| Faculty Advisor |
Clemencia Rojas
|
|---|---|
| Contact Email | crojas2@unl.edu |
| Advisor College: |
Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
|
| Potential UCARE Research Position? |
Yes! Student(s) must apply to UCARE by February deadline.
|
| Paid or Volunteer |
Paid by UCARE Stipend or Volunteer
|
| Hours Per Week |
10-20
|
| Acceptable Undergraduate Majors |
Any!
|
Opportunity Description:
Salt stress significantly impacts plant productivity. To understand the processes that plants use to cope with this type of stress, we are using the model plant Arabiodpsis thaliana. The student will evaluate seed germination, root growth under in vitro conditions, chlorophyll levels, ROS accumulation, and expression of stress-related genes by real-time PCR, as well as monitor flowering and senescence. The work involves plant cultivation, salt-stress treatments, RNA extraction, and physiological measurements using the Li-COR system, providing practical experience in plant stress physiology and molecular analysis.
Faculty Advisor Mentoring Philosophy:
Undergraduate students will have a dedicated mentor who will demonstrate each one of the procedures and will work side-by-side with the student until student gains proficiency to start conducting independent experiments. To gain sense of belonging to the lab, it is expected that student engages in other laboratory activities such as lab meetings and journal clubs as well as social activities such as birthday celebrations. Faculty mentor will meet with student the first day to define expectations and introduce students to lab culture. Faculty mentor will schedule bi-weekly meetings with student to evaluate progress, provide feedback and plan future steps.