Tag Archives: botany

Research Opportunity: How pollinator and pest sensory biology influences chemical trait evolution in flowering plants

Con­tact Name: Marie Clifford

Con­tact Email: cliffmar[at]uw.edu

Depart­ment: Biology

Descrip­tion:

I am looking at how insect (pollinator: various bees and a moth, pest: a specialized butterfly) olfaction can drive the evolution of traits in flowering plants (Passiflora), particularly in the chemical profile of floral and leaf volatiles (scent), and how these chemical traits relate to morphological ones.

I am looking for an undergraduate volunteer who is willing to commit for at least 9 months in the lab for 6+ hours a week. They would work with another undergraduate and myself on plant maintenance, as well as a project to understand the volatile and morphological profiles of leaves in the Passiflora (the most diverse leaf morphology of any plant family!), and how this relates to herbivory by Heliconius butterflies. After a quarter, there is the possibility to develop an independent project related to this work and receive Biology 499 research credits.

A love of plants, insects, chemistry, evolution, and pollination is encouraged! Email cliffmar[at]uw.edu with a letter of intent, resume/CV, and unofficial transcript.

Require­ments:

Introductory chemistry, Biol 180.

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Research Opportunity: Nearshore Ecology Research Experience, Friday Harbor Labs

Con­tact Name: Dr. Megan Dethier

Con­tact Email: mdethier[at]uw.edu

Depart­ment: Friday Harbor Labs

Descrip­tion:

This is a for-credit course at FHL that gives students a chance to do a project in marine ecology, either of their own choosing or as part of a team effort, under close mentorship of an FHL staff member. Past projects have involved the role of seaweeds in ‘feeding’ other nearshore habitats, the feeding behavior and physiology of intertidal predatory snails, food preference experiments of crabs, and a wide variety of other topics. Participants must concurrently register for Marine Zoology and Marine Botany. See http://depts.washington.edu/fhl/stu_index.html

Require­ments:

Completion of the basic Biology series or equivalent.

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