Abstracts, Ethics Worshop and
Other REU Programs

The REU is sponsored by the Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, a group which represents more than 40 Indiana University faculty members with primary homes in departments of biology, psychological and brain sciences, anthropology, neural science, and medical sciences. Many of these researchers and their postdocs, technicians and graduate students are available each year to REU interns as possible summer mentors. Previous REU interns have studied the behavior of a wide variety of animals including birds, bats, hamsters, lizards and insects.

2011 REU ALUMNI

TICIA WATSON, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
“Thermoregulatory huddling by infant mice is augmented by nest configuration”
Mentors: Dr. Jeffrey Alberts and Delia Shelton

VALERIE A. METZLER, Eastern Mennonite University
“Quantifying the relationship between a salivary measure of functional immunity and peer ratings of physical attractiveness in young men and women”
Mentors: Dr. Michael P. Muehlenbein and Sean Prall

“MARY-JEANETTE ANDREWS, Indiana University - Bloomington
Sensitivity of mice with a desensitization-resistant cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) to endogenous cannabinoids and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol”
Mentors: Drs. Ken Mackie and Daniel Morgan

KRISTIN C. QUINN, Spelman College
“Sexual Orientation Differences in the Meaning of Having “Had Sex””
Mentors: Drs. Stephanie A. Sanders PhD, Brandon J. Hill, and Elizabeth M. Webb

LUCAS GONZALEZ, Miami Dade College
“Effect of RTI-113 on cocaine self-administration and cued-reinstatement in rats”
Mentors: Dr. George Rebec and Alan Barker

DANNY FERNANDEZ, Georgia State University
“Effects of Blocking Androgen and Estrogen Receptors on Electrocommunication Signals in a Weakly Electric Fish”
Mentor: Dr. G.Troy Smith

SONYA JAYARATNA, Indiana University - Bloomington
“Size, Sensitivity, and Signal:  Examining sources of variation in gonadal testosterone production across subspecies of the dark-eyed junco (J. hyemalis)”
Mentors: Dr. Ellen Ketterson, Dr. Kimberly A. Rosvall, and Christine Bergeon-Burns

TYLER PERFITT, DePauw University
“Identification of Novel Lipid Mediators as Putative Endogenous Ligands for the Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 Channel”
Mentors: Dr. Heather B. Bradshaw and Siham Raboune

MELISSA PROFFITT, Concord University
“Steroid Regulation of Seasonal Aggression in Female Siberian hamsters” (Phodopus sungorus)
Mentors:  Dr. Gregory Demas and Nikki Rendon

JOSE OYOLA, Cornell University
"Sceloporus lizards with blue signaling patches have ventral surfaces that contrast with their habitat"
Mentors: Dr. Emilia Martins and Alison Ossip-Klein
 

2010 REU ALUMNI

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NATASHA TONGE, Swarthmore College
“The Brain-body connection: Does mRNA expression in the brain predict phenotype?”
KAISHA BELLINGHERI , Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University
“Dietary lipids increase activity levels and behavioral stress in zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to a social stimulus”
RANDA AMIN, University of Maryland: Baltimore County
Ethanol self-administration and conditioned-place preference are altered in desensitization-resistant cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1) mutant mice
CAROL CARTER , Teacher, Clear Creek Elementary, Bloomington, IN
“Lessons developed to teach third grade students scientific investigation design related to animal behavior”
CHELSEA HOLMAN. University of Calif. - Santa Cruz
“Electric organ discharge modulations in Brown ghost knifefish (Apteronotus leptorhynchus) and the effect of pheromones”
BRITTANY PALMER, Tuskegee University
“The ontogeny of huddling in C57BL/6 mouse pups”
JOHNNY SALDATE, University of Arizona
“Neuromodulators and behavior: Social regulation of serotonin in the auditory midbrain”
SIERRA STRINGFIELD, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
“The relationship between estradiol and stress, positive & negative affect, sex role, and self-esteem in men and women”
LISA WEATHERLY, Thiel College
“Effects of estraiol on electrocommunication behavior in Apteronotus albifrons on populations of Peru and Columbia”
MIA PERTILLA, Tuskegee University
“Lipids affect the behavior of some strains of zebrafish: Geographic origin plays a role”
ANTHONY BUONO, Providence College
“Lipidomics on the hypothalamus and midbrain after acute peripheral inflammation”
BRIAN GRESS, Iowa State University
“Seasonal sociality and territoriality in sparrows correlate with neuropeptide and aromatse anatomy”
PHILLIP WHARTON, Indiana University – Bloomington
“Leptin increases endocannabinoid receptor expression in Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus)"
 

2009 REU ALUMNI

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SYBIL ANDRIEUX, SUNY College - Old Westbury
"Prenatal social stress affects Siberian Hamster (Phodopus sungorus) offspring social behavior and physiology"
NAILAH SMITH, Xavier University of Louisiana
"The functional effects of endocannabinoid signaling on Siberian Hamsters across photoperiod"
DANFENG WANG, Indiana University - Bloomington
"Does food supplementation enhance immune function in reproductive female
Sagebrush Lizards, (Sceloporus graciosus)?"
NESHA JAIRAM, Spelman College
"Maternal contributions to sensory experience in the fetal mouse (Mus musculus)"
MATTHEW MAY, Indiana University - Bloomington
"The effects of cat odor on unlearned and learned defensive behavior in responding and non-responding Sprague Dawley rat"
STEPHEN KEELER II, Pennsylvania State University
"Social interactions alter serotonin levels in the inferior colliculus"
ROSE HITE, Indiana University - Bloomington
"Effects of food and social manipulation on zebrafish (Danio rerio) behavior"
LORE MCBROOM, Winston Salem State University
"Habitat and sex differences in task performance in zebrafish"
AZIZA LASS, Prairie View A&M University
"Female mate choice for condition-dependence and genetic compatibility"
KELSEY MCCUNE, Randolph College
"Interspecific differences among three local entomopathogenic nematodes"
ALLISON MILLER, University of California - San Diego
"Olfactory discrimination capabilities of the Dark-Eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)"
CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON, Louisiana State University
"Relative dependence of rats on allocentric vs. egocentric cues in locating a safety platform in a water maze or a food location in an arena"
 

2008 REU ALUMNI

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GILDA BOBELE GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY "The effect of endocannabinoids on carbachol induced contractions in the rat uterus"
KEN FORMBY UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER "Sexually dimorphic communication behaviors in Sternarchogiton natteri"
LORNA MORENO UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO-RIO PIEDRAS "Variation in signal detection in Sceloporus undulates lizards"
JESSIE RACK SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY " Sexual dimorphism of electrocommunication signals across populations of weakly electric fish, Apteronotus albifrons"
KATIE REIMINK KALAMAZOO COLLEGE "Nicotine entrainment treated with mecamylamine decreased post-injection activity"
SOPHIA ROBERTS OBERLIN COLLEGE "Regulatory competence in mice"
HEATHER VEGA LAMAR UNIVERSITY "The role of social feedback in gesture production of 14-18 month-old infants and their caregivers"
CASSANDRA WALDMAN BAYLOR UNIVERSITY "The effect of the environment and shoal composition on the behavior of zebrafish (Danio rerio"
KELLY ZALOCUSKY HENDRIX COLLEGE "Functional subdivisions of the medial amygdale in male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata"
 
 

2007 REU ALUMNI

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JULIANA BELEN, UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO-MAYAGUEZ CAMPUS "Role of DHEA in mediating seasonal aggression in male Siberian Hamsters (Phodopus sungorus)"
SHAWNA BUERKLE, NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY "Sexual asymmetry in Sceloporus graciosus visual performance"
LAUREN BRIERLEY, HOPE COLLEGE"Are ape limb proportions adaptations for physical aggression or arboreality?"
STEPHEN CHANG, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN "The effects of cocaine-related cues on triggering relapse and activating doral prefrontal cortex"
KATHY DANIELS, NEW CASTLE HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER "Evolution--Convergence, divergence and adaptation lessons developed to teach evolution and ecology to middle and high school students"
MARGARET DONAHUE, ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY" Voltammetric study of the effects of autoreceptor activation on serotonin in the inferior colliculus of mice"
VICTORIA FLORES, BROWN UNIVERSITY "Injury response of the pacemaker nucleus after spinal cord transection in Apteronotus leptorhynchus"
MELISSA GREULICH, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN "Vegetation and water condition effects on zebrafish Danio rerio behavior"
JANELL HARRO, ILLINOIS WESEYLAN UNIVERSITY "The effects of a context shift on chronically restrained animals tested in an instrumental appetitive-to-aversive transfer task"
LAUREN HAROLD, TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY "How many injections of nicotine can a rat anticipate in one day?"
ANDRES MORERA, INDIANA UNIVERISTY "Voltage gated potassium channel expression in response to spinal cord injury in the electromotor system of Apteronotus leptorhynchus"
 
 

2006 REU ALUMNI

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RACHEL ANDREWS, PURDUE UNIVERSITY "Behavior-related changes in dopamine and ascorbate release"
ADOLFO (LEO) ARELLANOS, HUNTER COLLEGE "Investigations of learning and memory in an animal model of autism"
MIRELA CONWAY, UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS-AMHERST "The effects of light intensity on motion perception in the Eastern fence Lizard, (Sceloporus undulatus) and Southern Sagebrush Lizard, (S. graciosus)"
ERICA DAVIS, ALABAMA A & M UNIVERSITY "The reproductive behavior displays of male Sceloporus toward females"
MAKSYMILIAN (MAKS) DERYL, DOMINACAN UNIVERSITY "Electrocommunication signal repertoire in Parapteronotus hasemani"
SHANNON FREDEBAUGH, OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY "Possible influences of positive scent stimuli on the behavior of captive polar bears (Ursus maritimus)"
LAKEISHA HALL, ALBRIGHT COLLEGE "Seasonal changes in immunity track changes in energetics and not reproduction in female Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus)"
CHANIN MILLER, TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY "Odor preference in huddling by rat pups: Comparison between the metabolic consequences of huddling and the sensation of localized warmth as an inducer of odor-guided huddling"
MICHAEL PEACE, NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY "Repeatability in guppy inspection behavior, alone and in groups"
INDIA SWEARINGEN, LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY "Cue competition and integration in a blocking procedure in the water maze as a function of beacon type and whether it was switched between Stage 1 and Stage 2 of training"
 

2005 REU ALUMNI

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AWILDA ACARON UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS, AMHERST "Effects of social environment on boldness behavior in wild zebrafish"
AITALOHI AMAIZE PRINCETON UNIVERSITY "Serotonin projections to the inferior colliculus: A retrograde tracing analysis of raphe nuclei in mice"
JACKELINE ANDERSON BAYLOR UNIVERSITY "Thermal environment influences morphology of developing Norway rats"
STEFANIE M. BAUR UNIVERSITY OF EVANSVILLE "Effects of chronic stress on water maze performance in rats"
ANDREW GARST NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS UNIVERSITY "Energy allocation and sickness behavior in Siberian hamsters"
DERRICK PARKER LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY "Does 1+1 really equal 2? Genotypic and phenotypic interactions in expressed social behavior of Poecilia reticulata"
NATASHA PETTIFOR NEW COLLEGE OF FLORIDA "Mobile versus stationary viewpoints affect blocking and facilitation between beacon and landmark learning in the floor maze"
SARA SANFORD RIPON COLLEGE "Effects of 5-alpha dihydrotestosterone on the frequency modulation and duration of chirping behavior in Apteronotus albifrons"
ANAND SHAH INDIANA UNIVERSITY "Electrophysiological evaluation of mice knocked-in with 140 CAG repeats"
C. BRIAN SMITH PACIFIC UNIVERSITY "Song-sharing in lizards?: An exploration of display type-matching using a robotic lizard"
ELIZABETH WHEAT  OBERLIN COLLEGE "An assessment of classical eyeblink conditioning in rats using a tone and light CS and three interstimulus intervals"
 

ETHICS WORKSHOP CASES

CASES (PDF)

1 JULIA COLTRANE CASE
2 MARTY BROWN CASE
3 MOLLY WATERS CASE
4 WALTER GUTHRIE CASE


Other REU Programs

 

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