Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Division of Biosciences

• Faculty research advisor: Gene Leys, PhD, leys.1@osu.edu

  The Microbiology of Oral Infections
  Positions available: payment, volunteer or credit
  Semesters available: continuing
  Project description: We use a molecular approach to understand the complex microbial composition in oral health and disease.

• Faculty research advisor: Peter J. Reiser, PhD, reiser.17@osu.edu

  Comparative Muscle Biology
  Positions available: payment, volunteer or credit
  Semesters available: continuing
  Project description: This laboratory is focused on studying skeletal and cardiac muscle from a broad variety of species. We examine protein expression patterns and contractile properties of single, isolated muscle fibers and correlate their physiological and biochemical characteristics. We are contributing to a better understanding of the molecular and cellular specializations that underlie the remarkable diversity in muscle functions among vertebrates.

• Faculty research advisor: John F. Sheridan, PhD, sheridan.1@osu.edu

  Neuroendocrine Regulation of Host Immunity
  Positions available: payment, volunteer or credit
  Semesters available: continuing
  Project description: Viral immunology, regulation of T cell responses during viral infection, cytokine and chemokine gene expression during infection (influenza, herpes simplex and coxsackie viruses). Neuroendocrine-immune interactions; stress-induced modulation of anti-viral immune responses and viral pathogenesis. Aging and the immune response to viral infection. Aging and gene expression during wound healing. Patterns and kinetics of gene expression for cytokines, chemokines and growth factors during cutaneous wound healing.

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• Faculty research advisor: Susan P. Travers, PhD, travers.3@osu.edu

  Studies of the Central Neural Processing of Taste
  Positions available: volunteer or credit
  Semesters available: continuing
  Project description: Neurophysiological studies of oral sensation using single-unit recording techniques; receptive field organization of gustatory neurons; gustatory/oral somatosensory interactions; afferent/efferent relationships in the gustatory system using combined neurophysiological and anatomical techniques and antidromic stimulation; behavioral studies of gustatory function.

Division of Periodontics

• Faculty research advisor: Purnima Kumar, MDS, PhD, kumar.83@osu.edu

  Periodontal Microbiology Research
  Positions available: volunteer or credit
  Semesters available: continuing
  Project description: Use of molecular biology, bioinformatics and clinical epidemiology to study the microbiology of periodontal health and disease.

• Faculty research advisor: Angelo Mariotti, DD.S, PhD, mariotti.3@osu.edu

  Periodontal Research
  Positions available: volunteer or credit
  Semesters available: continuing
  Project description: Effects of sex steroid hormones and growth factors on the periodontium and sex accessory tissues.

Division of General Practice and Materials Science

• Faculty research advisor: Scott Schricker, PhD, schricker.1@osu.edu

  Dental Biomaterials
  Positions available: payment, volunteer or credit
  Semesters available: continuing
  Project description: Our lab is involved in synthetic polymer chemistry to develop new dental materials and biomaterials. We have ongoing projects to apply new polymer chemistry methodologies to improving dental restoratives and adhesives. Our other interest is in designing well defined polymeric materials to understand the fundamental interactions between materials and living tissue.

Please contact Dr. Scott Schricker, Director of Student Research, at schricker.1@osu.edu for advice or clarification.