Undergraduate Research
Undergraduates at the Odum School are encouraged to participate in, or conduct their own research projects, under the guidance of Odum faculty. This can be anything from taking credits for research (ECOL 4960), completing a CURO project, or in the form of an honors thesis project. In doing so, students gain valuable research experience to add to their resume, as well as a greater appreciation for the research conducted by Odum faculty. Below is a list of recently-conducted projects by our undergraduates (in alphabetical order). Click the student's name to view a brief description of the project.
Barrett Attarha - Spring 2012
Research conducted for BIOL 4960 credits - supervised by Dr. Davis
Project title: " Measuring the strength of horned passalus beetles (Odontotaenius disjunctus)"
Devin Cox - Fall 2012
Research conducted for BIOL 4960 credits - supervised by Dr. Davis
Project title: "Effects of nematode infection on strength and body characteristics of horned passalus beetles"
Drew Benz - Spring 2012
Research conducted for BIOL 4960 credits - supervised by Dr. Davis
Project title: "A survey of blood parasites in Honduran Spiny-tailed Iguanas"
Heather Abernathy - Summer 2012
Research conducted for ECOL 4960 credits - supervised by Dr. Davis
Project title: "A survey for the trichomonas pathogen in house finches in northeast Georgia"
Jake Moskowitz - Spring 2011
Research conducted for ECOL 4960 credits - supervised by Dr. Davis
Project title: "Does mammalian fur color change over time in museum specimens?"
Malavika Rajeev - Summer 2010 & Fall 2011
Research conducted for a CURO fellowship project and later as an Honors Project - supervised by Dr. Altizer
Project title: "The effect of parasite infection on monarch butterfly mating behavior"
Mariana Rivera - Spring 2011
Research conducted for ECOL 4960 credits - supervised by Dr. Davis
Project title: "Evaluating a novel method of obtaining blood samples from gilled amphibians"
Mariana Rivera - Summer 2011
Summer research project - supervised by Dr. Byers
Project title: Patterns of arboreal movement of semi-terrestrial crabs
Melanie Fratto - Fall 2010
Research conducted for ECOL 4960 credits - supervised by Dr. Davis
Project title: "Do black-furred animals compensate for high solar absorption with smaller hairs? A test with a polymorphic squirrel species"
Melanie Fratto - Summer 2011
Research conducted for CURO fellowship project - supervised by Dr. Davis and Dr. Ezenwa
Project title: "Infection modifies the effects of stress on immune function in birds"
Morgan Walker - Summer 2012
Summer research project - supervised by Dr. Byers
Project title: “The effect of multiple stressors on the prevalence and intensity of oyster disease”
Sam Willis - Fall 2010
Research conducted for ECOL 4960 credits - supervised by Dr. Shefferson
Project title: "Diversity of Orchid Fungal Symbionts in Estonian Mine Tailings"
Sergio Minchey - Summer 2011
Research conducted for BIOL 4960 credits - supervised by Dr. Davis
Project title: "Description of unusual leukocyte morphology in eastern tufted titmice"
Taylor Jack Piefke - Spring 2012
Research conducted for ECOL 4960 credits - supervised by Dr. Davis
Project title: "Measuring body morphology of horned passalus beetles using image analysis"
Zack Holmes - Summer 2011
Research conducted for ECOL 4960 credits - supervised by Dr. Byers
Project title: "Density and trait meditated effects of predators on oyster reef communities"
