Opportunity Details

Details about the opportunity you selected and the mentor are shown below. It is your responsibility to contact the mentor to discuss collaborating with them this summer. If your mentor invites you to submit an application, you can access that from the front page of this site. Upon completion of the application, it will be sent to the mentor for approval before being passed on to the Summer Scholar Selection Committee, which will make the decisions.

Faculty Information
	Kelly McLaughlin
	kelly.mclaughlin@tufts.edu
	Associate Professor
	P: (617) 627-4154
	F: (617) 627-3805
Address:
	163 Packard Ave. Deptartment of Biology DANA 017
	Medford, MA 02144

Opportunity:

Organ formation: creating embryonic tissues and organs during development

Summary:

The building of organs during embryogenesis constitutes one of the most fascinating, but also least understood developmental processes. Coordinated gene action directs the developmental fate of cells to assemble into complex, three-dimensional structures with characteristic shape, size, and physiological properties. The acquisition of different cell fates initiates an elaborate interplay of cell proliferation, migration, growth, differentiation and death, bringing together cellular ensembles in a precise temporal and spatial manner. For many scientists, great research starts with a question. For members of my lab, the mechanisms which intrinsic and extrinsic factors use to generate cell diversity, coordinate morphogenetic cell movements, and regulate assembly of the different tissue types comprising an organ, define one of the central questions in science today and shapes the foundation of our research objectives.

Contact Via:

E-mail

What is the timeframe for this research opportunity?

full time, summer 2009 (8-10 weeks) Opportunity to extend into fall 2009-spring 2010

Prerequisities for students?

BIO41 (genetics or equivalent); Enthusiasm for research is a must !

Responsibilities for students?

Student will be responsible for conducting novel research investigating the role of signaling pathways during the formation of embryonic organs. Numerous techniques will be used in order to examine this component of molecular development (organogenesis) using an amphibian model system. Participation in a research team.

Area(s) of Research:

molecular biology

developmental biology

embryology

cell signaling