| Faculty Advisor |
Tomasz Bednarski
|
|---|---|
| Contact Email | tomasz.k.bednarski@unl.edu |
| Website | |
| Advisor College: |
Education & Human Sciences
|
| Potential Student Tasks |
Responsibilities include reading and learning about metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, conducting experiments, collecting and analyzing data alongside team members, as well as general lab maintenance and preparing materials for experiments. Trainees attend weekly lab meetings and present their progress twice a semester. |
| Student Qualifications |
Willingness to participate in ambitious scientific project which will require hard work, independent and critical thinking, self-motivation and responsibility. |
| Training, Mentoring, and Workplace Community |
Our team is deeply committed to supporting student learning and professional growth. New students receive hands-on training, close mentoring from senior team members and the adviser, and plenty of opportunities to expand their research, scientific writing and communication skills. We are understanding of students' schedule and academic commitments but require at least 8 hours per week working on a project. We also strive so that students contribute to at least one publication in science journal. Our past students were admitted to the top medical schools or graduate programs, and we take great pride in helping them reach their goals. Secondary contact: Edward Deehan, edeehan2@unl.edu |
| Available Positions |
1
|
Metabolic syndrome is a complex, multifactorial disease involving an excessive accumulation of body fat that, in time, increases the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Despite many years of extensive research by scientists around the world and billions of dollars spent there is currently no effective treatment for T2D. On the other hand, the molecular mechanisms that drive T2D pathogenesis are gradually better understood and novel, effective therapies to inhibit T2D progression are being investigated. One of the more promising approaches for T2D mitigation, developed in recent years, has been increased dietary fiber consumption, that has been shown to attenuate inflammatory, glycemic, and lipidemic markers elevated in T2D. Therefore, our long-term goal is to develop efficacious blends of specific fiber ingredients that will mitigate T2D pathogenesis. Our project goal is to evaluate the effect of two systematically developed fiber blends, one that promotes propionate and another that promotes butyrate, to inhibit T2D progression in mice.