Undergraduate Research
Take advantage of your Butler opportunities. Faculty members in Biological Sciences welcome students into their laboratories. Check out our Faculty page and click on a name to view a professor’s area of expertise. Visit and talk with them as early in your career as possible. Although most undergraduate research is done in the junior and senior years, some students begin as early as the freshman year.
Students may earn credit (or, occasionally, money) by working one on one with faculty during the academic year. Research is also an important part of the Honors Program. Students interested in an intensive research experience are encouraged to apply for the Butler Summer Institute. More information about undergraduate research programs at Butler can be found at the Office of Sponsored Programs website.
Every April, students present their results at the Butler Undergraduate Research Conference, which draws participants from more than forty midwestern colleges and universities. Students may also apply for funds to travel to other regional or national meetings, via the Holcomb Undergraduate Grants program.
Students may also want to apply for Biology Internships which are available throughout Indianapolis, the state of Indiana, and surrounding states. Click on the link above or contact the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at 317-940-9224.
Take a Brief Tour of Some Labs!
Listen to some students discuss their research projects and give you a quick tour of the labs they call home. And it’s not all microscopes and white lab coats…who would have thought that flying drones in the forests on campus could be Biology research?!?!
- Dr Berthrong’s Lab Pt 1, Dr Berthrong’s Lab Pt 2
- Dr Etnier’s Lab
- Dr Kowalski’s Lab
- Dr Salsbury’s Lab
- Dr Savchenko’s Lab
- Dr Spear’s Lab
- Dr Stobart’s Lab
- Dr Stoehr’s Lab
Student Research Projects
Alexandra Alva, “Regulation of Neuromuscular Signaling Under Oxidative Stress in C. elegans by Intestinal FSHR-1 and its Potential Ligand GPLA-1/GPA2” Honors Thesis, Spring 2024 (Mentor: Jennifer Kowalski)
Elizabeth Bocksenbaum, “Following the path of noted ecologist Alton A. Lindsey – documenting herbarium specimens from around the world” Independent research; Spring 2024 (Mentor: Marcia Moore)
Jack Guckien, “Identification and Sanitization of Antibiotic Resistant Fecal Coliforms in the White River.” Spring 2022 – Spring 2024 (Mentor: Mike Trombley)
Anna Lankisch, Microplastic accumulation in an invasive freshwater snail Fall 2024 (Mentor: Shelley Etnier)
Eleanor Rosenberry, Microplastic accumulation in chipmunks Fall 2024 (Mentor: Shelley Etnier)
Preet Soos, “Exploring the Richness of Rubus: A Literature Review” Independent research; Spring 2024 (Mentor: Marcia Moore and Hilary Madinger)
Zac Stanley, “Documenting microplastics in small terrestrial mammals” Fall 2023 – Spring 2024 (Mentor: Shelley Etnier)
JJ Wadas Jr., “Documenting microplastics in migratory birds” Fall 2023 – Spring 2024 (Mentor: Shelley Etnier)
Natalie Zagorski, “Identifying the special extent of teasel species distributions with herbarium and campus specimens” Independent research; Spring 2024 (Mentor: Hilary Madinger and Marcia Moore)
Ryan Adkins, “The G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) FSHR-1 and the SPHK-1 lipid kinase regulate C. elegans life- and healthspans via a common pathway” Honors Thesis, Spring 2023 (Mentor: Jennifer Kowalski)
Anna Childers, “Exploring the influence of TCP8 IDRs on behavior and localization in Arabidopsis” (Mentor: Ben Spears)
Maura Donnelly, “Exploring the influence of TCP8 IDRs on behavior and localization in Arabidopsis” (Mentor: Ben Spears)
Payton Gallowitch, “Tonic immobility and avoiding predation in Cicadas” Independent research; Fall 2022 – Spring 2023 (Mentor: Hilary Madinger)
Mason King, “Flight initiation distances of fox (Sciurus niger) and gray (S. carolinensis) tree squirrels within an urban landscape in response to novel aerial and terrestrial threats.” Independent research; Spring & Fall 2023 (Mentor: Carmen Salsbury)
Sam Lineweaver, “Flight initiation distances of fox (Sciurus niger) and gray (S. carolinensis) tree squirrels within an urban landscape in response to novel aerial and terrestrial threats.” Independent research; Spring & Fall 2023 (Mentor: Carmen Salsbury)
Sam Magnabosco, “Characterizing the sumoylation of PpTCP transcription factors” (Mentor: Ben Spears)
Makenzi McClain, “Investigation of cell nonautonomous signaling of the G protein-coupled receptor, FSHR-1, in controlling neuromuscular structure and function in C. elegans” Honors Thesis, Spring 2023 (Mentor: Jennifer Kowalski)
Rae Mozal, “Genetic characterization of TCP gene family in Physcomitrium patens by CRISPR/Cas9 targeted mutagenesis” (Mentor: Ben Spears)
Ryan Snyder, “Spatial and temporal partitioning of fox (Sciurus niger) and gray (S. carolinensis) tree squirrels on an urban college campus.” Independent study; Fall 2023 (Mentor (Carmen Salsbury)
Rachel Lynn Urban, “Seasonal plasticity and correlations among butterfly wing color patterns: Insights into modularity” (Mentor: Andrew Stoehr)
Anna Pressel, “Potential regulation of SYD-2 by the anaphase-promoting complex and CaM Kinase II enzymes at the neuromuscular junction in C. elegans” Independent research, Spring 2022; BSI 2022 (Mentor: Jennifer Kowalski)
Ashrey Burley, “Phylogenetic reconstruction of the deciduous southeastern azaleas (Rhododendron subsection Pentanthera) using a Next Generation Sequencing approach” (Mentor: Emily Gillespie)
Matthew Junard, “Efficacy of Staphylococcus aureus Under Various Extreme Conditions”, Honors Thesis, Fall 2020 – Spring 2022 (Mentor: Mike Trombley)
Jack Miller, “Presence of Antibiotic Resistant Fecal Coliforms in the White River.” Fall 2020 – Spring 2022 (Mentor: Mike Trombley)
Letitia Bortey, “FSHR-1 and its candidate ligands FLR-2 and T23B12.8regulate neuromuscular signaling balance” Independent Research Spring, Summer, Fall 2021 (Mentor: Jennifer Kowalski)
Margaret Broderick, “Development of novel microsatellite markers for detecting hybridization events between the Intermediate Wood Fern (Dryopteris intermedia) and its close relatives” Spring 2019 – Spring 2021 (Mentor: Emily Gillespie)
Colleen Carey, “Seasonal wing pattern variation in the cabbage white butterfly” Independent research, Fall 2021 (Mentor: Andrew Stoehr)
Carly Dobert, “Seasonal activity patterns of raccoons within an urban landscape” Spring 2019 – Spring 2021 (Mentor: Carmen Salsbury)
Grace Hunter, “Seasonal wing pattern variation in the cabbage white butterfly” Independent research, Fall 2021 (Mentor: Andrew Stoehr)
Tara Poindexter, “Evaluation of a putative hybrid zone in Wood Ferns (Dryopteris spp.) at Mountain lake Biological Station” Fall 2019-Spring 2021 (Mentor: Emily Gillespie)
Madelyn Sanders, “Raccoon occupancy within an urban landscape” Independent research, Fall 2021 (Mentor: Carmen Salsbury)
Morgan Buckley, “Investigation of G protein-coupled receptor FSHR-1 in regulation of synaptic protein localization in C. elegans” BSI 2019 / Honors Thesis, Spring 2020 (Mentor: Jennifer Kowalski)
Corey Dea, “Vegetation Indicators of Urban Wildlife in Indianapolis” Fall 2020 (Mentor: Julia Angstmann)
Lauren Goertzen, “B.E.A.K: Butler Explores Avian Kollisions – Physiological plasticity in migratory birds: gizzard morphology.” Fall 2018 – Spring 2020 (Mentor: Shelley Etnier)
Makenzie Kurtz, “Global and seasonal wing pattern variation in a widespread butterfly.” Spring 2019 – Spring 2020 (Mentor: Andrew Stoehr)
Jane Pahud, “Global and seasonal wing pattern variation in a widespread butterfly.” Fall 2019 – Spring 2020 (Mentor: Andrew Stoehr)
Megan Schroeder, “Population Density of the Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) in Central Indiana: Establishing a Base-Line for Long-Term Monitoring.” Fall 2019 – Spring 2020 (Mentor: Travis Ryan)
Kara Stark, “Levels of the adaptor protein, Dreadlocks, must be precisely regulated during development of the Drosophila egg chamber.” BSI 2017 / Honors Thesis, Spring 2020 (Mentor: Lindsay Lewellyn)
Josephine Thestrup, “Determining the role for the Arp2/3 complex and the formin, Diaphanous, in the germline of the developing Drosophila egg chamber.” (Mentor: Lindsay Lewellyn)
Addison Trapp, “Fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) leaf nest densities in suburban woodlots and residential areas” Fall 2019 – Spring 2020 (Mentor: Carmen Salsbury)
Allison Welz, “Phylogeographic history of Sand Myrtle (Kalmia buxifolia)” Spring 2019 – Spring 2020 (Mentor: Emily Gillespie)
Darby DeFord, “Analysis of the thermal stability of a diverse panel of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) strains.” Fall 2016 – Spring 2019 / BSI 2017 / Honors Thesis (Mentor: Christopher Stobart)
Angie Dusak, “ Investigating the regulation of E-cadherin and Moesin in the Germline Ring Canals of Drosophila melanogaster Egg Chamber” BSI 2018 / Honors Thesis, Spring 2019 (Mentor: Lindsay Lewellyn)
Umayr Shaikh, “Examining Size Scaling Relationships in the Developing Drosophila Egg Chamber.” BSI 2019. (Mentor: Lindsay Lewellyn)
Reagan Wohlford, “Determining the role for the adaptor, Dreadlocks, in the somatic follicle cells of the developing fruit fly egg.” BSI 2019. (Mentor: Lindsay Lewellyn)
Cindy Cifuentes, “Vegetation Structure and Urban Wildlife Occupancy”. Fall 2018 – Spring 2019 (Mentor: Julia Angstmann, Travis Ryan, Carmen Salsbury)
Cindy CiFuentes, “Indy Wildlife Watch: Impact of Vegetation Structure on Presence of Urban Wildlife.” Hendricks Fellow 2019, CUES interns 2019.
Evynn Davis, “Indy Wildlife Watch: Impact of Vegetation Structure on Presence of Urban Wildlife.” Hendricks Fellow 2019, CUES interns 2019.
Jake Gerard, “Effects of an Urban College Campus Environment on Indianapolis Wildlife”. Fall 2018 – December 2019 (Mentor: Julia Angstmann, Travis Ryan, Carmen Salsbury)
Jake Gerard, “Butler Wildlife Watch: Native Wildlife Occupancy of Urban Campus Habitats and their Potential Environmental Drivers.” Hendricks Fellow 2019. Honors Thesis, Fall 2019 (Mentor: Julia Angstmann)
Ethan Kitt, “Identification of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the microbiota of local squirrel population.” Spring 2017 – Spring 2019 (Mentor: Mike Trombley)
Becca Lewis, “Sustainable agriculture in urban systems of Indianapolis”. Fall 2017 – Spring 2019 (Mentor: Sean Berthrong)
Spencer Lybrook, “Sustainable agriculture in urban systems of Indianapolis”. Fall 2017 – Spring 2019 (Mentor: Sean Berthrong)
Elly Mawi, “Localization and functionality of the SUMO conjugating enzyme UBC-9 in C. elegans neurons” BSI 2017 / Honors Thesis, Spring 2019 (Mentor: Jennifer Kowalski)
Emily Nettesheim, “Neuronal localization of FSHR-1 expression using CRISPR/Cas9 in C. elegans.” Fall 2017– Spring 2019, BSI 2018 (Mentor: Jennifer Kowalski)
Taylor Prechtel, “Investigation of SYD-2 as a neuronal substrate of the anaphase-promoting complex enzyme in C. elegans” BSI 2017 / Honors Thesis, Spring 2019 (Mentor: Jennifer Kowalski)
Sam Ross, “An Urban Flora: Tree, Shrub, and Herbaceous Cover, Frequency and Density of Holcomb Woods.”, BSI 2019 (Mentor: Julia Angstmann)
David Ryskamp, “Investigation of the FSHR-1 receptor and its downstream pathway components in neuromuscular signaling” BSI 2018 / Honors Thesis, Spring 2019 (Mentor: Jennifer Kowalski)
Matt Tille, “Identification of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the microbiota of local squirrel population.” Spring 2017 – Spring 2019 (Mentor: Mike Trombley)
Kelsea Zitt, “B.E.A.K: Butler Explores Avian Kollisions – Mitigation proposal for ‘bird death zones’ on Butler’s Campus.” Fall 2018 – Spring 2019 (Mentor: Shelley Etnier