Apply By
9/25/2022
Posting Number
2211
Research Group
The Mikaelyan Lab
Location
NCSU, Raleigh, NC
Mentor Name
Marissa Cole
Number of Positions Available
1
Description
A PhD student in The Mikaelyan Lab in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology (DEPP) at NCSU is seeking temporary, paid assistance from a motivated undergraduate student on a grant-funded research project. This position would be well-suited for any student who is interested in exploring research and/or graduate school as potential career paths. The undergraduate research assistant will be directly mentored by the graduate student and given hands-on training in insect fecal sample collection, DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, and the setup and analysis of disk diffusion assays. In addition, the research assistant will have the opportunity to work with the graduate student to develop their own small experiment relevant to the project and to participate in project discussions. The research assistant will also be invited to participate in weekly laboratory meetings in which they can build their presentation skills by sharing relevant literature and/or their progress for feedback from lab members.
The project will be focused on using microbiome sequencing and antimicrobial assays of several wood-feeding insect taxa to answer questions about evolutionary and ecological relationships between the gut and fecal microbiomes of wood-feeding insects. This project is funded by the Triangle Center for Evolutionary Medicine (TriCEM).
Required Prerequisites
Introductory Biology, General Microbiology
Preferred Prerequisites
General and/or Basic Entomology
Preferred Academic Year
Sophomore; Junior; Senior
Anticipated Start Date
September 2022 (Exact date flexible)
Duration of Position
8 weeks
Approximate Hours per Week
12 hours/week (Flexible)
Salary or Stipend
$1,750 total (~$18.23/hr)
Additional Information
PDF of the job description with links to project information and lab website is attached.
Additional Information
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