Roanoke River1
Tyler Barnes (junior) presented her research project, “vitellogenin1 in Embryonic Zebrafish as a Bioindicator to Detect Estrogenic Compounds within the Roanoke River”, at the RC Family Weekend Showcase of Research & Creativity. Tyler is a Biology major and has been involved with research since her freshman year. Tyler became interested in research opportunities after talking to a professor at an open house at another University, “I did research in high school, but had no idea that opportunities were granted to undergraduate students. I found out that Roanoke offered an Undergraduate Research Assistants Program (URAP) and decided to apply for a research position. I was lucky enough to be awarded a research position in Dr. Lassiter’s research lab and have been there ever since!”
The research project that Tyler is currently working on was started by someone who worked in the laboratory prior to her arrival. “When I saw this project advertised as an eligible URAP project, I knew that this project was my first choice. Hormone pollution has been madly talked about in the media for the past decade and I wanted to learn more about it!” explains Tyler. Tyler’s project is mostly concerned with Estrogen contamination within the Roanoke River so she actually goes into the field and measures water from the Roanoke River and tests it on the Zebrafish embryos. Future work in this project will include testing direct effluent water samples from the Roanoke Wastewater Treatment Plant and expanding out to include other sample sites and variables of interest.
Roanoke River2
Tyler also points out that she has enjoyed working closely with her faculty mentor, Dr. Chris Lassiter, “Dr. Lassiter and I work on revising protocols, running through treatments, and bouncing ideas off of one another. I truly value and enjoy working with Dr. Lassiter. I think that being able to work with a professor outside of the classroom is a truly rewarding experience.”
As for presenting at the Family Weekend Showcase, Tyler states that “I enjoy presenting my research because I feel that I am contributing to society by educating others about problems that no one has the exact answers to yet. Although I have presented my research before at other conferences, this past time was special because my family was there. They had no idea what I have been up to for the past three years besides hanging out in a fish lab!”
Zebrafish
Tyler advises that “freshman should get involved with research, regardless of their intended major. If they are truly interested in something, then they should pursue it! This opportunity may lead them to other opportunities or job ideas later on in life.”