Overview

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Research

• Student/Faculty
• Summer
• Faculty Research
  

Faculty/Student Collaborative Research

Wheaton College Biology faculty have designed their research projects so that undergraduate students can participate in a way that allows them to understand the processes involved in experimental design and to develop laboratory skills. During the academic year, students may become involved either as volunteers or for academic credit. They become familiar with a particular aspect of the mentors research and, with faculty input, write a proposal describing the background, rationale and proposed experiments.

Each student learns the necessary laboratory techniques from the mentor or from other students who have experience and are working in the mentor's laboratory. Students may do this program during any phase of their time at Wheaton but several have begun to participate in their freshmen year and have continued to do research until their graduation.

Before having this type of research experience, many students view biology as a series of topics or facts to be remembered but have little understanding of the scientific process that had been used to develop the current models of biological structures and functions. Most students, who have this experience, find that they have a better understanding of how science works including the limitations and applications or the scientific process. This understanding helps them to relate the scientific method to other ways of knowing and to their Christian faith.

Students also have opportunity to work with faculty during the summer. For the past several summers 10 to 29 students have been provided a stipend and housing on campus for a 10 week period for research with Science Division faculty.

Students are encouraged to present the results of their research at scientific meetings and to publish journal articles in collaboration with the faculty mentors. Several students have presented research results at the national meeting of the National Council for Undergraduate Research, the Argonne Science Symposium and the annual meeting of the Federation of Experimental Biologists. Some students are publishing papers with their faculty mentors.

The Selection Process - During the academic year students have many opportunities to learn of the research being conducted by their professors, and often they may even be able to begin doing research with them. Students who are interested in participating in the Summer Research Program should contact faculty members directly and express their interest. If a faculty member has research opportunities available for the summer, the student and faculty member may jointly file an application for the Summer Research Program.

Benefits of Participating in the Summer Research Program - Students who do Summer Research derive both short- and long-term benefits from their participation. Students learn important scientific concepts, master new skills, and get first-hand exposure to the world of scientific research. This experience enriches their education and also helps them to know if a career involving research might be right for them.

The long-term benefits include those that relate to success in the future. Students routinely find that it is beneficial to list research experience on applications for graduate school, medical school, jobs, and research opportunities at other institutions. Success in one area often leads to successes in other areas as well! Often, in addition to simply completing the project, students have the opportunity to present their research at scientific meetings or even to co-author a publication with their faculty mentor. Such accomplishments are well worth adding to one’s resume.

A final benefit of conducting research is sharing in the process of discovery with other scientists. For faculty members at Wheaton, making a scientific discovery is more than just an academic achievement -- it’s a way of seeing God at work in his creation!

Faculty Research

Dr. Roger H. Kennett
Cell Biologist
Students collaborating with Dr. Kennett are studying two aspects of the biology of nerve cells. They have detected antibodies in the sera of multiple sclerosis patients and EAE mice (an MS model system) that react with axolemma preparations (nerve cells with myelin removed). Their goal is to define which cell surface molecules on axons are stimulating the production of these antibodies. This work is being done in cooperation with Dr. George Devries at the VA Hospital in Chicago.

A second project is production of monoclonal antibodies against GABA receptors. These antibodies will be used by Dr. Stephen Roberts at the Uniformed Services Hospital in Bethesda to determine which GABA receptors are expressed on the tumor cells of neuroblastoma patients. This will provide information on how they are likely to respond to different neuroblastoma therapy regimens.

Dr. Jennifer Busch
Physiologist
Dr. Busch’s research focuses on cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases, specifically the cAMP-dependent protein kinase and cGMP-dependent protein kinases. These enzymes regulate numerous cellular and physiological processes such as DNA transcription, blood pressure, gastrointestinal motility, and nerve activity. Her interest is in how these kinases are regulated. Her research attempts to answer the question, “What amino acids in these kinases are important for controlling the enzymatic activity?”

Dr. Nadine C. Folino-Rorem
Marine & Invertebrate Zoologist
Dr. Folino-Rorem and students are addressing ecological and molecular aspects of the colonial hydroid, Cordylophora. One specific ecological area of interest is the hydroid's coexistence with the well-known zebra mussel; this association is gaining interest from the larger scientific community interested in fouling problems.

Dr. Raymond J. Lewis
Botanist
Dr. Lewis' research deals with factors that control growth and reproduction in brown algae. Dr. Lewis and his students are on the trail of a pheromone (chemical signal) produced by males that induces egg production in female gametophytes of these brown algae. They are also exploring other key factors such as nutrients (esp. iron) and salinity that influence gamete production.

Dr. L. Kristen Page
Ecologist
Dr. Page's primary research interest involves answering questions about how diseases are transmitted, and trying to understand how disease transmission changes as humans alter landscapes/habitats. Many of the projects conducted with my research students investigate the transmission dynamics of raccoon roundworm in urban landscapes.

Dr. Pattle P. Pun
Molecular Biologist
Collaborative research with Wheaton College students by Dr. Pattle Pun: (1) Bioinformatics: analyses of microarray gene expressiton data of human diseases.

(2) Molecular Genetics: A study of the regulation mechanisms of gene expression in the initiation of bacterial sporulation: Cloning of the conditional asporogenous and rifampicin resistant (Spo^c Rif^r) gene of Bacillus subtilis and its genetic and expression analyses.

Dr. Rodney J. Scott
Geneticist
Dr. Scott studies the genetics of the model plant Ceratopteris richardii (a.k.a. "C-Fern").  He is currently studying thermotolerance in Ceratopteris spores. Unlike other plants, Ceratopteris spores do not seem to exhibit acquired thermotolerance (i.e., thermotolerance induced by high, but sub-lethal temperatures), but exhibit a brief period of enhanced thermotolerance after they become activated. Dr. Scott is working to characterize patterns of gene expression for several heat shock proteins during this time of enhanced thermotolerance using the technique of reverse transcription PCR.

Dr. Fred Van Dyke
Field Biologist
Dr. Van Dyke's studies all aspects of conservation biology, especially the management and effects of fire on plant and animal communities. His research interests include the study of conservation values, their history and philosophical foundations, and the development of a comprehensive Christian perspective on environmental ethics.