Undergraduates receiving a research grant must work under the direct supervision of a full-time SAU faculty member who will be responsible for administering the grant. The following faculty are currently available as mentors.
Physics/Engineering
Biology
Dr. Abe Tucker genome biology, evolutionary and population genomics, molecular evolution
Current student research: In Dr. Tucker’s lab, students can gain experience in a number of research areas including field collection of organisms, live-culture maintenance, molecular biology lab work and bioinformatic analysis of genetic/genomic data. Dr. Tucker is interested in the causes of genome evolution (i.e. mutation, selection, drift, recombination and population structure) and the consequences of constraints on evolution imposed by different population-genetic environments. Ultimately, these questions help us understand how ecological and environmental pressures shape genome structure as populations of organisms change over time due to inherited genetic modifications to their genome.
Dr. Jesse Filbrun aquatic and marine ecology
Current student research: In Dr. Filbrun’s lab, students study how organisms allocate energy to different components of life history, often using reptiles and amphibians—groups that are underrepresented in ecological and physiological research. He is also interested in the distribution of reptiles and amphibians in Arkansas and surrounding regions, with a strong focus on conservation and public outreach.
Agriculture
Dr. Pierre Boumtje agriculture economics
Chemistry
Dr. Gija Geme water quality, soil, environmental
Dr. Ganna Lubyrtseva crystallography, Pi accepting ligands
Dr. Antoinette Odendaal natural products, toxicology
Current student research: In Dr. Odendaal’s lab, students investigate the toxicology of natural products using Daphnia as a model organism.
Dr. Tim Schroeder analytical chemistry
