UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #699

Submission information
Submission Number: 699
Submission ID: 14116
Submission UUID: d8976c77-1d2f-4d30-8af3-03ba52a870bb

Created: Tue, 07/30/2024 - 05:50 PM
Completed: Tue, 07/30/2024 - 06:08 PM
Changed: Wed, 09/11/2024 - 04:36 PM

Remote IP address: 217.180.192.188
Submitted by: Anonymous
Language: English

Is draft: No
Primary Research Mentor Name Annais Muschett-Bonilla
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns She/her/ella
When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific? Ms.
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated) amuschettbonilla@bio.fsu.edu
Position Title Graduate Student
Faculty Advisor Name Dr. Dean R. Grubbs
Faculty Advisor's FSU Email dgrubbs2@fsu.edu
FSU College (if applicable) Arts and Sciences
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation Biological Sciences
Headshot (optional) IMG_8025.jpg
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from above)
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Pronouns
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Honorific?
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated)
Name of Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) (if applicable)
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Pronouns
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Honorific?
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated)
Title of the Project Reproductive Biology and Energetic Costs of Gestation in Sharks and Rays
Project Keywords Reproduction, Embryonic development, marine, energetics
Are you currently looking for research assistants? No
Number of Research Assistants Needed 2
Relevant Research Assistant Major(s) Open to all majors, but prefer students who's long term goals align with research, reproductive physiology, veterinarian science, or marine sciences
Project Location: FSU Coastal and Marine Laboratory
If the project location is off campus, does the research assistant(s) need to provide their own transportation? Yes
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? 10
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 Elasmobranchii’ s diverse reproductive strategies pose an unknown amount of risk to pregnant females from the level of embryonic maternal investment. This study aims to investigate the frequency and nutritional content of intrauterine histotroph secretions of Matrotrophic stingrays in Eastern Gulf of Mexico and assess the effects of embryonic maternal investment on the physical performance of gravid females throughout gestation.
Mature female Hypanus sabinus have been collected throughout all stages of gestation with seines, gillnets, and otter-trawls independently just outside the FSU Coastal and Marine Laboratory. Histotroph secreted in their uterus has been collected and will be assayed for total energic content, carbohydrates, fatty acids, proteins, and lipids through a combination of assays in the laboratory.

15 H. sabinus in late to postpartum stages of gestation will undergo respirometry trials at Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory facilities. The individual’s average oxygen consumption rate will be measured over a 24-hour trial period and repeated every three weeks for till the end of September and early October to identify changes in physical performance at as gestation progresses.
Identifying intraspecific and interspecific variation in fluids that provide embryonic nourishment is integral to understanding how these reproductive strategies contribute to elasmobranch fitness. Negative physiological effects during gestation would directly impact a female and her litters ‘ability to survive in the wild during their most vulnerable life stage.
Research Tasks animal husbandry, water quality, water exchanges, system maintenance and cleaning, statistical analysis of data, data entry, data organization, biochemical assays, reading of primary literature, project construction, and presenting project verbally.

Work will take place 30% at FSU's main campus, 30% at FSU Coastal and Marine laboratory, and 40% virtually. Most work will take place during normal business hours, however there is the occasional tasks that may need to be completed outside. Hour will vary by week, some weeks may be light, while other weeks may be heavy. Leading up to the end of september/early october all work hours will be completed at the marine lab. After early October, most work will be performed virtually or on main campus performing biological assays.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: required:
1) attention to detail
2) commitment
3) own transportation
4) time management
5) Dependable (some animals will rely on you to eat and live)
6) Communication
7) Passion and desire to learn new skills and knowledge
8) Willingness to handle dead and live specimens (with safe methods taught to you)
9) Lift 20 lbs

Recommended
1) at least one, uninterrupted 5 hour gap in your schedule between monday and friday. (starting between 7 am and 12 pm)



Mentoring Philosophy My mentoring philosophy is to provide opportunities for the students to learn the skills and knowledge they desire that will assist them in their career goals. To do this, I begin by learning about them, their background, career goals, and what they hope to achieve/learn by the end of the project. My method when teaching students how to perform methods is to have them read up on the background, watch it be completed, and have them perform the methods with supervision until they have proven dependable and accurate in their performance. Mutual respect is important, as in science, we all mess up. Once this has been established along with trust, I hope that students will feel comfortable will relaying if something undesirable happened so we can adjust the experiment and use it as a learning opportunity for when science goes unexpectedly. Although I learn and teach in a way desirable to me, I am open to suggestions and learning other ways of teaching and relaying methods. I am adamant in giving the mentee ownership of their work and am open to a collaborative relationship rather than authoritative.
Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable): https://news.fsu.edu/news/science-technology/2024/03/20/florida-state-university-doctoral-student-awarded-inaugural-guy-harvey-fellowship/
Please add any additional information here (if applicable): If this project interests you and you do not feel you have the skills required, but you are capable and willing to learn, please apply.

However do not apply if you do not have a desire to apply this experience to research, veterinarian science, marine sciences, or reproductive physiology careers. If you do not know yet what you want to do, I do encourage you to apply. The research and skills must be directly applicable to your long term goals.
Are you interested in participating in the UROP Research Mentor Roundtable? Yes
Roundtable times and Zoom links September 3 4:30 - 5:00 pm

Topic: Maternal Investment RoundTable
Time: Sep 3, 2024 04:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
https://fsu.zoom.us/j/99601247509
Meeting ID: 996 0124 7509

September 6 12:30 - 1:00 pm

Topic: Maternal Investment RoundTable
Time: Sep 6, 2024 12:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
https://fsu.zoom.us/j/95544312583
Meeting ID: 955 4431 2583
Roundtable Info
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? Yes
Year 2024
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