John Kauwe, Biology Project Justification and Overview Successful enrollment in and completion of graduate programs requires a constellation of skills. Students must be prepared to plan and execute experiments, present their findings both verbally and in manuscript form and interact effectively with senior scientists in the field of their choice. In this MEG I will […]
A Race Against Time: Deciphering Evolution and Describing New Species of Threatened Tropical Stick Insects (Phasmatodea)
Michael F. Whiting, Biology Funding was received in 2016 to support mentored research into the phylogeny and evolution of stick insects. Specific goals include providing students with scientific design experience, field-based research experience, collections-based experience, molecular lab experience, bioinformatics experience, and experience in presentation at national meetings and publication in peer reviewed journals. One particular […]
Increasing the Accuracy of Molecular Biomarkers via Evidence-based Algorithm Selection
Stephen R. Piccolo, Biology This is a final report for a Mentoring Environment Grant that Brigham Young University awarded to me in 2016. Below is a summary of the project that this grant enabled students in my research lab to perform, as well as information about how the funds were used. Research Project In making […]
Evolution of the photopigments in the largest and most complex terrestrial animal eyes
Seth M. Bybee, Department of Biology, December 2017 Evaluation of how well the academic objectives of the proposal were met The proposal had three main aims: 1). Produce a phylogenetic estimate of aeshnid dragonfly evolution from transcriptomes. 2). Use the phylogeny from Aim I and the photopigments isolated from the transcriptome data to examine the […]
Insect visual systems and fossils to provide students a clear vision of 21st century phylogenetic systematics
PI: Seth M. Bybee Evaluation of how well the academic objectives of the proposal were met The proposal had three main aims: 1). Examine the evolution of opsins across dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) using transcriptomics. 2). CT-scan the internal morphology of extant and fossil taxa and 3). Build expertise in bioinformatics and create computational tools […]
BYU Undergraduate Explore the Development of Scientific Reasoning Ability in STEM Majors and its Correlation to Student Performance and Retention
PI: Jamie Jensen This report will outline how effectively we met our academic and mentoring objectives. I have listed below both the academic and mentoring objectives put forth in the original proposal and have outlined how they were met or modified over the course of the past two years. Let me just start out by […]
BYU undergraduates execute a familial study of non-demented individuals in high-risk Alzheimer’s disease pedigrees
John S.K. Kauwe Award Date: Jan 1st, 2013 Project Justification and Overview Successful enrollment in and completion of graduate programs requires a constellation of skills. Students must be prepared to plan and execute experiments, present their findings both verbally and in manuscript form and interact effectively with senior scientists in the field of their choice. […]
2013-2014 Final Report : EPHEDRA (Each Person Has Essential Disciplinary Research Abilities) in Interdisciplinary Climate Change Studies
Professor Richard Gill Evaluation of how well the academic objectives of the proposal were met The central aim of this proposal was to provide opportunities for students from diverse academic backgrounds to work collaboratively on a number of federally funded projects that include Colorado Plateau grasslands, the Mojave Desert, the Great Basin sagebrush steppe, and […]
BYU Undergraduates explore the flipped classroom in search of the best pedagogy for introductory biology
Jamie Jensen, Department of Biology, MEG Final Report This report will outline how effectively we met our academic and mentoring objectives.I have listed below both the academic and mentoring objectives put forth in the original proposal and have outlined how they were met or modified over the course of the past two years. Academic Objective: […]
Molecular Phylogenetics of Basal Insect Groups: A Team Mentored Experience
Michael F Whiting, Biology Funding was received from the BYU ORCA mentorship program during 2012-2013 to support undergraduates performing research in my lab on insect evolution, under the mentorship of postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and myself. During 2013- 2014, this funding provided direct support for 6 undergraduates who are in various stages of completing research […]