc@oregonstate.edu) and Dr. John Selker (john.selker@oregonstate.edu)
Faculty Mentor Department:
Biological & Ecological Engineering
Research Modality:
In-person lab/field
Project Abstract:
Get involved with technology and the outdoors! We're looking for students who want to test the latest sensor technologies in a variety of applications including agriculture, water quality, and hazard monitoring.
Project Description:
The Openly Published Environmental Sensing Lab expands the possibilities of scientific observation of our Earth, transforming the technology, methods, and culture by combining open-source development and cutting edge technology. The Open-Sensing Lab is focused on developing environmental sensing projects and research. From soldering stations to 3D printers to laser cutters, our lab provides the tools necessary for students, professors, and researchers alike to develop tools used locally and worldwide by the ecological science and engineering community. The goals of the OPEnS Lab are to: Develop new approaches to precision farming under a changing climate. Specifically, how to have sensor-systems of low enough cost and high enough accuracy to be used across most agricultural settings and for research in environmental science; Advance the field of environmental sensing for agricultural and environmental sciences through development of novel adaptation of 3-D printing and solid-state sensors of water, atmosphere, and soil status; Create global engagement through the world’s first curated system of peer-reviewed, DOI indexed, open-source publication of designs and validation studies of evolving scientific instrumentation for environmental observation; Provide user, student and researcher access to the power of hands-on experimentation and experimental design through access to a wide range of machines; Foster student and faculty excitement, creativity and innovation by translating ideas into functional systems; Promote collaborative learning between farmers, extension agents, faculty and students around the world.
Description of Work Environment:
OPEnS is a melting pot of 30 undergraduate students across mechanical and electrical engineering, computer science, and ecological programs. We work with researchers to ensure scientific questions shape instrumentation. Students learn skills to become project leaders, designers, field technicians, and academic writers. Work is done on-campus, and occasionally in the field at research sites. It is a dynamic and highly collaborative environment.
Description of Student Responsibilities:
4 to 5 hours per week, firm commitment. Students will work with project leaders to assist with project tasks that align with your interests. This may include things like soldering and assembling electronic systems, lab calibrating equipment, field deployment and maintenance of hardware, documentation and academic writing.
Skills:
Students must above all be motivated and able to learn new skills. Having some technical experience is desired, but not required, including: soldering, basic programming, field equipment, lab testing protocols. Many of these skills are learned during the experience.
Learning outcomes:
You'll learn to collaborate in a multi-disciplinary environment producing equipment and instrumentation. Exact skills learned can be dictated by your interests. Learning to assemble, solder, and test electronics, field deployment, and lab equipment testing procedures are typical skills.
Expected start and end date:
Summer or Fall start, flexible
Anticipated hours per week:
4-5 but more is possible
Anticipated hourly wage:
$13.50/hr
Faculty Mentor Name:
Dr. Jan Spitsbergen (jan.spitsbergen@oregonstate.edu) and Dr. Stephen Atkinson (Stephen.Atkinson@oregonstate.edu)
Faculty Mentor Department:
Microbiology
Research Modality:
In-person lab/field
Project Abstract:
Project Description:
Investigation of laboratory zebrafish infections by cryptic parasitic Cercozoa from Willamette and Klamath River basins Cercozoa is a group of microbes that includes many of the most abundant soil, freshwater and marine protozoa, which play critical roles in nutrient and energy cycling. Recent molecular and morphologic studies reveal it is a highly diverse group with thousands of lineages (Bass and Cavalier-Smith, 2004; Bates et al, 2013; Harder et al, 2016; Howe et al, 2011; Howe et al, 2009). Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems are reservoirs for opportunistic or obligate pathogenic cercozoans and other protists (Giesen et al, 2015a; Giesen et al, 2015b; Lepere, 2008). Cercozoa have established parasitic or commensal relationships with diverse phylogenetic groups of organisms from other protists to plants to invertebrates, and cause diseases in economically important crop plants and shellfish, including oysters, clams, mussels and crabs (Ford et al, 2009; Limponant et al 2013; Ngo et al, 2018; Ward et al, 2016). Drs Spitsbergen and Atkinson are the first researchers to identify cercozoans as parasites that cause epizootic mortality in a vertebrate species. Since 2013 these scientists have studied pathogenic cercozoans in the groundwater in the Willamette River Drainage, which can be cryptically introduced into laboratory water systems and into fish cultures. We have found isolates of cercozoans that cause up to 90% mortality prior to hatch in zebrafish embryos. If cercozoans are a natural part of the biosphere, why have they only become a problem in laboratory fish cultures now? The severity of climate change impacts on coastal and coral reef populations of aquatic species has been recognized for a number of years. For example - the ongoing starfish wasting disease outbreak that has decimated populations of a number of species of starfish along the West Coast of the United States began in the spring of 2013, a year which was not classified as an El Nino but was the 5th warmest year on record in terms of global surface temperatures and deep ocean temperatures (Eisenlord et al, 2014; Fox, 2019; Stokstad, 2014). The “Pacific Blob”, a large zone of warm ocean water first appeared off the coast of North America in 2013. This warm year was followed by El Nino years, with the past decade continuing to break temperature records on the West Coast of the U.S. (NASA, 2022; Still et al, 2023). Waterways absorb and retain heat more efficiently than terrestrial areas, so often are early indicators of climate warming. Despite these coastal effects suggesting relationships with climate warming and emerging disease, much less research and interest has focused on climate effects on inland aquatic species. Yet, in the spring of 2013, a quiet disease outbreak caused by the first flagellate cercozoan parasite ever documented to infect a vertebrate species was occurring in the mid-Willamette Valley, at a research laboratory drawing its well water from shallow aquifers on the Willamette River floodplain. This laboratory and another nearby laboratory had successfully raised zebrafish in well water for over 20 years with no significant disease problems. It is tempting to speculate that the warming of aquatic ecosystems may play a role in this disease outbreak which has continued throughout the same warm spell that has seen devastation of coastal starfish as well as unprecedented mortality in conifers associated with the extended heat and drought in the Pacific Northwest (Still et al, 2023). Zebrafish disease caused by cercozoa has continued uninterrupted through the present time in 2023, with the most severe mortality events occurring during the 'heat dome' in 2021. This project will look both at better characterizing these cercozoans from the Willamette River, and prospect for novel parasites in another major PNW river system - the Klamath. Information on the distribution and diversity of cercozoan in the Klamath Basin is not available. So, the goal of this work is to look at the presence, identity, and opportunistic pathogenic activity of cercozoans for eggs of a model warmwater species, the zebrafish. The project will utilize collection of water samples from various sites in the Klamath Basin over the year (which will be piggybacked with ongoing studies of other diseases in the watershed). As the control treatment, pathogen-free zebrafish eggs will be raised in sterile embryo medium (EM; 60 mg/l Instant Ocean; Westerfield, 2007). Then replicates of eggs will be raised in water from various regions in the Klamath collected at specific times throughout the year. We will culture and identify any cercozoan using PCR techniques optimized for cercozoans. We will document the characteristic mobbing of eggs which occurs with pathogenic cercozoans, and will document any lesions in egg, as well as mortality by the time of hatch.
Figure 1. Cercozoan parasite infection in zebrafish eggs. A. Uninfected egg; B-C. Parasites appear as brown spots in perivitelline space (C stained with neutral red); D-E. Parasites feeding on skin of embryo.
Description of Work Environment:
The student will have two main work sites. One, the John Fryer Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory (https://aahl.microbiology.oregonstate.edu/) is a research center located across the Willamette River from downtown Corvallis. Decades of research on diseases of fish and invertebrates has been conducted at the lab. A cell culture laboratory is available. Dr. Spitsbergen is based at the AAHL. The second work site is Nash Hall on campus where the Department of Microbiology is located. Dr. Atkinson will supervise the molecular component of the research at Nash Hall.
Description of Student Responsibilities:
Skills:
Experience with fish husbandry in the laboratory, field or at home will be helpful. Experience breeding fish will be helpful. Experience pipetting, using sterile technique, doing cell culture, extracting DNA, or conducting PCR will be helpful. Since this is a project for a student new to research, we cannot expect a high level of experience in techniques. Students will learn to design and conduct experiments with zebrafish eggs and cercozoan parasites, they will learn cell culture techniques and learn to recognize abnormalities in zebrafish eggs. Students will learn to breed zebrafish. Students will learn to extract DNA from fish tissue, fish eggs or parasite cultures. Students will learn to design and conduct PCR assays and will learn how to interpret the results of sequencing of DNA.
Learning outcomes:
Expected learning outcomes include fish husbandry and breeding techniques, techniques for conducting assays with zebrafish eggs, expertise in cell culture of cercozoans, recognizing lesions in zebrafish eggs. In terms of molecular work, the student will become experienced with DNA extraction techniques, design of PCR assays, conduct of PCR assays, evaluation of the products of PCR assays using agarose gels, and analysis of the results of sequencing PCR products.
Expected start and end date:
Start June or early July 2023; End December 2023
Anticipated hours per week:
10-15
Anticipated hourly wage:
$14/hour
For questions and information, contact:
Rachel Jones, CAS Student Engagement Coordinator
Email rachel.jones@oregonstate.edu
541-737-7410