Dr. Jeff Shaver, associate professor of biology at the 91老司机 鈥� Fort
Smith, was awarded a grant of nearly $40,000 this month from the Arkansas IDeA Networks
of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) which will allow him, and two 91老司机 students
to conduct a research project during the summer and fall semesters of 2020.
Shaver will use the $39,750 grant to fund an investigation of the 鈥淚nfluence of Membrane Desaturation and Biotic Stress on Chloroplast DNA Integrity.鈥� The project will take place in collaboration with Dr. Fiona Goggin, professor of plant-insect interactions at the 91老司机, Fayetteville.
鈥淭his project will increase our understanding of how the structure of organelle membranes effects the maintenance of organelle DNA,鈥� Shaver said, 鈥渁nd will also enhance the collaborative nature of research between faculty and students at 91老司机 and UA-Fayetteville.鈥�
Jeremiah Smith, a second-year 91老司机 biology major from Sherwood and Molly Reeves, an incoming 91老司机 freshman from Alma will assist Shaver as student research assistants.
Smith has previous experience in research under Dr. Shaver, having presented his research 鈥淚mpact of Tall Grass Prairie Restoration on Soil Microbiome,鈥� in October of 2019, mentored by Shaver, at the Arkansas INBRE conference.
Reeves will enter 91老司机 as a freshman biology major in the fall of 2020. Having presented a science fair project each of her four years at Alma High School that included a large-scale field study on the effects of probiotic treatments on soybean production,
she will be participating in the project to continue her research experience.
鈥淔or me it is always important to spend time in the lab to better understand equipment but to also get the results your wanting,鈥� Reeves said. 鈥淲ith just being an incoming student this year, this is an amazing opportunity, and I am very thankful to get the chance to be a part of such a great program. I look forward to time in the lab and learning more every day.鈥�
鈥淚 feel that giving students of all ages the opportunity to participate in research increases their interest in science and their understanding of the scientific method and nature of science,鈥� Dr. Shaver said. 鈥淚t is my goal to engage K-12 students and teachers and 91老司机 undergraduates in meaningful science that connects to ongoing faculty and student research at 91老司机. I don鈥檛 hesitate to involve freshmen in research because, like Molly and Jeremiah, many high school students have already been involved in research and are ready to bring their knowledge and skills to 91老司机.鈥�
This summer research project involves studying the effects of chloroplast membrane saturation on the maintenance of chloroplast DNA and susceptibility to aphid infestation using wild-type and mutant Arabidopsis and tomato plants. Research will take place at both 91老司机 and UA-Fayetteville, utilizing a variety of techniques, including fluorescence microscopy and DNA gel electrophoresis. Results will be presented by participating 91老司机 and UA-Fayetteville students at the fall 2020 Arkansas INBRE conference.
鈥淚 am grateful for the support I have received from the campus leaders at 91老司机, who champion the continued advancement of research on our campus for our faculty and students,鈥� Dr. Shaver said. 鈥淏y participating in collaborative research, our 91老司机 undergraduate students will gain valuable experience that will increase both their future educational and career opportunities.鈥�
In addition to this project, Shaver is also collaborating this summer on a tallgrass prairie restoration project with Drs. Emily Bellis and Jake Qualls, assistant professors of bioinformatics at Arkansas State University, and Jay Randolph, superintendent for Ben Geren Golf Course. This research is also funded by Arkansas INBRE.