Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate research is an important component of Dr. Van Alstyne's research program. Undergraduates have participated in all aspects of Dr. Van Alstyne's work and have been coauthors on many of the publications generated by the lab. Undergraduates may participate in Dr. Van Alstyne's research program through several avenues. Western Washington University students may conduct research for credit through the Biology Department or Huxley Department of Environmental Sciences. Undergraduates from other institutions may participate through the summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program (REU) or the Minorities in Marine Sciences Undergraduate Program (MIMSUP) that is held during winter and spring quarters at the Shannon Point Marine Center.

Past Undergraduate Research Projects

Katie Anderson (WWU Biology, 2009) The effects of weather on the release of dopamine by Ulvaria obscura

Jennifer Middleton (MIMSUP, 2009) "Can Ulva lactuca induce DMSP production in response to airborne DMS?"

Jean Flanagan (REU, 2007) "Effects of recreational clam harvesting on nutrient distribution in Penn Cove, Whidbey Island, WA”

Neal Smith (REU, 2007) “Chemical signaling involving the DMSP cleavage reaction:  chemical induction in Ulva lactuca and tri-trophic interactions”

*Vincent Dominique (MIMSUP, 2007) “DMSP production by the tropical anemone Aiptasia pallida and its symbionts”

Alexandra Nicely (REU, 2006) “Food preferences of the green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis for Ulvacean algae”

*Marianne Cataldo (REU, Senior Honors Thesis, Muhlenberg College, 2006) “Effects of nitrogen on food preferences of the Lacuna vincta snails for ulvoid algae

*Amanda Salas (MIMSUP, 2005) “Effects of dopamine on the growth and photosynthetic rate of Ulva lactuca”  

Marianne Cataldo (REU, 2005) "Inhibition of germination in Fucus gardneri embryos by chemical constituents of ulvoid macroalgae"

Tiffany Robinson (MIMSUP, 2005) "Detection of chemical cues from conspecific snails and the alga Ulva fenestrata by Littorina sitkana

Carly Steeves (REU, 2004) "Detection of chemical cues released during feeding by hebivorous snails"

Thomas Grubaugh (MIMSUP, 2004) "Can herbivores induce phlorotannin production in Fucus gardneri?"

*Lauren Koellermeier (REU, 2003) "The effects of light quality and nutrients on DMSP production in Ulva fenestrata"

Adriana Campos (MIMSUP, 2003) "Is dopamine a feeding deterrent towards herbivorous urchins and snails?"

*Brie Henry (REU, 2002) "Effects of UV radiation on growth and phlorotannins in Fucus gardneri juveniles and embryos "

*Anna Kirby (REU, 2001) "Food preferences of herbivorous invertebrates -- now in medical school

*Karyna Rosario (MIMSUP, 2001) "The effects of reduced salinity on DMSP production in Ulva fenestrata"

Nathan Geraldi (REU, 2000) "Feeding behavior of green sea urchins during food preference assays"

*Letise Houser (MIMSUP, 2000) "The effects of DMS and acrylate on feeding by sea urchins, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis" -- now a Ph.D. student at the University of Delaware

Heather Decious (REU, Biology, 1999) "Food choice among microalgae by littorinid snails" -- now in graduate school at the University of Washington, Tacoma

Elizabeth Sanchey (MIMSUP, 1999) "Histological studies of phlorotannins and physodes in kelp gametophytes"

*Anna Neill (REU, 1998) "Quantification of DMSP and DMSP lyase, an activated defense system in marine macroalgae" -- now a Ph.D. student at the University of California at San Diego

Jessica Ward (REU, 1998) "Chemical defenses of Fucus gardneri and Agarum fimbriatum towards herbivorous sea urchins" -- now a Ph.D. student at Cornell University

Richard Hipschman (REU, MIMSUP, 1998) "The effects of diet history on growth, reproduction and food preferences of the snail Littorina sitkana" -- now working for the Washington State Department of Ecology

*Corrine Hicken (REU, Biology, 1997): "Acrylic acid from seaweeds as an antiherbivore chemical defense towards generalist urchins, snails, and isopods"

*Janette Ehlig (OSU, 1996-1997): "Development of bioassays to test the effectiveness of water soluble compounds as antiherbivore defenses" -- now a Master's student at Oregon State University

*Shauna Whitman (OSU, 1996): "Evaluation of methods for phenolic analysis and bioassays" -- now co-manager of Doggone Fun! Doggy Daycare Center

* coauthors on published research papers or manuscripts

 


 

Corrie

General Information

Research
Lab Information
Links

Shannon Point Marine Center
Western Washington University
1900 Shannon Point Road
Anacortes, WA 98221 USA
phone: (360) 293-2188 x-226
fax: (360) 293-1083
email: kathy.vanalstyne@wwu.edu