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Summer Research Training Program Mentors

Learn more about each mentor below


  • Dr. Joao G. N. Moraes

    Department:

    Animal and Food Sciences

     

    Title/Job description:

    Assistant Professor

     

    How long have you worked at OSU:

    3 years.

     

    Contact Information: 

    moraesjgn@okstate.edu

    (405) 744-9266

     

    What are your current research interest areas:

    Assisted reproductive technology.

     

    Please include titles of potential research projects that you have in mind for a summer research student.

    Establishment of protocols and conditions for culturing embryonic stem cells (ESCs) from bovine blastocysts

     

    What qualities are you looking for in a summer research student?

    • Enthusiasm for research
    • Intellectual curiosity
    • Motivation and initiative
    • Ethical conduct
    • Ability to work well in an interdisciplinary and collaborative research setting.
  • Dr. Giovana Catandi 

    Department:

    Veterinary Clinical Sciences

     

    Title/Job description:

    DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACT; Assistant Professor

     

    How long have you worked at OSU:

    Since February 2024

     

    Contact Information: 

    Email: giovana.catandi@okstate.edu

     

    What are your current research interest areas:

    Equine assisted reproduction, oocyte in vitro maturation

     

    Please include titles of potential research projects that you have in mind for a summer research student.

    Effects of different oxygen or energy substrate concentrations during in vitro maturation of equine oocytes

     

    What qualities are you looking for in a summer research student? 

    Good work ethics, motivation, and communication skills. Attention to details, reliability, horse handling skills and general lab skills are desired.

  • Dr.  Reed Holyoak

    Department:
    VCS

    Title/Job description:
    Regents Professor

    How long have you worked at OSU:
    24 years

    Contact Information:
    Email: reed.holyoak@okstate.edu
    Phone: 405-612-7333

    What are your current research interest areas:

    Equine reproductive tract microbiome, reproductive infectious disease, oviductal blockage imaging and treatment, utilizing simulation models in augmenting instruction in clinical theriogenology, collaborating with and assisting research endeavors of our new faculty members.

    Please include titles of potential research projects that you have in mind for a summer research student:

    Utilizing simulation models in augmenting instruction in clinical theriogenology, or others as a collaborator.

    What qualities are you looking for in a summer research student: 

    • Open minded

    • Dedicated

    • Reliable

    • Inquisitive learner

  • Dr. Kathryn Duncan

    Department:

    Veterinary Pathobiology

     

    Title/Job description:

    Assistant Professor, Parasitologist

     

    How long have you worked at OSU:

    January 2024 as a professor, but since 2018 as a resident/lecturer.

     

    Contct Information

    Email: kathryn.duncan@okstate.edu

     

    What are your current research interest areas:

    · Vector-borne diseases

    · Ticks on domestic animals

    · Gastrointestinal and spurious parasites in dogs

  • Dr. Peter Muriana

    Department:

    Animal & Food Sciences (AFS) and the R.M. Kerr Food & Ag Products Center (FAPC)

     

    Title/Job description:

    Professor (Food Microbiology); Advance Foods-Gilliland Professorship in Microbial Food Safety. I work with microbial characterization of beneficial bacteria, validation of food processes to ensure safety, and evaluation of antimicrobials for application as food preservatives and/or inhibition of foodborne pathogens.

     

    How long have you worked at OSU?

    27 years.

     

    Contact:

    peter.muriana@okstate.edu

    405-744-5563 (office)

    405-747-0040 (cell)

     

    What are your current research interest areas?

    1. Probiotic bacteria for enhanced feed utilization in swine 2. Safety of South African air-dried beef (Droëwors)

    3. Characterization of probiotic spore-forming bacteria (Bacillus sp.) for use in food

    4. Identification, characterization, and application of bacteriocin-producing bacteria as food biopreservatives.

     

    Potential research projects that you have in mind for a summer research student:

    I can see a project in any of the 4 topics listed above, 3 of which I am PI on current USDA-NIFA grants and another is discretionary funding via my Professorship funding.

     

    Additional projects could be:

    1.Thermal death kinetics of foodborne pathogens in plant-based meats.

    2. Application of bacteriocins to inhibit Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus sp., Staphylococcus sp. in plant-based meats.

    3. Validation of pathogen lethality and growth prevention during thermal cooking and cooling times in USDA-FSIS modified Appendix A & B schedules using ‘inoculum packets’ placed in the center of large whole muscle meats.

     

    What qualities are you looking for in a summer research student?

    • Dependable

    •Hard working

    •Works well with others

    •Capable of working independently

  • Dr. Karen Wozniak

    Department:

    Microbiology & Molecular Genetics

     

    Title/Job description:

    Associate Professor

     

    How long have you worked at OSU:

    6.5 years

     

    Contact Information: 

    Email: Karen.Wozniak@okstate.edu

     

    What are your current research interest areas:

    Innate immune responses to fungal infection by Cryptococcus neoformans, novel antifungal drug discovery for new anti-cryptococcal compounds, immune activation of mast cells in response to SARS-CoV-

    Titles of potential research projects for a summer research student:

    - Mast cell activation in response to SARS-CoV-2

    - Mechanisms of antifungal activity of novel antifungal compounds

     

    What qualities are you looking for in a summer research student? 

    I am looking for a student who is interested in learning lab techniques and learning about basic science research so they can apply this knowledge in their future career as a veterinarian.

  • Dr. Neeraj Singh

    Department:

    Physiological Sciences

     

    Title/Job description:

    Assistant Professor

     

    How long have you worked at OSU:

    4 months

     

    Contact Information: 

    Neeraj.singh@okstate.edu

    Phone – 405-744-6257

     

    What are your current research interest areas:

    Neurodegenerative disease- Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, microglia, neuroinflammation, and molecular mechanism regulating neurotoxicity.

     

    Titles of potential research projects for a summer research student:

    1. Role of the microglial genes in modulating pathology, amyloid plaque load, and memory dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease mice model.

    2. Identifying genes regulating neurotoxicity associated with Amyloid beta in invitro neuronal cell culture.

     

    What qualities are you looking for in a summer research student?

    Have an interest in the field of immunology and neurodegenerative disease. Willing to learn new techniques. Comfortable in working with transgenic mice models.

  • Dr. Ciaran Shaughnessy

    Department:

    Integrative Biology

     

    Title/Job description:

    Assistant Professor of Integrative Physiology

     

    How long have you worked at OSU?

    1

     

    Contact Information:

    Email: ciaran.shaughnessy@okstate.edu

     

    What are your current research interest areas?

    We study ion channel (mainly CFTR) function and pharmacology in airway and intestinal epithelia in the context of cystic fibrosis (CF). We mechanistically investigate the basic function of CFTR and its role in regulating hydromineral balance on airway and intestinal epithelia, and we explore novel and clinically feasible pharmacological approaches to improve function of CF-causing mutant CFTR. Additionally, we perform comparative in vitro studies to understand how CFTR function evolved.

     

    Titles of potential research projects for a summer research student:

    “Receptor-mediated activation of CFTR”

    “Novel pathways of CFTR activation in the airway and intestine”

    “Species differences in CFTR function and pharmacology”

    “Functional Evolution of CFTR”

     

    What qualities are you looking for in a summer research student?

    Curious about the subject, passionate about research, organized and motivated to develop independence, willing to work with others.

  • Dr. Fanucchi

    Department:

    VCS

     

    Title/Job description:

    Clinical Assistant Professor

     

    How long have you worked at OSU:

    1 year and 9 months

     

    Contact Information:

    Le.fanucchi@okstate.edu

     

    What are your current research interest areas:

    Applied animal behavior.

     

    Titles of potential research projects for a summer research student:

    White coat syndrome in dogs

    Validation of Fear Free techniques used in dogs and cats.

    What qualities are you looking for in a summer research student?

    I have done summer projects with students in the past at Washington State University, and published the work, granting me a research award in the past. I am a PhD.

  • Dr. Lutter 

    Erika Lutter, Ph.D.

    Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics 

     

    Contact:

    Phone: (405) 744-2532

    Email: erika.lutter@okstate.edu

    Lab Website

     

    Research Interests:

    Exploring infections at mucosal sites with two main research areas: host-pathogen interactions involving Chlamydia trachomatis and polymicrobial interactions of cystic fibrosis infections.

  • Dr. João Brandão

    Department:

    Veterinary Clinical Sciences

     

    Title: Associate Professor, Zoological Medicine

     

    How long have you worked at OUS? 

    6

    Contact Info:

    Email: jbrandao@okstate.edu

     

    Current Research Interest Areas:

    Endocrinology, sedation and anesthesia, coagulation, clinical research

     

    Titles of potential research projects for a summer research student:

    • The use of lignocaine-prilocaine local anesthetic and capsaicin cream for pain-free venipuncture in rabbits

    • Comparison of body temperature site measurement to rectal temperature in healthy rabbits

    • Thyrotropin stimulating hormone in rabbits

    What qualities are you looking for in a summer research student?

    • Organized and self-driven

    • Willing to work independently or in partnership with other students

  • Joshua T. Butcher, BA, MS, Ph.D.

    Department:

    Physiological Sciences

     

    Title:

    Assistant Professor

     

    How long have you worked at OSU? 

    3

     

    Contact Info:

    Current Research Interest Areas:  

    • I have multiple research interests, but currently my research paradigm focuses on obesity and aging (sarcopenic obesity). We are currently looking at how exercise (specifically skeletal muscle) can uncouple obesity from its cardiometabolic complications (like hypertension, vascular dysfunction, renal disease, diabetes, etc.) and overlaying these comorbidities in an aging rodent model.

    Titles of potential research projects for a summer research student:

    • One potential project idea would be: “Obesity and its Effects on Brain Oxidant Stress, Aging and Vascular Adrenergic Dysfunction, Does an Exercise Mimetic Improve Renal Function, Obesity and its Effect on Lung Function, etc.”  That being said, if a student has a particular passion for a topic that’s not listed, I’ve certainly never been one to shy away from a new scientific adventure!

    What qualities are you looking for in a summer research student?

    • The ideal student will have an enthusiasm for science and willingness to work hard in a team setting.

  • Rudra Channappanavar, DVM, PhD

    Department:

    Veterinary Pathobiology

     

    Title:

    Assistant Professor

     

    Contact Info:

    rchanna@okstate.edu

     

    Current Research Interest Areas:

    • Major focus of research in my laboratory is to study the immune response to coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV. We examine protective efficacy of antiviral agents and vaccines in models of coronavirus infections. We also study factors that lead to protective and pathogenic immunity to coronaviruses in young and aged, and males and females. We utilize in-vitro and in-vivo (animal models) systems to assess the role of immune response during coronavirus infections.

    • View publications

    Titles of potential research projects for a summer research student:

    • Evaluate vaccine induced immunity against coronaviruses in young and aged hosts.

    • Test the efficacy of novel antiviral and anti-inflammatory drugs in COVID19 models.

    • Identify host and virus factors that cause severe vs mild to moderate disease.

    What qualities are you looking for in a summer research student?

    • An ideal research student would be highly motivated, hard-working, and sincere who can work as a team with other laboratory members.

  • Dr. Henrique Cheng

    Department:

    Physiological Sciences

     

    Title:

    Associate Professor of Physiology

     

    How many years have you worked at OSU?

    3 months

     

    Contact Info:

    Current Research Interest Areas:

    • Diabetes Research: Regulation of insulin secretion by natural compounds for diabetes treatment.

    • Stem Cell Research: Endocrine control of stem cell differentiation for tissue regeneration.

    Titles of potential research projects for a summer research student:

    • Molecular mechanism of malvidin stimulated insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells

    • Osteocalcin-induced osteogenic differentiation of dental follicle stem cells 

    What qualities are you looking for in a summer research student?

    • Curious and interested in research

  • Dr. Xufang Deng

    Department:

    Physiological Sciences

     

    Title:

    Assistant Professor

     

    How many years have you worked at OSU? 

    1 year, 3 months

     

    Contact Info:

    xufang.deng@okstate.edu

     

    Current Research Interest Areas:

    • Dr. Deng’s research mainly focuses on understanding coronavirus replication, viral-host interplay, and pathogenesis. His research subjects include human coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and the coronaviruses that infect domestic animals (swine, bovine, pets, etc.). Dr. Deng's research uses a variety of state-of-art techniques including reverse genetics and CRISPR-Cas to identify viral and host components that determine coronavirus diseases in BSL-2 and BSL/ABSL-3 settings. Dr. Deng’s research aims to facilitate the discovery and development of effective anti-coronavirus strategies.

    Titles of potential research projects for a summer research student:

    • Developing a live-attenuated porcine coronavirus vaccine candidate using PROTAC

    • Tissue tropism of porcine coronaviruses

    • Cloning and construction of a reverse genetic platform for bovine coronavirus

    What qualities are you looking for in a summer research student?

    • Interested in research and willing to learn

    • Self-motivated and hard-working

    • Team player

  • Dr. Jennifer Grindstaff

    Department:

    Integrative Biology

     

    Title:

    Associate Professor

     

    Years at OSU:

    15

     

    Contact Info:

    jen.grindstaff@okstate.edu

     

    Current Research Interest Areas:

    • Avian microbiome, stress physiology, latitudinal variation in life history strategies

    Titles of potential research projects for a summer research student:

    • The gut microbiota as a facilitator of adaptation to environmental change

    What qualities are you looking for in a summer research student?

    • Curious, reliable, team player, motivated

  • Dr. Myron Hinsdale

    Department:

    Physiological Sciences

     

    Title:

    Associate Professor

     

    How many years have you worked at OSU? 

    16

     

    Contact Info:

    myron.hinsdale@okstate.edu

    *please use SRTP in the subject line

     

    Current Research Interest Areas:

    • Generally, how the extracellular matrix of organs affects tissue recovery/regeneration post-injusry. Liver and renal genetic disease, infectious disease of the respiratory system and stem cells in metabolic diseases.

    Titles of potential research projects for a summer research student:

    • Oocyte implantation and proteoglycans

    • Inhibitors of adipose stem cell adipogenesis

    • Brain proteoglycans and structural changes

    • Pulmonary proteoglycans and lung disease

    What qualities are you looking for in a summer research student?

    • Curious, studious, excited about learning new techniques in and ideas about mechanisms of how organs maintain homeostasis.

  • Clinton Jones, Ph.D.

    Department:

    Veterinary Pathobiology

     

    Title:

    Sitlington Professor of Infectious Diseases

     

    How many years have you been at OSU? 

    7

     

    Contact Info:

    Current Research Interest Areas:

    • My lab works on two neurotropic herpesviruses: bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) and herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). Our research is focused on how these viruses, establish, maintain, and reactivate from latency. Recently, we have been most interested in understanding how stress induces reactivation from latency, and how stress activates viral transcription.

    Titles of potential research projects for a summer research student:

    • A summer research student would likely become involved with understanding how stress-induced transcription factors regulate viral replication and gene expression.

    What qualities are you looking for in a summer research student?

    • The ideal student will have an enthusiasm for science and willingness to work hard in a team setting.

  • Dr. Dale Kelley

    Department:

    Veterinary Clinical Sciences

     

    Title:

    Assistant Professor

     

    How many years have you worked at OSU?

    3

     

    Contact Info:

    Current Research Interest Areas:

    • Equine reproduction, investigating alternatives to antibiotics to treat endometritis in mares 

  • Dr. Veronique Lacombe

    Department:

    Physiological Sciences

     

    Title:

    Professor

     

    How many years have you been at OSU?

    10

     

    Contact Info:

    Current Research Interest Areas:

    The Comparative Metabolism Laboratory investigates glucose metabolism during metabolic diseases (e.g., diabetes, insulin resistance and obesity) and novel metabolic therapeutic strategies that could benefit both veterinary and human patients. 

    Diabetes and obesity, global epidemic diseases, are significant risk factors for cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. One of the major pathogenic processes underlying these metabolic diseases results from a deficit of insulin production or action, with dysfunctional glucose uptake into insulin-sensitive tissues.

    • Despite intensive research, the mechanisms of altered glucose transport observed during diabetes are still not well elucidated. Therefore, the main current mission of our research laboratory is to investigate the regulation of glucose transport in insulin-sensitive tissues (e.g., cardiac and skeletal muscles, and adipose tissues), but also in the lung and lamellar tissue. Glucose uptake from the bloodstream is tightly regulated by a family of specialized proteins called glucose transporters. Because every cell expresses these glucose transporters, they are recognized as major regulators of whole-body metabolism and thus, key pharmacological targets. The strength of our research program is to use a unique comparative approach by investigating both small and large animal models of metabolic diseases, spanning from transgenic mice to horses.

    Titles of potential research projects for a summer research student:

    • The student will be involved in a translational research project on glucose metabolism with potential therapeutic applications for patients with diabetes, cardiovascular diseases or respiratory infections. The student will learn research skills using biochemistry and molecular techniques (e.g., Western Blot and PCR techniques) and/or will develop proper handling skills for rodents. The student will also perform data analysis, interpret the results and present at the lab meeting. The student will be part of team, which includes graduate and undergraduate students.

    What qualities are you looking for in a summer research student?

    • Curious, motivated, enthusiastic to learn and explore new field.

  • Dr. Lin Liu

    Department:

    Physiological Sciences

     

    Title:

    Regents Professor and Director

     

    How many years have you been at OSU?

    22

     

    Contact Info:

    lin.liu@okstate.edu

     

    Current Research Interest Areas:

    • Host-pathogen interactions with a focus on influenza virus, SARS-CoV-2 and/or mycobacterium tuberculosis, pathogenesis of lung diseases (IPF and COPD), and stem cell therapy and human lung tissue modeling.

  • Dr. Edralin Lucas

    Department:

    Nutritional Sciences

     

    Title:

    Jim and Lynne Williams Professor

     

    How many years have you been at OSU? 

    27

     

    Contact Info:

    edralin.a.lucas@okstate.edu

     

    Current Research Interest Areas:

    • Bioactive food components in chronic disease prevention including obesity, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, inflammation and osteoporosis. Recently, we are exploring the effects of functional food on gut health including the gut microbiome and its implications in chronic disease prevention.

    Titles of potential research projects for a summer research student:

    • Effect of pinto beans on gut and bone health in estrogen deficiency

    What qualities are you looking for in a summer research student?

    • Hard working

  • Dr. Elizabeth McCullagh

    Department:

    Integrative Biology

     

    Title:

    Assistant Professor

     

    How many years have you been at OSU?

    3

    Contact Info:

    Elizabeth.mccullagh@okstate.edu 

     

    Current Research Interest Areas:

    • Neuroscience, autism, mammalian hearing, anuran hearing, anatomy, physiology, behavior

    Titles of potential research projects for a summer research student:

    • “Myelination in a mouse model of autism as a driver of auditory hypersensitivity”

    • “Hearing differences across frequencies in a mouse model of autism”

    • “Sex differences in hearing”

    • “Monogamous prairie voles as a hearing model organism”

    • “Tree frog hearing”

    What qualities are you looking for in a summer research student?

    • Motivation and willingness to learn

  • Dr. McKale Montgomery

    Department:

    Nutritional Sciences

     

    Title:

    Assistant Professor

     

    How many years have you been at OSU? 

    5

     

    Contact Info:

    mckale.montgomery@okstate.edu

     

    Current Research Interest Areas:

    • My laboratory’s long-term research goal is to understand how acquisition of exaggerated amounts of iron promotes metabolic perturbations and disease progression. My current research is specifically focused on how iron regulatory protein signaling influences ferroptosis activation and cellular sensitivity to ferroptotic cell death in both tumor and Alzheimer’s disease models.

    Titles of potential research projects for a summer research student:

    • Contributions of Iron Regulatory Proteins and Ferroptosis to Neurodegeneration

    What qualities are you looking for in a summer research student?

    • Organized, self-motivated, ability to multi-task

  • Dr. Sunil More

    Department:

    Veterinary Pathobiology

     

    Title:

    Assistant Professor

     

    How many years have you been at OSU?

    3

     

    Contact Info:

    sunil.more@okstate.edu

     

    Current Research Interest Areas:

    • SARS-CoV-2 and Secondary bacterial pneumonia, digital pathology

    Titles of potential research projects for a summer research student:

    • SARS-CoV-2 infection predisposes hosts to secondary bacterial infections

    What qualities are you looking for in a summer research student?

    • Interest in disease pathogenesis research using cell culture and animal models.

  • Donald Ruhl Jr., Ph.D.

    Department:

    Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

     

    Title:

    Assistant Professor

     

    How many years have you been at OSU? 

    13

     

    Contact Info:

    Current Research Interest Areas:

    • The Ruhl lab studies epigenome changes in response to extracellular stimuli (ie. hormones, medications, heat) focusing on DNA structural changes and the associated proteins. Both human cancer cell (cervix, breast) models and a plant (wheat) model system are used to study these processes.

    Titles of potential research projects for a summer research student:

    • Investigate changes to DNA structure in response to estrogen in human cells. 

    • Develop a method to purify proteins involved in epigenetic regulation of DNA structure. 

    • Determine the molecular interactions of epigenetic proteins with DNA. 

    What qualities are you looking for in a summer research student?

    • The ideal student is one that is interested in research with a willingness to learn!

  • Dr. Patrick R Stephens

    Department:

    Integrative Biology

     

    Title:

    Assistant Professor

     

    How many years have you been at OSU?

    1

     

    Contact info:

    patrick.stephens@okstate.edu

     

    Current research interest areas:

    • Understanding large-scale disease dynamics, particularly the factors that drive outbreak risk and that have the potential to lead to epidemics and pandemics. In my lab, we use computational methods to build statistical models of outbreak risk factors. Current projects include exploring how eco-environmental and socioeconomic factors affect spillover and outbreak risk of Ebolavirus in sub-Saharan Africa, and exploring how armed conflicts can affect disease dynamics in general.

    Titles of potential research projects for a summer research student:

    • Understanding the drivers of zoonotic vs endemic tuberculosis outbreaks

    • Contrasting the drivers of hemorrhagic fever outbreaks of different pathogens in Africa

    What qualities are you looking for in a summer research student?

    • Strong interest in learning computational skills such as data analysis and statistical modelling with R.  At least basic knowledge of introductory statistics and hypothesis testing.

  • Dr. Madhan Subramanian

    Department:

    Physiological Sciences

     

    Title:

    Assistant Professor

     

    How many years have you been at OSU? 

    3

     

    Contact Info:

    madhan.subramanian@okstate.edu 

     

    Current research interest areas:

    • Our research is to investigate the neural mechanisms of obesity and aging. To learn more about our research visit our lab page.

    What qualities are you looking for in a summer research student?

    • Interested in neuroscience

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