Currently, I'm working as a research student with a professor who is studying neurogenetics of Drosophila melanogaster (Canton-S). We try to isolate mutants who are defective at making proper decisions at the central processing complex by testing for various responses to external stimuli. Isolation of mutants is then followed by genetic mapping to determine a cause for these defects.
Also, I will have to do my own research for one of my fall semester classes and I've decided to get an early head start. I'm doing some research in ethnopharmcology for a chemsitry class; currently, I'm looking for a plant that is used by indegenous people for medicinal purposes, hopefully one that has an antibacterial property. I'd like to then fractionate the plant and examine each peak and apply it to E. coli to test for bacterial growth inhibition.
So are there any other people who do science research?
Are there any people here who do science research?
Moderator: Alyrium Denryle
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The Episiarch
- Redshirt
- Posts: 45
- Joined: 2002-07-08 03:02am
I'm a parasite ecologist, or an ecological parasitologist, whichever way you want to label me.
I'm currently smack bang in the middle of my PhD, researching, host-manipulation, ecological interactions and population genetics of parasites in the New Zealand "cockle" (in quotation marks since it's actually in the venerid family and is a "clam" but I don't think that really matter to you guys and personally I don't really give much of a damn about common names anyway these days).
Half of my research involve usual ecology stuff, looking at patterns of interactions between different species of parasites sharing the same host (competition, facilitation, etc), while the other half involve molecular biology stuff. I'm currently developing microsatellite libraries for two species of parasitic flukes in the NZ cockle and hopefully use them to distinguish the genetic identity of individuals to spot clones sibs and non-clone conspecifics.
For those who don't know (like myself 20 or so months ago) microsatellite libraries are used in the kind of stuff you see on those CSI TV shows where they get someone's DNA and do all these behind-the-scene stuff and come out with a piece of paper or film with bands on it that's suppose to show "Ah-ha! You were the killer! That's YOUR DNA!" Except I'm doing that to distinguish identities of individual parasites. Yeah, a forensic guys for parasites, that's what I am, where's my TV show?
Why do I want to find out the identity of individual fluke larvae? Well, because of certain features of their life cycle, through doing all that stuff, I can ask some of the current big questions in evolutionary biology like life history strategies and the evolution of cooperative strategies (and on its flip side, cheating strategies).
As a shameless plug, if you would still like to find out more (to paraphrase Starship Troopers), here's a link.
http://www.otago.ac.nz/parasitegroup/home.html
Try and find me...
Will any of this benefit humanity in the future like those noble people who are trying to find a cure for cancer or alternative fuel source or whatever? Probably not, but damn, it's bloody interesting! To me anyway.
I'm currently smack bang in the middle of my PhD, researching, host-manipulation, ecological interactions and population genetics of parasites in the New Zealand "cockle" (in quotation marks since it's actually in the venerid family and is a "clam" but I don't think that really matter to you guys and personally I don't really give much of a damn about common names anyway these days).
Half of my research involve usual ecology stuff, looking at patterns of interactions between different species of parasites sharing the same host (competition, facilitation, etc), while the other half involve molecular biology stuff. I'm currently developing microsatellite libraries for two species of parasitic flukes in the NZ cockle and hopefully use them to distinguish the genetic identity of individuals to spot clones sibs and non-clone conspecifics.
For those who don't know (like myself 20 or so months ago) microsatellite libraries are used in the kind of stuff you see on those CSI TV shows where they get someone's DNA and do all these behind-the-scene stuff and come out with a piece of paper or film with bands on it that's suppose to show "Ah-ha! You were the killer! That's YOUR DNA!" Except I'm doing that to distinguish identities of individual parasites. Yeah, a forensic guys for parasites, that's what I am, where's my TV show?
Why do I want to find out the identity of individual fluke larvae? Well, because of certain features of their life cycle, through doing all that stuff, I can ask some of the current big questions in evolutionary biology like life history strategies and the evolution of cooperative strategies (and on its flip side, cheating strategies).
As a shameless plug, if you would still like to find out more (to paraphrase Starship Troopers), here's a link.
http://www.otago.ac.nz/parasitegroup/home.html
Try and find me...
Will any of this benefit humanity in the future like those noble people who are trying to find a cure for cancer or alternative fuel source or whatever? Probably not, but damn, it's bloody interesting! To me anyway.
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Admiral Valdemar
- Outside Context Problem
- Posts: 31572
- Joined: 2002-07-04 07:17pm
- Location: UK
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kheegster
- Jedi Council Member
- Posts: 2397
- Joined: 2002-09-14 02:29am
- Location: An oasis in the wastelands of NJ
I've just finished my undergraduate degree on physics in the UK, and will be starting my PhD in astrophysics at Princeton University in the US. I do not yet have to decide my thesis topic, but it'll probably be on studying the early Universe from cosmic microwave background measurements.
So far I've done quite a bit of research as part of my undergraduate work, with what will hopefully be my first published paper (currently in progress) on gravitational effects on emitted radiation from active galactic nuclei. I've also worked with the Anglo-Australian Observatory (in Oz) and the Space Telescope Science Institute in the US on various summer projects on proto-planetary disks and galactic chemical abundances.
So far I've done quite a bit of research as part of my undergraduate work, with what will hopefully be my first published paper (currently in progress) on gravitational effects on emitted radiation from active galactic nuclei. I've also worked with the Anglo-Australian Observatory (in Oz) and the Space Telescope Science Institute in the US on various summer projects on proto-planetary disks and galactic chemical abundances.
Articles, opinions and rants from an astrophysicist: Cosmic Journeys
I'm in scientific research; I have about a year and a half or so left on my PhD. I work down under with really big magnets. 
My degree will be in physics, though my research incorporates a bit of material science and a smattering of chemistry as well.
My degree will be in physics, though my research incorporates a bit of material science and a smattering of chemistry as well.Doom dOom doOM DOom doomity DooM doom Dooooom Doom DOOM!
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Trytostaydead
- Sith Marauder
- Posts: 3690
- Joined: 2003-01-28 09:34pm
As an undergraduate I used to do a lot of research in neuro. Clinical research I was involved in Parkinson's treatment and surgery, with emphasis of neurotransmitter imbalances and how it related to other dysfunctions. In the lab, I worked in the field of neuroradiobiology to see how much damage various forms of radiation did on neurogenesis.
In med, I did anatomical research on the transversalis fascia of the abdomen/pelvis dissecting it out and tracing it's ill-described two layers. It was the shittiest job, no pun intended. 50 bodies I had to hacksaw out of the pelvis, meaning had to carefully remove the intestines and rectum as well which meant literally an hour of cleaning up the shit that leaked everywhere so we can get picture perfect specimens. I also developed a strong sense of respect in a way for serial killers. It takes a lot of work to hack up bodies. Sure, the electric saw is nice and all, but nothing beats a hack saw to the femur for speed. Though since I was on a team, I had to help other people's projects too. Ever been surrounded by 50 dead bodies at midnight with only the small light coming from an endoscope and laptop? Kind of creepy.
In med, I did anatomical research on the transversalis fascia of the abdomen/pelvis dissecting it out and tracing it's ill-described two layers. It was the shittiest job, no pun intended. 50 bodies I had to hacksaw out of the pelvis, meaning had to carefully remove the intestines and rectum as well which meant literally an hour of cleaning up the shit that leaked everywhere so we can get picture perfect specimens. I also developed a strong sense of respect in a way for serial killers. It takes a lot of work to hack up bodies. Sure, the electric saw is nice and all, but nothing beats a hack saw to the femur for speed. Though since I was on a team, I had to help other people's projects too. Ever been surrounded by 50 dead bodies at midnight with only the small light coming from an endoscope and laptop? Kind of creepy.
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Il Saggiatore
- Padawan Learner
- Posts: 274
- Joined: 2005-03-31 08:21am
- Location: Innsmouth
- Contact:
I am a physicist.
A few months ago I finished my PhD in the UK, after four years of experimental work on the transport properties of a certain type of semiconductor nanostructures (that is, one-dimensional ballistic conductors*).
Next month I am going to the graduation ceremony.
But for now, I am looking for a job.
* The first reference on that Wikipedia page is available on arxiv.org.
A few months ago I finished my PhD in the UK, after four years of experimental work on the transport properties of a certain type of semiconductor nanostructures (that is, one-dimensional ballistic conductors*).
Next month I am going to the graduation ceremony.
But for now, I am looking for a job.
* The first reference on that Wikipedia page is available on arxiv.org.
"This is the worst kind of discrimination. The kind against me!" - Bender (Futurama)
"Why waste time learning, when ignorance is instantaneous?" - Hobbes (Calvin and Hobbes)
"It's all about context!" - Vince Noir (The Mighty Boosh)
I moved into an engineering job last year, but have had a handful of journal papers published so far in '06 (mostly based on work I did before moving to this job). I hope to get back into doing at least a little bit of research, possibly as an adjunct.
My published research is on material testing, welding metallurgy and high-temperature physical metallurgy in high-carbon and stainless steels (diffusion, segregation, recrystallization, vacancies, dislocation mechanics, etc.).
My published research is on material testing, welding metallurgy and high-temperature physical metallurgy in high-carbon and stainless steels (diffusion, segregation, recrystallization, vacancies, dislocation mechanics, etc.).
