UROP Project
microbiome, microbiology, immunity, immunology, plant
Research Mentor: David Thoms,
Department, College, Affiliation: Biological Science, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: dt22o@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Daniel Hiott
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: deh23@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators: Linda Osei
Faculty Collaborators Email: lao23d@fsu.edu
Department, College, Affiliation: Biological Science, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: dt22o@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Daniel Hiott
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: deh23@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators: Linda Osei
Faculty Collaborators Email: lao23d@fsu.edu
Looking for Research Assistants: No
Number of Research Assistants: 4
Relevant Majors: Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Neuroscience, Psychology, Environmental Science, Computational Biology
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 12 hours per week,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Tuesday, September 3, from 4:30p to 5:00p (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/93247542780)
Wednesday, September 4, from 4:30p to 5:00p (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/98172090446)
Friday, September 6, from 2:30p to 3:00p (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/95930715235)
Number of Research Assistants: 4
Relevant Majors: Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Neuroscience, Psychology, Environmental Science, Computational Biology
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 12 hours per week,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Tuesday, September 3, from 4:30p to 5:00p (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/93247542780)
Wednesday, September 4, from 4:30p to 5:00p (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/98172090446)
Friday, September 6, from 2:30p to 3:00p (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/95930715235)
Project Description
(INTERVIEW LINK in the additional info section - 9/6/24) The microbiome, a collection of symbiotic microbes within and on a host, has broad implications, ranging from human health to ecosystem balance and sustainable agriculture. Maintaining a healthy microbiome is vital for survival, as an unhealthy microbiome reduces fitness and can even lead to death. Creating a healthy microbiome involves balancing pathogen and beneficial microbial growth. Since these microbes can be very similar, distinguishing between them is challenging. The immune system likely plays a role, but the mechanisms are unknown.While mammals employ two immune strategies, plants rely solely on one. Therefore plants provide a simpler model for studying host-microbe interactions. To identify how immunity distinguishes between harmful and beneficial bacteria, you will use a model consisting of the plant root and pathogenic and beneficial bacteria. We have found that our pathogen induces a novel immune response, while the beneficial strain does not. Working in teams, you will use immune assays to perform a reverse-genetic screen. You will screen through plant mutants to identify genes that are required for balancing bacterial growth. For those interested in chemistry/biochemistry projects, the lab is currently developing a protocol for purifying the lipopeptide syringomycin, one of the pathogen’s main virulence factors. Successfully purified syringomycin will be incorporated into the screen.
Research Tasks: preparing media, lab chores (e.g., autoclaving and cleaning lab supplies and equipment), scheduling experiments, setting up and running experiments, plant propagation, collecting seeds without cross-contamination, organizing mutant collections, practicing good aseptic microbiology technique, maintaining a detailed electronic lab notebook, collecting data, maintaining a clean lab environment, attending and presenting at lab meetings, reviewing the literature and presenting your results.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: dedication and passion for your role in the lab (required), demonstration of your ability to follow instructions (required), ability to independently create and follow a schedule (required), scientific curiosity (highly recommended), attention to detail (recommended), good organization (recommended)
Mentoring Philosophy
Our purpose: To do “good” science with integrity. Experiments that are not honest and trustworthy are experiments not worth doing. This includes accurate enough documentation to facilitate repeatability.Our vision: To pioneer understanding of how Nature balances symbiotic relations between multicellular hosts and their microbial communities to improve host health and productivity.
Mentorship meetings are crucial for ensuring trainee learning and practice of effective experimentation. Mentorship meetings should be used to ask questions about the literature and to discuss hypotheses, experimental design, data analysis, and conclusions. I practice an open-door policy, and meetings can be held at the bench, in my office, or even in the hallway. Meetings over text or video are discouraged. Trainees are expected to meet with me a minimum of once per week. Mentorship meetings may be scheduled ahead of time with me to ensure sufficient access. However, spontaneous or unscheduled meetings are also encouraged, so long as time is available. These meetings are key to your professional development as a scientist and lab member.
The lab also maintains its own Microsoft Team's channel for communication. Teams should be used to discuss lab business, schedule celebrations, share papers and protocols, and for peer-to-peer communication concerning the lab. Teams can also be a more effective way than email to contact me.
Overall, I want you to feel comfortable talking with me and other lab members and to provide easy access to mentorship and communication.
Additional Information
FOR INTERVIEWS, please complete the quiz at this link: https://forms.office.com/r/NB9ss0UyqmOnce completed, I will begin contacting candidates early next week (Updated 9/6/2024).