Research Projects and Internships
Ross Buffington, a senior Computer Science major, spent the summer of 2009 conducting research at the University of Houston, Texas. This was funded by the National Science Foundation and the specific program name is "REU" or "Research Experience for Undergraduates". Ross worked in the University of Houston's Computational Physiology Laboratory with a number of master's and post-doctorate students. Dr. Ioannis Pavlidis, Dr. Dvijesh Shastri, and master's student Yuichi Fujiki were the three primary mentors in his research. This experience allowed Ross to further his understanding and competence in developing applications for the iPhone. Prior to the REU, Ross had spent the entire school year independently learning how to write software for the device.
Through his research he created "The Sky is Falling" which is a computer based, 2-dimensional, game which overlays on top of the live video feed of a security camera. The purpose of the game is to increase the cognitive engagement of a security guard, when charged with the task of monitoring video feeds for hours on end. Note: in lab experiments, cognitive engagement is measured using Dr. Pavlidis's patented technology, the Stress Cam, a high sensitivity infrared camera (source to original paper listed below). A secondary purpose of the application was to promote physical activity of the security guard. This was accomplished by incorporating the iPhone as a game controller-device, allowing a user to wirelessly interact with their computer using the iPhone.
2008 NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH PROJECTS
Jeanna Bardin utilized a rapid conditioning model for learning in zebrafish. This paradigm has previously been published by other research groups and was used by some Belmont students in summer 2007 to assess learning in zebrafish. The fish are taught to discriminate right from left sides of the aquarium and then are tested following testosterone treatment to see whether or not they can remember. In addition, Jeanna used a maze to assess gender specific hormone treatments on learning in the fish.
Roshni Patel utilized the rapid conditioning model for learning in zebrafish described above. However, Roshni's interest lies in the ability of caffeine to enhance learning in this model. She tested different doses of caffeine. This work follows work done by Adam Gilliland and was an attempt to refine the most effective dose of caffeine.
Taylor Walter also utilized the rapid conditioning model for learning in zebrafish. Taylor is interested in whether or not nicotine can enhance learning. In addition to the rapid learning assay, Taylor used Western blot analysis to look for changes in cholinergic receptors in the fish following nicotine treatment. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in learning and receptors for acetylcholine are the targets for nicotine. Changes in these receptors may be responsible for addiction to nicotine.
Jackie Hunter is interested in zebrafish visual cues. She assessed changes in social behavior and ability to solve a T-maze in different types of light. There are some precedents that the wavelengths of light to which zebrafish are sensitive differ from our own visible light spectrum. For example, the fish seem to be able to see UV light. She used a T-maze with either reward or punishment to evaluate the role of visual cues in the zebrafish.
Sergei Temkin, a 2007 graduate, majored in computer science. As a semester project for a linear algebra course, Sergei created a graphics software package that used matrix manipulation to visualize linear transformations. Through discussions with faculty in biology and mathematics, it became evident that Sergei's interests, and the flexibility of his graphics project were a great match for a emerging research effort involving c. elegans, a roundworm that has become an important model organism for the study of genetics, cell biology and neuroscience. Sergei is presently working on a system that captures video of the c. elegans, saves the video as individual images and analyzes their motion using image detection algorithms. As his project develops, it will be used as a tool for gathering information for numerous projects conducted by students and faculty working with c. elegans.
