UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #546

Submission information
Submission Number: 546
Submission ID: 9001
Submission UUID: 01c23c82-0a19-4695-bcd9-a5019d56aa69

Created: Mon, 08/21/2023 - 09:24 PM
Completed: Mon, 08/21/2023 - 09:31 PM
Changed: Wed, 10/04/2023 - 03:41 PM

Remote IP address: 71.220.191.72
Submitted by: Anonymous
Language: English

Is draft: No
Primary Research Mentor Name Alan R. Lemmon
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns
When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific? Dr.
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated) alemmon@fsu.edu
Position Title Faculty
FSU College (if applicable) Arts and Sciences
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation Scientific Computing
Headshot (optional) lemmon.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 Understanding brain neural circuit divergence during the evolution of new species
Project Keywords speciation, behavioral evolution, neurobiology, computational biology
Are you currently looking for research assistants? No
Number of Research Assistants Needed 2
Relevant Research Assistant Major(s) Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
If the project location is off campus, does the research assistant(s) need to provide their own transportation?
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? 8
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 student will join a collaboration to understand how the architecture of neural circuits constrains or facilitates the evolution of behavior. We have been studying for ~20 years how reproductive behaviors (male acoustic signals and female preferences for these signals) diverge and evolve as new species form. We are currently using an empirically based computational model of four interconnecting neurons to understand how changes in the activities of neurotransmitter receptors affect the response of the neurons in the circuit and behavior of females choosing among males producing different mating calls. The student will use the existing model to develop an interactive simulator that will allow the user to see graphically how phenotypes at different levels change in concert. More specifically, the user of the simulator will be able to select a frog call to play to the input neuron, select properties of the receptors, then see how the neurons in the circuit fire in real time. The resulting effect on the female preference functions will also be displayed. Finally, we will conduct simulations of frog populations evolving on a fitness landscape, with the goal to understand how the architecture of the neural circuits may direct influence the evolution of reproductive isolation as the populations diverge into multiple species.
Research Tasks Utilizing existing software. Developing and testing a graphical user interface. Managing data files. Potential for programming simulations of evolution.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required: enthusiasm for scientific research; motivation to work hard and persevere through challenges; positive attitude; determination to learn; ability to work individually and as part of a team; dependability.

Recommended: Prior experience in computer programming (e.g., Matlab and/or JavaScript and/or web design) would be beneficial but is not required.
Mentoring Philosophy The selected UROP student will join a team of 6 other undergraduates, several graduate students and two PIs and who are working on different aspects the chorus frog system, including genetics, behavior, fieldwork, neuroscience, and modeling. Our integrative approach provides diverse training in these areas for undergraduate students in order to better prepare them for an academic career. The PIs meet one-on-one with undergraduate researchers weekly to help them design and carry out high level research with the goal of publication.
Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable):
Please add any additional information here (if applicable):
Mentor Handbook, FAQs, and Communication Yes
UROP Performance Evaluation Yes
Materials Grant Yes
UROP Poster Presentation Yes
Year 2023
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