Insect pests are responsible for the loss of 20-40 percent of the global crop production each year (FAO). Because of feeding injury by the insect pests and their ability to transmit viruses, plants suffer a dramatic decrease in their yields. Our laboratory studies the interaction between crops (e.g. sorghum, wheat and maize) and arthropod pests (e.g. aphids, wheat curl mites, western corn rootworms). Our projects characterize the crops’ defense mechanisms in response to arthropod feeding by using molecular tools. Students will assist in various research activities in a pleasant and dynamic environment.
| Advisor Name: | Lise Pingault |
| Email: | lise.pingault@unl.edu |
| Secondary Contact: | Joe Louis |
| Secondary Contact E-mail: | joelouis@unl.edu |
| Website: | https://entomology.unl.edu/faculty/dr-lise-pingault |
| Advisor College: | Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources |
| Advisor Department: | Entomology |
| Potential Student Tasks: | Student responsibilities will include: – Arthropod bioassays – Perform RNA or DNA extractions – Perform PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) – Use online software to design primers – Run electrophoresis gel – Setup qRT-PCR to characterize gene expression |
| Student Qualifications: | No previous research experience is required, we will train you for the research activities. We expect students to be curious, creative, diligent, follow instructions and pay attention to details, arrive on time, and communicate timely with the team members. Perseverance, creativity and a positive attitude towards research are important. |
| Training, Mentoring, and Workplace Community: | The student will be involved in the experimental design, the production of the data and their interpretation. The student and the faculty will meet weekly to work on the design and completion of the project. The faculty will provide the student with access to the literature and support needed to understand and design the research project. The faculty will teach and mentor the student for each protocol/experiment that will be part of the research project. The student will be involved in each decision step for the project. The student will be the main actor of the project by doing the collecting and processing the samples for each experiment and will become independent for performing the experiments. |
| Available Positions | 2 |
