Walsh Student Research Fellowships
Walsh Student Research Fellowships
Walsh Student Research Fellowships provide summer research support in the form of student stipends, supply money, and faculty stipends. Fellowships are available to students interested in doing summer research on campus with faculty in the Department of Biology, or the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
2026 Walsh Fellows
Investigating Circadian Rhythms in Cellular Brain Metabolism in Wild Type and PTEN Knock-Out Mice
Jake Antosca ’27, Neuroscience and Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Pam Snodgras-Belt, Biology
The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), a cell group found in mammalian anterior hypothalami, govern endogenous hormonal, locomotor, and sleep rhythms. These rhythms are derived from a molecular transcription translational feedback loop of clock genes, that in the SCN can be entrained to external light dark cycles. SCN cells impose a rhythm on the transcription loops of clock genes found in all cells (Allen et al., 2004). Previous publications demonstrated a circadian rhythm of metabolic activity using labeled 2-deoxyglucose (Weaver 1998). Novelly using the Agilent Seahorse XFe96 Analyzer, we intend to measure oxygen consumption to quantify periodic mitochondrial respiration in SCN tissue, other brain regions, and peripheral tissue. The PTEN knock-out is a mutation in the phosphatase and tensin homolog on chromosome 10 and affects the mTor pathway altering cellular metabolism (Cupolilo et al. 2016). We are interested to see how tissue with alterations in cellular metabolism will perform in this assay.
NAM Treatment Impact on Cerebellar Dysfunction and Phenotypes associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Grace Belt ’28, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ileana Soto Reyes, Biology
Among children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and macrocephaly, 20% have been found to have a germline heterozygous mutation in the Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog Delated on Chromosome 10 (Pten) gene. PTEN is a lipid and protein phosphatase that negatively regulates the mTORC1 pathway, a central integration hub coupling nutrient availability to anabolic growth and suppression of autophagy. Disruption of PTEN, mTORC1, or AMP activated kinase (AMPK) signaling has been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders. Purkinje cells (PCs) of the cerebellum provide a powerful system in which to study these mechanisms. Based on data previously published by our laboratory, PTEN loss in PC during postnatal development increased mTORC1 activation, produced mitochondrial abnormalities, reduced AMPK activation, and disrupted metabolic signaling within dendrites. With pharmacological activation of AMPK there was increased dendritic mitochondrial density in PTEN deficient PCs ex vivo (slice cerebellar tissue culture), suggesting that restoring catabolic signaling may ameliorate pathology. Here, we propose using nicotinamide (NAM), also known as vitamin B3, in mice with lack of PTEN in PCs, to activate AMPK at early stages of postnatal development and prevent or ameliorate the pathology associated with the lack of PTEN.
Investigation of Iron X-Diimine Complexes for Catalytic Applications
Ava Dakin ’27, Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Maria Carroll, Chemistry and Biochemistry
In the Carroll research lab, we are working to synthesize a variety of complexes that
contain a late 3d transition metal bound to redox active ligands to determine their potential application as catalysts. These complexes would be favorable catalysts due to their low cost and high abundance in contrast to the metal catalysts found in the platinum group which are expensive and have relatively low abundance. I will be making iron tricarbonyl complexes with differing α-diimine ligands bound to the iron atom. I will also be testing the reactivity of these complexes with acid and carbon dioxide as well as working to characterize the resulting structures.
Establishing Reliable Protein Production Workflows for Siderophore Biosynthesis Studies
Teagan Eldridge ’28, Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Yae In Cho, Chemistry and Biochemistry
In the Cho lab, our focus is on siderophores; iron-chelating natural products that play essential roles in microbial survival and have promising applications in antibiotic development and environmental remediations. A key foundation of this project is establishing reliable protein expression and purification workflows for proteins involved in catecholate siderophore biosynthesis, using enterobactin as a representative siderophore. My work will focus on the expression and purification of E. coli acyl carrier protein (AcpP) and phosphopantetheinyl transferase (Sfp), a reliable pair for studying carrier protein activation in biosynthetic pathways. I will use molecular biology techniques including plasmid transformation, bacterial culture, protein expression, and purification, which will be followed by analysis of the purified target proteins using SDS-PAGE and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Establishing reproducible workflows and obtaining purified proteins will provide critical groundwork for both the new research lab and future combinatorial biosynthesis efforts for generating novel siderophores with potential antibiotic and environmental applications.
Comparison of soft-shell clam habitat characteristics at two coastal sites
Susan Girzadas ’28, Environmental Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Roxanne Banker, Biology
Soft-shell clam (Mya arenaria) populations in New England have generally been in decline due to warming temperatures and the introduction of green crabs, which have outcompeted them in their overlapping habitats. Notably, in the Great Salt Pond (GSP) on Block Island, Rhode Island, there seem to be areas where soft-shell clams have more success growing to adulthood. In Cormorant Cove, clams have been observed to grow with relative ease, while at Andy’s Way, they are only able to grow to adult sizes when under protection inside of predator exclusion nets. Our goal will be to determine if there are habitat differences between the two sites that could explain if the soft-shell clams are growing faster at Cormorant Cove than in Andy’s Way, leading the clams to reach adult size before they can be consumed by green crabs as juveniles. We will analyze the water and sediment parameters, including temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, algae concentration, and sediment density for both Andy’s Way and Cormorant Cove to see whether there are notable habitat differences allowing for faster growth of the clams. Knowing what constitutes for ideal population growth conditions will support future conservation efforts to help protect soft-shell clams in the Great Salt Pond.
Synthesis and Characterization of Aldehyde-Variant Salen/Salphen Ligands for G4-Binding Metal Complexes
Genevieve Hatch ’27, Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Yae In Cho, Chemistry and Biochemistry
G-quadruplexes (G4s) are secondary DNA structures formed by stacked planes of G-tetrads stabilized through Hoogsteen base pairings and monovalent metal ions. Stabilization of these G4 structures using small molecules and metal complexes (“G4 binders”) has shown promise for regulating telomerase activity and developing anticancer agents. This project focuses on synthesizing Schiff-base salen/salphen ligands through condensation reactions between aldehydes and diamines. My work will specifically investigate how variation in aldehyde structure affects ligand formation, structure, and properties. These aldehydes differ in aromaticity size, electronic properties, and donor atom identity, which may influence ligand stability and coordination behavior. The synthesized ligands will be isolated and characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy, with potential extension to metal complex formation and X-ray crystallography. This work will provide important insight into ligand design and establish a foundation for future development of G4-targeting metal complexes.
Comparative Cellular Mapping of MAPT Tau IsoformExpression in Woodpecker and Songbirds
Lilia Howland ’27, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Daniel Tobiansky, Biology
Repeated mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a significant public health challenge, yet the biological mechanisms that protect certain species from neurodegeneration remain poorly understood. Woodpeckers offer a unique natural model for studying resilience to repeated high force head impacts. This project investigates a key neuroprotective mechanism in woodpeckers: the expression and cellular distribution of tau isoforms, including a newly identified bird specific 5-repeat (5R) tau isoform hypothesized to enhance microtubule stability. Using BaseScope in situ hybridization, long read Nanopore sequencing, and fluorescent histology on archived brain tissue, we will generate the first cell level map of tau isoform distribution in avian brain tissue. These findings will advance our understanding of innate brain trauma resilience.
Analysis of Organophoshate Esters in air samples collected near the Port of Providence
Hannah Keller ’28, Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Addie Clark, Chemistry and Biochemistry
This project works to uncover the hazardous chemicals contained in atmospheric particulate matter (PM) that can be harmful to human health and the environment. Filter-based samples are collected from the Port of Providence, Rhode Island, an urban and industrial location that is densely populated. These samples are obtained through outdoor monitoring systems that collect PM of sizes 2.5 microns in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) and all sizes (TSP). These PM samples are analyzing the concentrations of organophosphate esters (OPEs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons dating back to September 2024. Concentrations will be compared to previous studies of the area as well as other sites around Rhode Island.
Specificity and Mechanism of Azoreductases from the Human Gut Microbiome
Annick Kenfack ’27, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Tyler Stack, Chemistry and Biochemistry
In the human gut microbiome, there are bacteria that have been found to metabolize drugs, that often leads to unintended side effects. The uniqueness and variation in each individual’s microbe community coupled with our lack of knowledge about enzyme function makes the nature of the metabolic processes unpredictable. One such group of enzymes, the azoreductases, can reduce azo bonds in drugs. In this study we aim to investigate the specificity of the enzymatic and nonenzymatic reduction of azo compounds by synthesizing and characterizing a library of azo-bonded molecules. We will analyze the reduction mechanisms using purified azoreductases and hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a bacterial metabolite known to facilitate nonenzymatic reduction. This research will expand our understanding of azo bond metabolism in the gut and contribute to predicting drug interactions in personalized medicine.
Establishing Recombinant Expression and Purification Workflows for Carrier Proteins in Siderophore Biosynthesis
Meredith Mason ’27, Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Yae In Cho, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Some soil bacteria produce an interesting class of natural product called siderophores to chelate iron from their surroundings. Their biosynthesis relies on carrier proteins and activating enzymes that assemble and modify intermediates. Carrier proteins such as E. coli acyl carrier protein (AcpP) and enterobactin biosynthesis protein B (EntB) require activation by a phosphopantetheinyl transferase such as Sfp (from Bacillus subtilis) to function properly. Because these proteins play central roles in biosynthetic pathways, establishing reliable methods to produce them is an essential first step toward future biochemical studies. In this project, I will express and purify AcpP, EntB, and Sfp using recombinant protein expression in E. coli. This work will involve transformation, optimization of expression conditions, and affinity-based purification. The purified proteins will provide a foundation for future functional assays and help establish reproducible biochemical workflows in the lab.
Investigating organophosphate Ester Background concentrations in coastal RI
Nicole Rathgeber ’29, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Addie Clark, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are widely used as flame retardants and plasticizers in
consumer products, contributing to air pollution as indicated by atmospheric particulate matter. This poses carcinogenic and neurotoxic health risks to humans, so a better understanding of the atmospheric concentrations of OPE will not only provide insight to conducting risk assessments for human exposure to these chemicals, but will also bring attention to OPEs in the environment as a whole. Atmospheric samples will be obtained via FriAir Net, go through pressurized liquid extraction, and analyzed using gas chromatophotometry and mass spectrophotometry to determine specific concentrations of OPEs. This information will be compared across samples, and it is expected that the collected data regarding the patterns of OPE concentration in the
atmosphere will provide relevant insight necessary to the Environmental Protection Agency to optimize risk assessments for atmospheric chemical pollution.
Survey and Mark-recapture of Insect Pollinators, Bonoan Lab Summer 2025
Cael Schneider ’28, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rachael Bonoan, Biology
Insect pollinators visit blooming plants to find food—pollen provides protein, nectar provides carbohydrates, and both provide small amounts of lipids, vitamins, and minerals. Urban pollinators struggle to find nutrients due to fragmented habitats throughout the city, causing populations to decrease over time. The Bonoan Lab aims to test the number and diversity of pollinators on Providence College campus and how far bees are willing to travel to forage. To do this, observational surveys are conducted to record pollinator diversity, type of flowers they visit, and their behavior. This capture-mark-recapture study aims to determine if bees are willing to travel to different gardens across campus to forage.
2025 Walsh Fellows
Exploring the convergent evolution of animal tail anatomy
Leonardo Contreras Rodriguez ’27, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Yordano Jimenez, Biology
Tradeoffs between speed and force permeate every level of muscle function, ranging from the microscopic level of muscle physiology to the macroscopic level of muscle tissue anatomy. As a result, animals need a specific muscle architecture – the sum of traits such as fiber angle, fiber length, and overall muscle shape, to move quickly or forcefully. We hypothesize that swimming animals have convergently evolved similar muscle architectures within their tails to maximize swimming performance. To test this hypothesis, we will compare the tail muscles of fish, alligators, and lobsters using a non-destructive visualization technique called DiceCT. We will fix dead specimens in formalin and stain them with a contrasting agent, after which they will be MicroCT scanned at Brown University. Tail muscles will be digitally visualized to quantify geometrical parameters such as muscle fiber length and angle. From this data, it will be analyzed whether the different species (fish, alligators, and lobsters) have different or similar fiber angles that promote different types of performance or have no effect on performance at all.
Wild Bee Foraging and Movement Behavior in Urban Gardens
Claire Crowther ’27, Environmental Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rachael Bonoan, Biology
Despite posing several threats to insect pollinators, urban environments can harbor successful plant-pollinator communities with biodiverse green spaces. While bees collect pollen and nectar to meet their nutritional needs, there is limited data on the floral preferences of different species in urban areas. My research will expand upon work conducted in previous years, including my research during the 2024-25 school year, to determine how foraging bees balance their diets and where they are moving within the campus gardens. I will accomplish this via conducting mark-recapture to collect behavioral data on two native species, and quadrat surveys to determine the floral foraging preferences of various species. These data will contribute to the greater understanding of bee foraging habits in urban areas and can be used in planning efforts to create more successful green spaces and community gardens.
Effects of Per and Clk Genes on Circadian Rhythms of Cellular Brain Metabolism in D. Melanogaster
Connor Enestvedt ’26, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Pamela Snodgrass-Belt, Biology
Drosophila have biological clocks that regulate endogenous behavioral and physiological rhythms. The fly clock—an oscillating gene-protein feedback loop found in central clock neurons—allow drosophila to predict daily events. Flies up regulate metabolic processes in anticipation of activity due to endogenous rhythms (Schwartz and Gainer, 1977). Rhythmic metabolic activity observed in wildtype flies at the brain level (Kozub 2022) leads us to predict that mutations to central clock genes Clk and Per, known to alter circadian rhythms, may also inhibit or shift flies’ metabolic regulation. By comparing locomotor activity, gene expression, and brain metabolism between wildtype and mutant flies, we will study the alterations of central clock genes on tissue metabolic rhythms, against the molecular clock and fly activity. These data will be used to understand possible differences in fly models of neurodegeneration that also express changes in daily rhythms of locomotor activity.
Characterizing historic and current-use flame retardants over a 10-year period
Anne Gathof ’26, Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Adelaide Clark, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Atmospheric particulate matter, an indicator of pollution, can contain harmful chemicals that can pose a harmful impact on human and environmental health. Ten years’ worth of filter-based samples have been collected in the urban environment of Providence Rhode Island. These samples will be extracted and analyzed to detect concentrations of specific organophosphate esters and polybrominated diphenyl ethers. Samples will be run through pressurized liquid extraction and blown down to a volume that can be analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The concentrations of organic compounds found in the samples will be compared to one another to observe shifts in particulate matter concentrations between polybrominated diphenyl ethers and organophosphate esters. It is expected that over ten years there has been a shift from polybrominated diphenyl ethers to organophosphate esters in atmospheric particulate matter.
Evaluation of Outdoor Particulate Matter n Providence, RI
Leart Jahaj ’27, Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Adelaide Clark, Chemistry and Biochemistry
The project aims to measure and analyze the chemical species, such as organophosphate esters (OPEs), found in samples of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) from Providence, Rhode Island. The filter-based samples that will be analyzed will be collected from the Providence College campus and the Port of Providence. The samples will be obtained through outdoor air monitoring stations and samplers that will collect PM less than 2.5 microns in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) as well as total suspended particulate (all particles regardless of size; TSP). The PM samples will be extracted using a Dionex Accelerated Solvent Extractor (ASE) 350 and will be analyzed through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS). This project will focus specifically on the seasonal differences in TSP and PM2.5 samples collected on the Providence College campus.
Specificity and Mechanism of Azoreductases from teh Human Gut Microbiome
Annick Kenfack ’27, Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Tyler Stack, Chemistry and Biochemistry
In the human gut microbiome, there are bacteria that have been found to metabolize drugs, that often leads to unintended side effects. The uniqueness and variation in each individual’s microbe community coupled with our lack of knowledge about enzyme function makes the nature of the metabolic processes unpredictable. One such group of enzymes, the azoreductases, can reduce azo bonds in drugs. In this study we aim to investigate the specificity of the enzymatic and nonenzymatic reduction of azo compounds by synthesizing and characterizing a library of azo-bonded molecules. We will analyze the reduction mechanisms using purified azoreductases and hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a bacterial metabolite known to facilitate nonenzymatic reduction. This research will expand our understanding of azo bond metabolism in the gut and contribute to predicting drug interactions in personalized medicine.
Spatial Regulation of Cell Cycle Components within the Nucleus and Its Impact on Cell Size Control
Caroline Krebs ’26, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kristi Miller, Biology
Cell size regulation is essential for proper cell function, and abnormalities are linked to cancer. Most cells regulate their size by coordinating growth and division. Fission yeast are an excellent model for studying cell size control due to their simple rod shape and conservation of key cell cycle proteins with human cells. Fission yeast divide at a specific cell size through size-dependent regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk1). Interactions between Cdk1 and the mitotic activators, Cdc13/Cyclin and phosphatase Cdc25 are crucial for ensuring division occurs at the right size. This proposal aims to investigate how the spatial regulation of Cdk1, Cdc13, and Cdc25 within the nucleus contributes to cell size control. Using fluorescent microscopy, I will analyze their nuclear localization, and through genetic assays, I will manipulate their nuclear location to assess effects on cell size. Findings from yeast studies can provide insights into size regulation in higher eukaryotes.
OPEs, Flame Retardants in the Atmosphere
Savannah Patalano ’27, Chemistry/Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Adelaide Clark, Chemistry and Biochemistry
The main goal of the project is to measure and analyze the chemical species of organophosphate esters (OPEs) in atmospheric particulate matter collected from Providence, Rhode Island. Filter-based samples will be gathered from two locations: the Providence College campus and the Port of Providence. These outdoor air monitoring stations will collect both fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which consists of particles smaller than 2.5 microns in aerodynamic diameter, and total suspended particulate matter (TSP), which includes particles of all sizes. The collected PM samples will be extracted using a Dionex Accelerated Solvent Extractor (ASE) 350 and analyzed via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS). This study will focus on seasonal variations in TSP and PM2.5 concentrations at the Providence College site.
Developing a Protocol to Study Ant-Tending Behaviors and Energetic Costs
Riley Quirk ’26, Environmental Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jane Waters, Biology
Globally, insect pollinator populations are declining [1]. Conservation efforts for many of these insect pollinators are well on their way and one order of pollinator that has peaked the interest of researchers is Lepidoptera. Research on butterfly conservation has led to the discovery of ant-tending as a survival tactic for Lycaenid butterfly species. This relationship, though important for survival, may also be taxing for these species due to nutrient loss in the form of a sugar droplet administered by the caterpillar to the ant guardians. Using Tetramorium ants and the gray hairstreak caterpillar, I will collaborate with the Bonoan Lab to investigate the cost of this interaction on the gray hairstreak. Protocols developed this summer will be applied to understanding the cost of the ant-caterpillar interaction for the rare frosted elfin, another species Lycaenid butterfly.
Effectiveness of the Seeding and Netting Method for Protecting Soft-shell clam (Mya arenaris) population
Patrick Soucie ’26, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Roxanne Banker, Biology
Research has shown a steep decline in the soft-shell clam (Mya arenaria) population along the North Atlantic coast caused by climate change and green crab predation. Studies indicate that the “seeding and netting” method can protect vulnerable populations of soft-shell clams from invasive green crabs. However, the effectiveness of this method for Block Island, Rhode Island, has yet to be proven. Here, we will monitor population abundance inside and outside of nets designed to exclude green crab predators during the summer of 2025 in the Great Salt Pond, Block Island. We will then statistically compare population data between the two treatments to see if the seeding and netting method is suitable for restoring the soft-shell clam population on the Great Salt Pond. This research will serve as the foundation for conservation efforts toward reversing human-driven environmental consequences impacting the soft-shell clam on Block Island.
Honey Bee Water Foraging Preferences at the Individual
Anna Tattelman ’27, Environmental Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rachael Bonoan, Biology
Like humans, honey bees depend on water for survival. Dr. Bonoan’s past research has shown that honey bees use water to supplement micronutrients they cannot get from their floral diet, consisting of pollen and nectar. Furthermore, water is vital for thermoregulation in the honey bee hive. In the face of climate change and habitat loss, keeping honey bees healthy will require a better understanding of their water foraging behaviors. This summer, I will collaborate with Casey Johnson at the University of Rhode Island Bee Lab to investigate honey bee water foraging behavior. I will study water foraging preferences in the field and use mark-recapture to determine if individual bees prefer certain water types. My results will help us determine which factors affect honey bee “dirty” water preferences, allowing beekeepers to provide honey bees with beneficial, safe “dirty” water sources.
