REEU Projects
You do not need to already have the skills mentioned in the project descriptions, just an interest to learn. You will gain hands-on training during the program.
List three projects on your application. We cannot guarantee that you will be placed in one of your top three selections, but your selections will help us place students in projects that are a good match for their interests.
Note - Projects may be subject to slight changes if research priorities evolve in the mentor lab before the start of the program.
Gene editing to develop improved wheat varietiesCRISPR/CAS9 technology can be used to rapidly generate new variants of genes with improved function. We use CAS9 technology to edit wheat genes that can increase yield and disease resistance, and improve nutritional quality. Intern will be involved in selecting genes that affect positively these traits in wheat, designing CRISPR/CAS9 reagents for gene editing using bioinformatical tools, and testing these reagents using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies available at the KSU Integrated Genomics Facility. The student will conduct these experiments as part of the gene editing projects aimed at improving wheat traits. 60% Lab, 40% Computer Mentors: Wei Wang and Eduard Akhunov |
Genome Engineering in fungi using CRISPR-Cas
Areas: Genome engineering, mycology, molecular-biology, CRISPR-Cas, plant pathology Mentor: David Cook |
Synthetic Biology to Make Super SeedsSeeds function as powerful biosynthetic factories that convert photosynthetically derived sugars into storage lipids, proteins and carbohydrates. My research group uses synthetic biology approaches to genetically modify metabolism so that seeds can produce novel compounds with functionalities useful for different applications. One particular focus involves modifying the chemical structure of vegetable oil to make a better, low-viscosity biofuel. You will have the opportunity to learn a variety of synthetic biology methods, including rapid assembly of gene constructs, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing and plant transformation, as well as different biochemical methods to quantify lipids and amino acids in the modified seeds. Lab 100% Mentor: Tim Durrett |
Let’s Make Better WheatLet’s help wheat fight off pests! Come help screen wheat breeding populations for pathogen and disease resistance to find the genetic factors that help produce our favorite breads and cereals. The intern will select resistant wheat to certain wheat pathogens, and using high throughput sequencing and genotyping techniques identify genetic regions involved in plant resistance using current bioinformatics tools. These genetic factors will be transferred into our breeding programs for improved wheat for future deployment and development. Greenhouse 20%, Lab 30%, Computer 50% Mentor: Katherine Jordan |
Crop diversity effects on pest and beneficial insects
Field 50%, Greenhouse 25%, Lab 25%. Mentor: Tania Kim |
Cytogenetics of alien gene transfer in wild wheat
Areas: genetics and genomics, plant breeding, plant pathology, cytogenetics. Greenhouse 25%, Lab 75% Mentor: Dal-Hoe Koo |
Weed Management
Field 80%, Lab + Greenhouse 20% Mentor: Sarah Lancaster |
Genome mapping of plant pathogens
Lab 40%, Computational work 60% Mentor: Sanzhen Liu |
Are Wheat Wild Ancestors Game Changers to Combat Plant Viral Diseases?Crop Wild Relatives are cousins of our cultivated crops still found growing in natural ecosystems. Since their genetic diversity is much higher than cultivated crops, they are considered as a promising source for crop improvement including plant resistance/tolerance to pests and pathogens. Wheat Streak Mosaic (WSM) is one of the most economically important viral diseases of wheat causing significant yield losses globally. The WSM complex is associated with several documented viruses. Although the use of current resistant varieties is promising, resistance-breaking virus isolates have been recently reported. Hence, it is crucial to continue searching for alternative resistance or tolerance from different sources including wheat wild relatives such as Aegilops tauschii. This research project explores a large panel of Ae. tauschii genotypes for resistance/tolerance to WSM viruses through phenotypic and genotypic assessments. The results of this study will help to improve wheat germplasm for viral resistance/tolerance. As an intern in the Nouri lab, you will learn virology, molecular biology, and microscopy techniques. You also have an opportunity to learn some computational biology skills. Areas: Plant Virology, Virus Evolution, Molecular Biology, Confocal Microscopy. Mentor: Shahideh Nouri |
Insect hormone disruptors
Mentor: Yoonseong Park |
Going undercover
Field 50%, Lab 50% Mentor: DeAnn Presley |
Picking scabThe Applied Wheat Pathology Lab at Kansas State University focuses on economically important pathogens in wheat. One of those pathogens - head scab (also called Fusarium head blight or FHB) is of particular interest because it results not only in high amounts of yield loss, but also can make the wheat inedible. The pathogen, Fusarium graminearum, makes a toxin that can make people and animals sick. During your time in our lab, you will help us develop our diverse collection of F. graminearum from fields across the state of Kansas. This work will include learning sterile microbiology techniques to isolate and grow the fungus from wheat seeds. In addition to work in the laboratory, you will learn to phenotype the disease in our FHB nurseries, and participate in wheat harvest. Lab 50%, Field 50% Mentor: Jessica Rupp |
Squish that bug! Improving insect pest control methods with molecular biologyInsect pests cause direct damage to crops and livestock and also vector pathogens that can cause serious veterinary and medical health problems. Typical management practices involve use of conventional chemical insecticides but increasing reports of resistance to these insecticides as well as increasing concern over their environmental impact are driving the development of novel strategies for insect pest control. The Silver laboratory is interested in understanding the molecular interactions of insecticides with their target sites as well as identifying new physiological mechanisms that can be exploited for insect pest control. Current projects include analyzing the effects of arbovirus infection on feeding and host-seeking behavior in mosquitoes and biting midges and understanding the mechanisms of RNA interference for development as a tool for controlling biting midge larvae and other insect pests. Interns will have the opportunity to learn molecular biology techniques, live cell imaging, cell culture, RNA interference, and/or insect behavioral assays while working alongside lab personnel and will develop independent research projects depending on their research interests. Lab100% Mentor: Kristopher Silver |
Super plants...The advanced modern biotechnology changed many aspects in agriculture. Recent rapidly developed genome editing technology such CRISPR/Cas9 is changing the world in agriculture as well as human medicine. In this project, you will learn how to design, construct, and use engineered plasmid vectors to introduce new traits by expressing genes and/or genome editing in plants (wheat or soybean). You will gain knowledge about the interaction between viral pathogen and plant host. You will gain skills in molecular biology, plant transformation and micropropagation, as well as DNA/RNA extraction, and virus biology, virus detection and analysis. Lab 80%, Greenhouse 20% Mentor: Harold Trick |
Contact Us
Project Director
Dr. Megan Kennelly
Project Coordinator
Dr. Myron Bruce
Project Co-Director
Dr. David Cook