Dr. Charles W. Belin, Jr. - Marine Biology - Phytoplankton Ecology of Coastal Georgia - The study will assess the phytoplankton species on an annual basis for 5 years. The identification of the species will be correlate with the water chemistry conditions found during sampling. A key to the identification of the species will also be completed.
Dr. Jennifer Brofft Bailey studies specific Bacteria/Archaea that are capable of nitrate assimilation, urea assimilation and ammonia oxidation in marine, freshwater and soil systems. Dr. Jennifer Zettler investigates the ecological effects of red imported fire ants on native invertebrates and plants. Together, both researchers are determining if fire ant mounds serve as “hot spots” for nitrification since they are enriched with oxygen and ammonia, conditions which should favor the growth of ammonia oxidizing Bacteria and Archaea.
Dr. Kathryn Craven - The hatch success of Leatherback sea turtle nests on the Georgia coast will be studied during the 2009 nesting season. Unhatched eggs collected from Leatherback nests will be examined to determine the duration of embryonic development. A second project is focused on in-water population monitoring and assessment of Diamondback Terrapins near Little Tybee Island.
Dr. Brett Larson with Dr. Alex Collier - The effect of potential kairomones released by predators or alarm cues released by prey on larval tadpole development by measuring the length and weight of tadpoles exposed to predator fish or not and with or without being able to see the predator.
Dr. Scott Mateer - Biocatalysis is the use of microbes or their enzymes to generate chiral specific organic compounds that can be used as the building blocks for pharmaceuticals such a Prozac™. In short, biocatalysis is the use of little bugs to make big drugs. The ability of enzymes to generate these stereospecific molecules is not clearly understood. Dr. Scott Mateer, in collaboration with Dr. Brent Feske and Dr. Cliff Padgett, are trying to understand the molecular mechanisms that regulate an enzyme’s stereoselectivity via mutagenesis of specific yeast reductases and subsequent analysis of the mutant reductase’s ability to make chiral molecules. Their work is currently being funded by an NSF-RUI grant.
Dr. Traci Ness - Current research is focused on developing a cDNA library from Loggerhead sea turtle white blood cells. This library will be used to identify, sequence, and characterize receptors involved in recognizing and initiating an immune response to infection. Past research has focused on microbial pathogenesis & immune evasion, macrophage responses to pathogens, immune receptors, and signaling.