UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #940

Research Mentor Information
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Primary Research Mentor Name: Amy Webster
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns: she/her
When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific?: Dr.
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): akwebster@fsu.edu
Position Title: Faculty
FSU College (if applicable): Arts and Sciences
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation: Department of Biological Science
Headshot (optional): https://cre.fsu.edu/system/files/webform/urop_project_proposal_portal/15326/Headshots-9%20copy.jpg

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}
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Overall Project Details
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Title of the Project: Molecular mechanisms underlying non-genetic differences in traits
Project Keywords: biology, genetics, gene expression, traits
Are you currently looking for research assistants?: No
Number of Research Assistants Needed : 3
Relevant Research Assistant Major(s):
Open to all majors, but most relevant to Biology, Biological Science, Biomathematics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Mathematics

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):: Partially Remote
Approximately how many hours a week would the research assistant(s) need to work?: 8-10
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:
While identical twins exhibit many similarities, they also exhibit differences, including in their propensity for complex diseases (e.g., one twin develops cancer and the other doesn’t). While we know the cause of such differences is non-genetic, it is difficult to parse exactly what molecular process may be important since humans’ environments are not controlled. To address this problem in our lab, we take advantage of a premier animal model for genetics research, Caenorhabditis elegans. This microscopic nematode allows us to easily generate thousands of genetically identical animals in a matter of days and carefully control the environment they experience in the lab. We previously found that genetically identical C. elegans in a common lab environment produced different numbers of offspring. To determine what might be causing differences in offspring number, we assayed the level of gene expression (i.e., the amount of mRNA produced for each gene) for all protein-coding genes in the genome. We found that animals that produced more offspring had significantly higher or lower levels of gene expression for specific genes. The focus of the research project is to causally test in the lab whether these genes affect the number of offspring produced. The genes of interest fall into two classes based on what we know about how gene expression differences were generated:
1) Some genes differ apparently randomly across individuals, so stochastic processes or microenvironmental differences may be driving gene expression differences that effect reproduction.
2) Some genes differ across individuals because their parents were different ages, meaning that parents of different ages provision progeny differently in some way, which has consequences on reproduction. 
 For both classes of genes, we will use an approach called RNA interference to reduce the level of mRNA for a genes of interest and measure the number of progeny produced. For ambitious students, there are many opportunities for further follow-up once causal genes are identified. Ultimately, this project will help us understand the molecular mechanisms that drive non-genetic differences between individuals at the level of the whole organism.


Research Tasks:
Literature review on genes of interest
Data collection
Data analysis (graph and perform statistics on data)
Write up results

Data collection must be performed in person in the lab, all other tasks can be done remotely if desired


Skills that research assistant(s) may need::
The main requirement is a strong interest in genetics research and curiosity about the questions our lab is trying to answer. While only a high-school level of biology background is initially expected, I expect students interested in the lab will have plans to take biology and genetics.

Mentoring Philosophy:
In mentoring, my goal is to foster students’ development as burgeoning scientists in a way that aligns with their future goals. I prioritize regular meetings and ongoing communication with students to plan and problem solve. It is not expected that students enter the lab with the skills needed for a project from the beginning, and training will be available for students to gradually work toward independence in the lab. The most important qualities for success on a scientific project are commitment and curiosity, and I am eager to work with students to carry a project from start to finish. This will involve mentorship on how to effectively design and perform experiments, how to write, and how to analyze and graph data. Beyond the scope of an individual project, I am also happy to discuss with students ways they can reach other goals they may have for their careers. 

Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable):: amykwebster.github.io
Please add any additional information here (if applicable)::
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Are you interested in participating in the UROP Research Mentor Roundtable?: Yes
Roundtable times and Zoom links:
Wednesday, September 4 from 2-2:30pm
https://fsu.zoom.us/j/5190171463?omn=99891415346

Friday, September 6 from 12-12:30pm
https://fsu.zoom.us/j/5190171463?omn=99073885907

Roundtable Info:
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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

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Year: 2024
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