UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #681

Research Mentor Information
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Primary Research Mentor Name: Tania Sultana
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns: {Empty}
When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific?: ts21m@fsu.edu
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): ts21m@fsu.edu
Position Title: Graduate Student
Faculty Advisor Name: Timothy Megraw, PhD
Faculty Advisor's FSU Email: timothy.megraw@med.fsu.edu
FSU College (if applicable): Medicine
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation: FSU Department
Headshot (optional): {Empty}

Additional Research Mentor(s)
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Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from above): {Empty}
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Pronouns: {Empty}
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Honorific?: {Empty}
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): {Empty}
Name of Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) (if applicable): {Empty}
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Pronouns: {Empty}
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Honorific?: {Empty}
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): {Empty}

Overall Project Details
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Title of the Project: Zika virus NS3 drives the assembly of a viroplasm-like structure
Project Keywords: Zika Virus, ZIKV, Flavivirus, Microcephaly, NS3, Replication Factory, VLS
Are you currently looking for research assistants?: No
Number of Research Assistants Needed : 1
Relevant Research Assistant Major(s):
Biology is preferred but not limited to.

Project Location:: On FSU Main Campus
If the project location is off campus, does the research assistant(s) need to provide their own transportation?: {Empty}
Please select the choice that most accurately describes your expectations for the research assistant(s):: In-person
Approximately how many hours a week would the research assistant(s) need to work?: 3
Roughly what time frame do you expect research assistant(s) to work?: Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Overall Research Project Description:
The epidemic outbreak of the Zika virus (ZIKV) in 2015 from Asia and Africa to the Americas raised serious health concerns worldwide due to its association with neurological disorders. ZIKV is a mosquito-transmitted flavivirus that encodes three virus structural proteins and seven non-structural (NS) proteins involved in virus replication, packaging and host manipulation. ZIKV replicates its genome in the cytosol and assembles virus particles in a virus-regulated compartment called the replication factory or viroplasm in part by remodeling the endoplasmic reticulum. I show that one of the ZIKV proteins, NS3, is sufficient to assemble a viroplasm-like structure (VLS) that organizes microtubules in human cells. NS3 is a multidomain protein containing protease and helicase domains. I will describe how similar the VLS is to the ZIKV-induced viroplasm and describe the molecular mechanisms by which NS3 forms VLS. Overall, these discoveries improve our grasp of how viruses hijack cells for replication and offer potential routes for protecting humans against infections.


Research Tasks:
literature review, Confocal Imaging, data analysis or may include writing

Skills that research assistant(s) may need::
Just willing to learn 

Mentoring Philosophy:
My mentoring philosophy centers on fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and resilience in aspiring scientists. I aim to create a supportive environment where mentees feel empowered to explore, innovate, and learn from failures. By sharing my expertise and encouraging collaboration, I strive to inspire the next generation of scientific leaders.

Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable):: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tadvTZDyh4&t=59s
Please add any additional information here (if applicable)::
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Are you interested in participating in the UROP Research Mentor Roundtable?: No
Roundtable times and Zoom links:
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UROP Program Elements
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Mentor Handbook, FAQs, and Communication: Yes
UROP Performance Evaluation: Yes
Materials Grant: Yes
UROP Poster Presentation: Yes
Faculty Advisor Confirmation: Yes

Are you interested in attending in a UROP Research Mentor Workshop Series?: {Empty}
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Year: 2024
update url: https://cre.fsu.edu/urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?token=NfHWO3DsDQs-G6QxnSUwrii-BJR1vQieyJZ_6pVDLo4