Summer/Fall 2023 Beginning Researcher Support Program Projects

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 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 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 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.

1. 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.
2. 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 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:

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 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:

Dr. Jennifer Duringer (jennifer.duringer@oregonstate.edu)

Faculty Mentor Department:

Environmental & Molecular Toxicology

Research Modality:

In-person lab/field

Project Abstract:

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:

1. Learn the process of experiment planning, development, execution and reporting.
2. Obtain skills used for quantitation of target compounds in an analytical chemistry laboratory.
3. 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. Michelle Kutzler (michelle.kutzler@oregonstate.edu)

Faculty Mentor Department:

Animal and Rangeland Sciences

Research Modality:

In-person lab/field

Project Abstract:

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. 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