UHP STEMM RaMP Spring 2027 Project Titles & Descriptions

• Mentor: Dr. Sripriya Nannu Shankar
• Location: UC College of Medicine
• Time Commitment: 12-14 hours/week

Project Description: My group investigates the transmission of aerosols (such as smoke particles, chemicals, and microbes) and their impact on human health through laboratory and field investigations. While the latter involves collecting samples from the real world, laboratory studies focus on mimicking real-life scenarios under controlled conditions. The impact of aerosols on human health will be studied using novel engineered tools to generate and deliver aerosols to in vitro cultured lung cells at the air-liquid interface (similar to how particles deposit in our lung). This aligns with the USEPA’s focus on the development of novel alternative methods (NAMs) to minimize the use of animal models in research. We also study the effectiveness of different interventions in minimizing exposure risks, and computational modeling.

The student(s) will gain hands-on experience in state-of-the-art instrumentation related to measuring aerosols, as well as collecting and analyzing them through different techniques. They will be given the opportunity to work as a team as well as an independent researcher, after training. Upon successful completion of the program, the scholars will have gained interdisciplinary training (on either or more than 2 fields: aerosol science, microbiology, toxicology, and instrumentation). The student(s) will also be trained in scientific writing for publication(s) and are encouraged to present their research at professional conferences/symposia. Post-completion of the first semester as a RaMP scholar, there are opportunities to conduct long-term research through different programs (RaMP continuation, SURF, etc.).

• Mentor: Ms. Onyinye Ezeifeka
• Location: UC College of Medicine
• Time Commitment: 8 hours/week
• Lab website: https://researchdirectory.uc.edu/p/nazareyn

Project Description: Small aircraft are commonly used for flight training, recreation, transportation and a number of other aviation-related purposes. Many of these aircraft run on aviation gasoline (avgas). The most common kind of avgas used in the United States is 100LL. This fuel contains lead, as this is meant to improve engine performance. But lead is toxic, and emissions from aircrafts that burn leaded avgas can pollute the air around airports. Because of this, there are concerns about the health of airport workers and of those who live in nearby communities.

Since the aviation industry is progressing towards using unleaded fuels, there is a key question to consider: what are the emissions from unleaded avgas when compared to those from conventional leaded fuel? Although removing lead is a significant achievement, it is also necessary to determine whether switching to this type of fuel affects other pollutants emitted during combustion.

This project, which is taking place at the Safe Air Lab, involves comparing the emissions from leaded and unleaded aviation gasoline under controlled laboratory conditions. By means of a laboratory-scale combustor, we will burn various types of avgas and measure the airborne particles and the selected gaseous pollutants. The student will obtain hands-on research experience by assisting with the experiments, collecting the samples, operating the air-monitoring equipment, organizing the data and comparing the emission patterns for the different fuels.

We expect this research to show whether transitioning from leaded to unleaded avgas changes the amount and characteristics of pollutants released during combustion. The findings from this study will provide experimental evidence on whether transitioning to unleaded avgas could reduce harmful emissions and reduce potential exposures among airport workers and communities surrounding general aviation airports.

No prior experience in aviation emissions or air-quality research is necessary. We are looking for a student who is curious, has a positive attitude, is careful and attentive to detail, is willing to learn, and is interested in gaining hands-on laboratory research experience.

• Mentor: Md Iftekhar Islam
• Location: UC College of Medicine
• Time Commitment: 10 hours/week
• Lab website: https://med.uc.edu/depart/intmed/divisions/cardio/research-activity/kevin-haworth/home

Project Description: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition where blood clots form in the deep veins of the body, usually in the legs, blocking normal blood flow. It often affects people with sedentary lifestyles, long periods of immobility, or certain medical conditions, and can lead to serious complications if untreated, such as amputation. Our lab is working on a new medical technology called histotripsy, which uses focused ultrasound waves to break up harmful blood clots in the body without invasive surgery. The idea is similar to using sound as a super-precise jackhammer, shattering clots into tiny pieces so the body can naturally clear them. One challenge is that as ultrasound travels through tissue, it loses its precise focusing because different tissue layers (such as fat, skin and connective tissue) cause the waves to arrive at the clot target at different times. As a result, maintaining precise focusing of the ultrasound waves can be difficult. While many methods have been proposed to correct this, few have been rigorously tested or compared for their effectiveness in real-world scenarios.

In the first stage of this research, which will be the focus of this RaMP project this spring, we will develop computer-based simulations to model real-world conditions and test the efficiency of different ultrasound focusing algorithms. In later stages of the project (beyond this spring), phantom experiments with heterogeneous tissue layers will be performed to evaluate and further improve the computational models. Ultimately, these findings will be integrated into the development of histotripsy therapy, where blood clots in pigs will be treated.

As a student researcher, you will be working on computational models to better understand ultrasound propagation in soft tissue and improve the treatment process. You will work with our team involving researchers from renowned institutions including Virginia Tech and the University of Michigan. It will be a great opportunity to get hands-on experience on ultrasound technology, computational modeling, and problem-solving in biomedical engineering.

• Mentor: Abdullah Bdaiwi
• Location: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center 
• Time Commitment: 10 hours/week
• Lab website: https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/research/divisions/c/cpir

Project Description: Hyperpolarized 129Xe magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an emerging imaging technique that allows researchers to see how inhaled gas moves through the lungs and transfers from the airspaces into lung tissue and blood. These measurements can provide information about lung function that is not available from conventional imaging or standard breathing tests. However, before these measurements can be used to identify abnormal lung function, we first need to understand what values are expected in healthy individuals.

This project will use 129Xe MRI data collected from healthy children and adults at the Center for Pulmonary Imaging Research (CPIR) at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center to establish normal reference ranges and limits of normal for gas-exchange MRI measurements. We will investigate how these measurements change with age and sex and determine the ranges expected in healthy individuals.

The undergraduate student will work closely with our research team to organize and quality-check imaging data, perform statistical analyses, and create figures showing how gas-exchange measurements vary across age and between males and females. The student will gain hands-on experience with medical imaging, data analysis, statistics, and scientific research while contributing to the development of reference values that may ultimately help identify abnormal lung function in patients. 

Students with experience or interest in MATLAB programming are preferred, although prior coding experience is not required. Training in the necessary imaging, data analysis, and statistical methods will be provided. The results of this project are expected to contribute to a peer-reviewed scientific publication, providing the student with an opportunity to participate in manuscript preparation and authorship as appropriate based on their contributions.

• Mentor: Ms. Hannah Frame
• Location: UC College of Medicine 
• Time Commitment: 8-10 hours/week
• Lab website: https://sites.google.com/view/yevgen-nazarenko/publications

Project Description: Adequate performance of safety-related tasks, free of error, is critical in the aviation industry. Despite the variety of physical, chemical, and biological hazards that jeopardize the health and safety of aviation workers, controls are well-established. Still, up to 75% of accidents and incidents are attributable to human factors and errors. This creates a pressing need to explore additional factors that can influence occupational performance and worker health and safety outcomes. Occupational health and safety motivation has emerged as a pillar in the industrial hygiene industry aimed at investigating why workers are motivated to behave safely. It has not been articulated what types of motivation or how motivation causes workers to behave safely. Cognitive control has been suggested as a potential mediator between motivation and task performance. How cognitive control (i.e., one’s ability to inhibit voluntary reactions and respond according to known policies and procedures) is related to both motivation and task performance has not been determined.

This study will examine the impact of occupational health and safety motivation on the frequency and type of errors committed in simulated task performances. We will ask participants to self-report their motivation using validated survey metrics. Then, participants will undergo a series of lab tests to measure cognitive control. Over the following six months, participants will self-report errors that occur in the workplace. The student researcher in our lab will work closely with the PhD Candidate overseeing this research effort and will be trained on collecting participant data in the lab and following up with participants to ensure workplace errors are being self-reported. Students will have direct interaction with study participants. Depending on the student's interest, they may also work with data analysis. 

• Mentor: Professor Sunghye Cho
• Location: UC College of Allied Health Sciences (CAHS)
• Time Commitment: 8-10 hours/week
• Lab website: https://clinicallinguistics.notion.site/

Project Description: The Clinical Linguistics and Health Outcomes (CHO) Lab investigates how speech, language, and verbal/nonverbal social communication reflect human cognition, social interaction, and mental health conditions. Our mission is to advance the understanding of speech and social communication across the lifespan and to develop objective, scalable tools that improve the assessment, diagnosis, and monitoring of neurological (Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, Parkinson's Disease), psychiatric (Schizophrenia, depression, anxiety), and developmental conditions (Autism, ADHD).

Our research combines speech science, psychology, and cognitive science with state-of-the-art methods in artificial intelligence, natural language processing, machine learning, and multimodal speech and video analysis. By integrating computational approaches with clinical knowledge, we aim to identify speech and language biomarkers that can facilitate earlier diagnosis, monitor disease progression, evaluate treatment response, and ultimately improve health outcomes.

We are looking for enthusiastic students who are interested in speech, language, artificial intelligence, and digital health research. Students in our lab gain hands-on experience working with speech and language data, machine learning, natural language processing, and multimodal AI while addressing important clinical questions related to communication in clinical populations.

Students from all majors are welcome. We particularly welcome students with interests in communication sciences and disorders, linguistics, psychology, neuroscience, computer science, artificial intelligence, and data science. Prior research experience is not required. We value curiosity, initiative, and a passion for learning.

• Mentor: Dr. Yoonjee Park
• Location: UC College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS)
• Time Commitment: 10-15 hours/week
• Lab website: https://parkye.wixsite.com/ucyoonjeepark

Project Description: Many diseases require patients to receive medications repeatedly because drugs are cleared from the body over time. Our laboratory develops implantable drug-delivery systems that can provide medicines locally for extended periods. In this project, we will explore a new idea: instead of filling an implant with a limited amount of drug, can we place living cells inside an implant and allow the cells to continuously produce therapeutic molecules?

The goal of this undergraduate project is to develop and evaluate a cell-containing implant that functions as a miniature “living drug factory.” Living cells will be encapsulated within a biomaterial-based device that allows nutrients and oxygen to enter while permitting proteins or other molecules produced by the cells to diffuse into the surrounding environment. Importantly, the cells themselves are intended to remain inside the device.

Students will learn fundamental techniques in biomaterials, cell culture, drug delivery, and biomedical engineering. Experiments may include fabrication of cell-containing implants, mammalian cell culture, fluorescence microscopy, live/dead cell staining, and measurement of molecules released from the implant. Students will investigate how implant properties affect cell survival and the transport of cell-produced molecules.

• Mentor: Professor Dao Pan
• Location: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center 
• Time Commitment: 12-15 hours/week
• Lab website: https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/bio/p/dao-pan

Project Description: Cell and gene therapies are emerging as transformative approaches for treating neurological lysosomal storage diseases (nLSDs) and other neurodegenerative disorders, conditions that often result from genetic defects leading to the accumulation of toxic substances in cells and progressive damage to the nervous system. Unlike traditional treatments that primarily manage symptoms, cell and gene therapies aim to address the underlying causes of disease by delivering functional genes, replacing defective cells, or modifying cellular pathways to restore normal function. These innovative strategies have shown promising results in both laboratory studies and clinical trials, offering new hope for patients with previously untreatable disorders. Our research focuses on developing and improving these advanced therapies, while also investigating the biological mechanisms that drive CNS manifestations, by in vitro investigation using immortal cell lines or isolated primary cells, as well as preclinical studies using various diseased animal models.

We are looking for responsible and dedicated students who are interested in long-term research in the lab (year-round), with the opportunity of contributing to publication (being acknowledged or as co-author). The student will gain hands-on experience to be involved in animal handling, genotyping and behavioral assessment studies and to learn state-of-art techniques in virology, pathology, primary cell isolation/manipulation, and molecular cloning. We will welcome dependable students with curious mind to join our research efforts.

• Mentor: Ms. Lindsey Siegfried
• Location: UC College of Pharmacy 
• Time Commitment: 10 hours/week

Project Description: Humans, unlike other animals, do not regenerate hair follicles after wounding. Engineered skin substitutes are useful in the healing of large burns and wounds where skin grafts are not an option, but engineered skin substitutes currently lack hair follicles, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, and melanin, leading to lasting physical and psychological quality of life impairments for individuals who receive engineered grafts. Hair follicles comprise subspecialized niches of skin cells called fibroblasts and keratinocytes. The fibroblasts at the base of each hair follicle (dermal papilla fibroblasts) are challenging to isolate and do not retain their hair inductivity after culturing outside their native microenvironment, causing significant limitations in bioengineering efforts to recreate hair follicles ex vivo. Our lab is currently working to improve the hair inductivity of dermal papilla fibroblasts and normal dermal fibroblasts by using genetic tools like CRISPR. We developed an organoid model to generate primitive follicular structures in an engineered skin substitute and are applying genetic, pharmaceutical, and other tools to improve this model. The translational application of this platform is for patients who have suffered large surface area burns and wounds, to improve their long-term healing and skin function.

• Mentor: Qingnian Goh
• Location: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center 
• Time Commitment: 8-10 hours across 2-3 days/week
• Website: https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/research/divisions/o/orthopaedics/labs/cornwall

Project Description: Birth injuries to the brachial plexus are a common cause of childhood neuromuscular disorders. They lead to permanent contractures in affected muscles, which limit functional use of the injured limbs and eventually result in skeletal deformity. Our lab utilizes both mouse models and cell cultures to 1) investigate the pathogenesis of contracture formation, 2) identify novel targets for contracture therapy, and 3) decipher the molecular mechanisms regulating muscle length.

Our lab takes a holistic approach in your development as a future professional in the biomedical sciences. We offer you a unique opportunity to work with and learn from both scientists and clinicians. You can expect a strong commitment from us in our mentoring relationship, which we hope will extend beyond this program. For your part, you will be challenged to think critically, be engaged and proactive in learning, and develop your research communication skills.

We will consider RaMP extensions for the fall and Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) applications for the summer.

• Mentor: Professor Loren Wold 
• Location: UC College of Medicine  
• Time Commitment: 10-15 hours/week
• Lab website: https://thewoldlab.com

Project Description: A significant contribution to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is exposure to environmental factors. The Wold Lab in the Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neurobiology is investigating how the environment contributes to CVD. Unlike genetic factors, our exposure to harmful factors such as air pollution and e-cigarettes, and to helpful factors such as exercise, can be a choice. With funding from the National Institutes of Health, American Heart Association, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense and multiple private foundations, the Lab’s work is critically relevant to public health. Current work in the laboratory is focused on the following:

(1) E-cigarettes have surged in popularity over the last few years, particularly among the youth. Although the use of combustible cigarettes is associated with several adverse health effects including multiple pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, the effects of e-cigarettes on both short- and long-term health have only begun to be investigated. Dr. Wold’s work is on the leading edge of this research, with major findings indicating cardiac dysfunction when e-cigarettes are given to juvenile mice, with persistent CVD into adulthood. In addition, the FDA has used results from Dr. Wold’s work to ban the use of flavorings in e-cigarette products.

(2) During US military conflicts, especially those in Iraq and Afghanistan, burn pits were utilized to dispose of many types of waste. This led to unfortunate health outcomes that are being recognized in Veterans of these conflicts. Dr. Wold has developed a mouse model wherein animals are exposed to particulate matter (PM, the main component of air pollution) at concentrations relevant to the enlisted population, coupled with psychological stress. The laboratory has discovered long-lasting problems including incipient CVD and pulmonary dysfunction and is currently investigating the mechanisms responsible for these effects. This work is critical to determining how this aging population can be treated appropriately. The data point to possible development of pulmonary hypertension (PH), and may explain the link between PM exposure and detrimental cardiac effects.

(3) There is a clear involvement of the heart in Alzheimer disease (AD) progression. For decades, researchers have noticed a link between various cardiovascular abnormalities and AD - such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, and vasculopathy. However, new evidence of a possible systemic or metastatic profile to AD calls for further analysis of this connection. Dr. Wold is investigating this problem utilizing a mouse model of AD, and how environmental factors can influence the development of cardiovascular disease and AD development through shared pathways.

• Mentor: Dr. Debora Sinner
• Location: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center 
• Time Commitment: 10 hours/week (ideally two consecutive sessions) 
• Lab website: https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/research/divisions/p/pulmonary-bio/labs/sinner 

Project Description: Our lab studies how the respiratory system develops during embryonic development, focusing on how genes shape the lungs and airways. We are investigating two genes, Arid1a and Arid1b, which are part of the BAF chromatin-remodeling complex, a group of proteins that helps control when genes are turned on or off. Our recent work shows that these genes are important not only in the epithelial cells that line the airways but also in the surrounding mesenchymal cells that provide signals and structural support during lung development. When Arid1a and Arid1b are removed from the lung mesenchyme in mouse embryos, the lungs are smaller than normal, airway branching is disrupted, tracheal cartilage does not form properly, and epithelial cell differentiation is altered. These findings suggest that mesenchymal Arid1a and Arid1b help coordinate tissue communication needed to build a functional airway system.

Undergraduate students who join the lab will learn how developmental biologists connect gene function to organ formation using mouse models, tissue analysis, molecular biology, cell and tissue culture, organoid approaches, live imaging, and microscopy. Students can contribute meaningfully by preparing and imaging samples, analyzing tissue structure and gene-expression patterns, maintaining organized data records, and participating in lab discussions about experimental results. Through these projects, students will gain hands-on research experience, learn how basic developmental biology can help explain respiratory birth defects such as pulmonary hypoplasia and tracheomalacia, and join a collaborative effort to understand how complex organs form.

• Mentor: Associate Professor Stacey Huppert 
• Location: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center 
• Time Commitment: 8-12 hours/week (flexible) 
• Website: https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/research/divisions/g/gastroenterology/labs/huppert

Project Description: Intrahepatic bile duct (IHBD) insufficiency is a leading cause of liver disease in children, with no available curative treatment other than liver transplantation. One genetic induced syndromic form of IHBD insufficiency is Alagille syndrome (ALGS), a multisystem developmental disorder caused by autosomal dominant mutations in JAG1 (95%) or NOTCH2 (1-2%), which encode key components of the Notch signaling pathway.

As IHBD insufficiency leads to bile accumulation in the liver, causing chronic cholestasis, current treatments have focused on managing bile acids but do not address rebuilding IHBD architecture. Hepatocytes can acquire features of cholangiocytes (i.e., bile duct epithelial cells) by undergoing metaplasia to form reactive ductules in both humans and animals with cholestatic liver injury or following exposure to a variety of toxins. However, a knowledge gap and challenge exist for stable and efficient achievement of the full cholangiocyte differentiation program and complete repression of the hepatocyte program that can lead to hybrid or dysfunctional cell states.

Because hepatocytes present a promising therapeutic reservoir for IHBD reconstruction, the goal of this project is to understand the mechanisms regulating hepatocyte-to-cholangiocyte reprogramming to ensure a process that is precise, reproducible and effective. This research promises to expand our understanding and the molecular underpinnings of reprogramming to optimize future cell/gene therapies with the promise to improve therapies for IHBD-related diseases like ALGS.

Dependent on the RaMP student’s interest, they will learn hands on training in cutting-edge techniques, including 1) use of experimental mouse models for lineage-tracing and genetic manipulation, 2) generation of mouse and human single nuclear RNA expression and chromatin accessibility, as well as chromatin immunoprecipitation data, and 3) tissue clearing, immunostaining, microscopy, three-dimensional imaging, and quantitative analyses.

• Mentor: Mr. Carter Branigan 
• Location: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center 
• Time Commitment: 8-15 hours/week

Project Description: Immunometabolism broadly refers to the interplay between the immune system and metabolic processes. We are interested in understanding how the immune system responds to abnormal metabolic signaling in the liver, partially mimicking the shift away from liver homeostasis often seen in metabolic diseases like obesity. Our goal is to better understand how abnormal liver metabolism influences infectious disease pathology, particularly Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections. Our current projects are focused on how liver-derived extracellular vesicles (LsEVs) facilitate communication between tissues and influence systemic inflammation. We hypothesize that LsEVs are key inflammatory mediators whose properties change with the host metabolic state.

We’re looking for an enthusiastic undergraduate student who is eager to learn. As a student in our lab, you’ll get hands-on experience running experiments and learning foundational cellular and molecular laboratory techniques. Students are also encouraged to actively participate in weekly lab meetings and scientific discussions. Mentorship in our lab is team-based. We welcome students who are curious, motivated, and interested in being part of our research team! We are particularly open to students who are interested in pursuing long-term research experience in the lab.

• Mentor: Dr. Yoshi Odaka 
• Location: UC Blue Ash College 
• Time Commitment: 8-12 hours/week across 2-3 days 
• Lab website: https://researchdirectory.uc.edu/p/odakayu

Project Description: Our lab has been studying the biology of two nonpathogenic amoebae that are related to the brain-eating amoeba (Naegleria) and the eye-infecting amoeba (Acanthamoeba), which can cause corneal infections and blindness. Recently, our students and I isolated numerous so-called amoeba-infecting giant viruses for the first time in North America. These viruses are not pathogenic to humans but are highly effective at killing amoebae, which opens the possibility of their future therapeutic use.

Students in the lab use a broad range of biotechnologies, including, but not limited to, whole-genome sequencing of viruses using Oxford Nanopore sequencing and related bioinformatics, RNA sequencing, fluorescence microscopy, a multimode plate reader (absorbance, fluorescence, and luminescence), quantitative PCR (QuantStudio 5), Western blotting and the ChemiDoc system, transmission electron microscopy, and aseptic amoeba culturing and handling of biosafety level 2 giant viruses to investigate interactions between viruses and their host amoebae.

Please consider our lab is in Blue Ash, so the selected student needs to be able to commute to our location. 

• Mentor: Dr. Waseem Nasr
• Location: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center  
• Time Commitment: 8-10 hours/week (ideally in two sessions, 4-5 hours each)  
• Lab website: https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/research/divisions/e/ex-hem/labs/filippi/team 

Project Description: Bone marrow failure syndromes are serious disorders in which the bone marrow cannot make enough healthy blood cells. These conditions can lead to anemia, infections, bleeding problems, and in some cases progression to leukemia. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which reside in the bone marrow, are responsible for producing all blood and immune cells throughout life. Recent research suggests that chronic inflammation and changes in cellular metabolism can disrupt HSC function, leading to stem cell exhaustion and impaired blood production. However, the molecular mechanisms connecting inflammation, metabolism, and HSC dysfunction remain poorly understood.

Our laboratory aims to uncover how inflammatory signals alter metabolic pathways in hematopoietic stem cells and contribute to bone marrow failure. By studying these interactions, we hope to identify new therapeutic targets that can preserve stem cell function and improve outcomes for patients with bone marrow disorders. We are looking for a motivated undergraduate student who is curious about biomedical research and eager to learn new laboratory skills. The student will gain hands-on experience in a variety of experimental techniques, which may include cell culture, flow cytometry, Bone marrow and peripheral mobilized HSC. mouse and patients' cells handling & microscopy. The student will assist in assessing ongoing transplantation experiments using flow cytometry to study HSC function. Students will also have opportunities to learn data analysis and bioinformatics methods used to study gene expression and cellular pathways. We have an established mouse models and patients' samples to address the study questions. We welcome students interested in a long-term research experience and are a SURF-participating laboratory committed to mentoring undergraduate researchers.

• Mentor: Cierrra Carafice 
• Location: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center 
• Time Commitment: 10-15 hours/week
• Website: https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/research/divisions/i/immunobiology/labs/pasare 

Project Description: The innate immune system is the body's first line of defense against infections and also plays a crucial role in shaping adaptive immune responses. Our lab focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate innate immune activation, inflammation, and the crosstalk between innate and adaptive immunity. We aim to identify and study novel proteins and signaling pathways to uncover mechanisms that influence protective immunity, inflammatory disorders, and cancer.

This project focuses on understanding how dendritic cell intracellular signaling pathways regulate homeostasis. Dendritic cells bridge the innate and adaptive immune systems and mediate immune responses by sensing pathogens and instructing T cell responses. Despite their important role in immune regulation, we do not fully understand the molecular mechanisms by which dendritic cells contribute to homeostasis. Using molecular, cellular and biochemical approaches, we aim to identify novel mechanisms that promote homeostatic function of Dendritic cells and understand how that prevents dysregulated inflammation.

We are seeking motivated undergraduate students who are curious about immunology and the molecular mechanisms that influence health and disease. Students will receive hands-on training in experimental design and modern research techniques, including cell culture, Western blotting, RT-qPCR, and flow cytometry. In addition, students will develop skills in scientific data analysis, critical thinking, and communication.

We encourage students to actively participate in weekly research presentations, journal discussions, and brainstorming sessions. We value students who are self-motivated, collaborative, and enthusiastic about scientific discovery.

We are open to bringing on a student who is interested in long-term research with us and are committed to supporting their scientific and professional development. Our laboratory participates in the SURF program, providing opportunities for continued research involvement and mentorship.

• Mentor: Jiaxiang Wang 
• Location: UC College of Medicine 
• Time Commitment: 8-10 hours/week

Project Description: Migraine is a common neurological disorder that causes severe headaches and other symptoms, but the biological mechanisms that drive migraine pain are still not fully understood. Our project focuses on satellite glial cells (SGCs), a type of support cell that surrounds sensory neurons in the dorsal root and trigeminal ganglia. Although SGCs help maintain a healthy environment for neurons, growing evidence suggests that changes in these cells may also contribute to chronic pain and migraine.

The goal of this project is to investigate how SGCs change during migraine. The student researcher will assist with experiments using mouse models of migraine and will gain experience with techniques such as tissue collection and processing, immunohistochemistry, RNAscope, fluorescence microscopy, and image analysis. Depending on project progress and the student’s interests, there may also be opportunities to learn behavioral testing and basic molecular biology techniques.

It would be ideal for the student to have one full day available during the week to allow enough time for experiments and training. Some background in biology or neuroscience is preferred. Most importantly, the student should be interested in learning about neuroscience, pain, and migraine research and be willing to learn new laboratory techniques.

• Mentor: Dr. Shubham Garg 
• Location: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center 
• Time Commitment: 10 hours/week
• Lab website: https://www.scienceoflightcenter.org/diego-fernandez-lab 

Project Description: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and is characterized by the progressive accumulation of amyloid plaques, neuroinflammation, synaptic dysfunction, and cognitive decline. Although recently developed treatments may modestly slow disease progression in some patients, they do not cure AD or restore lost brain function. A major challenge is identifying early, modifiable biological changes that occur before irreversible brain damage develops.

Circadian rhythms regulate daily cycles of sleep, activity, metabolism, inflammation, and gene expression. Disruption of these rhythms is among the earliest abnormalities observed in individuals at risk for AD, but it remains unclear whether circadian dysfunction is simply a consequence of the disease or actively contributes to its development. Our laboratory investigates whether disruption of the molecular circadian clock within the limbic centers accelerates amyloid accumulation, neuroinflammation, synaptic loss, and cognitive impairment. We use complementary APP23 and 5xFAD mouse models of AD together with an inducible genetic system that allows us to disrupt the core circadian gene Per2 in specific brain regions and at defined ages. This approach enables us to determine how early circadian dysfunction influences the onset and progression of AD pathology.

We are seeking a motivated undergraduate student who is curious about neuroscience, circadian biology, and neurodegenerative disease. The student will receive hands-on training in circadian activity-data analysis, mammalian cell culture, mouse genotyping, brain tissue collection and sectioning, immunohistochemistry, image analysis, and basic molecular techniques such as RT-qPCR. Depending on the student’s interests and progress, opportunities may also be available to assist with behavioral experiments and circadian activity-data analysis. Students will participate in weekly laboratory meetings, discuss scientific literature, present their findings, and learn how research questions are translated into carefully designed experiments. We welcome students interested in developing a long-term research experience in our laboratory.

• Mentor: Vinicios Alves da Silva 
• Location: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center 
• Time Commitment: 12-14 hours/week 
• Website: https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/research/divisions/g/gastroenterology/labs/moore 

Project Description: Did you know that the intestine grows and remodels dramatically during pregnancy? To supply nutrients and energy for both mother and baby, the gut transforms so dramatically that it rivals a sedentary person training for an ultramarathon. When these adaptations do not occur properly, serious health problems can arise for both parent and child. Yet despite how critical and remarkable this process is, scientists still know very little about how the gut accomplishes this remarkable transformation. Our lab is working to uncover some of the biological mechanisms that drive these changes. By studying how intestinal cells and tissues respond during pregnancy, we hope to better understand how the body supports a healthy pregnancy and identify new ways to improve maternal and infant health.

We are seeking a curious, motivated undergrad who is excited about hands-on discovery and eager to learn. This project offers hands-on experience with cutting-edge research techniques, including cell and tissue culture, molecular biology, and cellular assays. You will also learn how to grow miniature human intestines in the lab using stem cell technology and work with 3D intestinal organoids and enteroids, powerful models used to study human biology and disease. In addition, you will gain experience in microscopy, image analysis, and data interpretation.

No prior research experience is required. We will provide training and mentorship every step of the way.

As an official SURF lab, we welcome students seeking a meaningful, long-term research experience. If you are excited by discovery, eager to learn new skills, and interested in biomedical science, we would love to have you join our team!

• Mentor: Mrs. Heather Carles 
• Location: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center 
• Time Commitment: 8-10 hours/week (morning hours available) 

Project Description: Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) affects 2 million people worldwide and is caused by variants in the TSC1 and TSC2 genes, leading to altered cell signal transduction and hyperactivation of the (mTOR) pathway. Epilepsy is the most common neurological manifestation (~90%) with early onset (90% by 12mo) and a high source of morbidity (Salussolia et al., 2019). TSC1/2 mutations are spread across the entire protein coding sequence of the two genes, with TSC2 mutations usually presenting a more severe disease phenotype than TSC1 mutations (Martin et al., 2017). Specific TSC2 mutations within certain gene regions have been linked to varying epilepsy phenotypes, but overall genotype-phenotype relationships are unclear (Eeghen et al., 2016). This project will investigate the effect of a specific TSC2 mutation found in patients (hTSC2XY) that leads to a truncated TSC2 protein. The student will participate in maintenance and differentiation of primary neuronal cultures and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) cultures. In addition, the student will be conducting qPCR experiments, including RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis, gene expression analysis and interpretation along with immunohistochemistry followed by microscope imaging and analyzing/quantifying imaging data to evaluate soma size and intensity to assess the effects of the TSC2 mutation on cell signaling and brain morphology.

The Gross lab is looking for a motivated student interested in participating in hypothesis-driven neuroscience research with the goal to understand disease mechanisms of neurological disorders. The student will have the opportunity to learn different skills related to cell and molecular techniques, as well as building their background on reviewing scientific journals and presentation skills.

• Mentor: Dr. Orlando Hoilett 
• Location: UC College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) 
• Time Commitment: 15 hours/week
• Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2024.1378008/full 

Project Description: Over 80% of deaths due to premature birth occur in low- and middle-income countries, due to a lack of access to incubators that are critical for managing hypothermia. Kangaroo mother care (KMC) is a proven intervention for combating neonatal hypothermia and involves skin-to-skin contact between the caregiver and the newborn. However, KMC places high demand on caregivers and leaves newborns with no protection when caregivers require a break to care for themselves.

Our patented device, NeoWarm, is a disinfection wipe-friendly infant carrier that serves the need for thermal management and vital signs monitoring of premature infants during and between KMC. NeoWarm has integrated fabric heating pads and also includes sensors for heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen, and temperature to monitor the infant’s key vital signs to detect signs of hypothermia. Given the strength of our benchtop and preclinical studies, our present study aims to validate NeoWarm in a clinical setting with human babies. To accomplish these goals, we have the following aims:

Aim 1 (Electronic Circuit Design / Option #1): Develop the second-generation NeoWarm with integrated sensors for heart rate, respiration, blood oxygen, and temperature. The student will develop a professional-grade printed circuit board as well as firmware that will simultaneously track each physiological signal of interest and wirelessly send the data to a smartphone.

Aim 2 (Microbiology / Option #2): Neonatal care settings pose a heightened risk of neonatal sepsis due to the vulnerable population of preterm infants with underdeveloped immune systems. Indicator organisms, such as Escherichia coli, are noteworthy in neonatal sepsis due to their association with contamination and poor infection control practices in healthcare settings. To further ensure the safety of the NeoWarm prior to clinical trials, a comprehensive microbial risk assessment is imperative.

The interested student can work on Aim 1, 2, or both.

• Mentor: Dr. Yang Yu
• Location: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center 
• Time Commitment: 8-10 hours/week

Project Description: Meiosis is a specialized cell division that generates genetically unique gametes fundamental to sexual reproduction and evolution. Studies of meiosis have relied on immunostaining of meiotic markers, providing only static snapshots of this highly dynamic process. Here, we report the generation of a novel meiotic reporter mouse line by tagging the N terminus of the most wildly used meiotic marker Sycp3 with mStayGold encoded by a GC-optimized DNA sequence. We demonstrate that the reporter faithfully recapitulates Sycp3 expression and chromosome loading throughout meiotic prophase I, enabling visualization of chromosome dynamics at super-resolution for the first time. We also found that Sycp3 loading is highly dynamic, differing between autosomes and sex chromosomes. Ongoing studies compare chromosome dynamics between WT and sex-reversal mutants. This reporter line provides a platform for the live imaging of meiosis and is expected to substantially advance our understanding of meiotic chromosome dynamics.​

• Mentor: Dr. Karthick Chella-Krishnan
• Location: UC College of Medicine 
• Time Commitment: 12 hours/week
• Lab website: https://med.uc.edu/depart/ppn/research/faculty-research-labs/klab/home 

Project Description: Cholesterol is an essential molecule that the body needs to build cells and produce important hormones, but too much cholesterol in the blood can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. The liver plays a major role in controlling cholesterol levels by making and processing cholesterol. Our lab has found that liver pyruvate kinase (PKLR), a protein traditionally known for helping cells use glucose for energy, may have another important function. Our preliminary data made us believe that, under certain conditions, PKLR can move from the cytoplasm into the nucleus, where it may influence the activity of genes involved in cholesterol production. However, we do not yet understand how nuclear PKLR regulates cholesterol biosynthesis.

The goal of this project is to determine if and how the movement of PKLR into the nucleus affects cholesterol production in liver cells. The student will investigate changes in cholesterol-related genes and proteins when PKLR localization is altered. Depending on the progress of the project, experiments may include cell culture, RNA and protein analysis, RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and fluorescence microscopy.

We are looking for a highly motivated undergraduate student who is curious about science, eager to learn, and interested in understanding how basic cellular processes contribute to cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. The student will receive hands-on training in experimental design, molecular biology, data analysis, and scientific communication and will participate in our weekly lab meetings and presentations.

We are open to students who are interested in long-term research in our laboratory. Dr. Chella-Krishnan will be the primary scientific mentor and others in the lab (graduate students and postdocs) may accompany as technical mentors.

• Mentor: Quentin Phillips 
• Location: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center 
• Time Commitment: 8-10 hours/week
• Lab website: https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/research/divisions/d/dev-biology/labs/zorn/team 

Project Description: My project aims to understand how cells communicate with one another to generate more diverse and complex cell and tissue types. I am particularly interested in how this is managed at the DNA level. Crosstalk between my cells of interest result in a tissue pattering event which is part of a process known as tracheaesophageal development. Here, one tube consisting of the same cell type receives signals from surrounding tissues which patterns the tube into a primitive trachea or esophagus domain. This thin tube of patterned cells then gives rise to the separate trachea and esophagus through a process call septation and separation. I study multiple levels of how the primitive trachea and esophagus cells adopt their their identity based on the concentration of the signals being received at the DNA level and what occurs when this process is goes wrong.

Primarily, I will need help with sample processing and performing experiments. This includes RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence, and western blot sample prep. We will also work together to analyze results and build figures to represent our data. All experience levels welcome to apply. 

• Mentor: Cora Bissman
• Location: UC College of Medicine
• Time Commitment: 8-10 hours/week

Project Description: Spontaneous pain (SP) is a type of chronic pain characterized by non-evoked burning, shooting, or electric-shock like sensations. Most patients with neuropathic pain (NeuP) report SP as their main symptom, however most preclinical research focuses on evoked pain. Additionally, NeuP is most predominant in postmenopausal patients, indicating interaction between pathological mechanisms and the declining ovarian hormones. My project aims to figure out how the loss of ovarian hormones seen in menopause could be contributing to the development and worsening of spontaneous neuropathic pain.

First, I perform ovariectomy (OVX) as a mouse model of menopause, 2, 4, and 10 weeks prior to spared-nerve injury, our mouse model of NeuP. I then examined their SP and found that mice that underwent OVX 2 weeks prior to SNI showed an increase in SP, while 4 and 10 week mice did not. These results suggest that hormonal loss via OVX worsens SP, but is dependent on the how long ovarian hormones have been depleted. Currently, I am working to further characterize both molecular and physiological changes, including angiogenesis, vasoconstriction/dilation, hormone receptors, cell death, and immune cells.

As a student in the lab you will get hands-on experience with a variety of techniques like qPCR, IHC, and ELISAs, as well as various mouse behavioral tests. You will also be exposed to the ins and outs of experimental design, science communication and writing, and how to work with other scientists. We also encourage you to participate in our weekly lab meetings! This is a great opportunity for collaboration and those interested in preclinical chronic pain research! 

• Mentor: Niko Nikolaidis
• Location: UC College of Medicine 
• Time Commitment: 8-15 hours/week

Project Description: Pancreatitis is a debilitating inflammatory disorder of the pancreas that occurs in both acute and chronic forms. Acute pancreatitis presents as a sudden onset, severe inflammation often triggered by gallstones or alcohol abuse, potentially escalating to systemic organ failure. Chronic pancreatitis involves progressive, irreversible structural damage and fibrotic scarring, causing a permanent loss of exocrine and endocrine functions. At the cellular level, recent investigations highlight the acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) pathway as a critical regulator of this pathology. ASMase hydrolyzes cell-membrane sphingomyelin to produce ceramide, a bioactive lipid that mediates cellular stress responses, pro-inflammatory cytokine release, and programmed cell death. Dysregulation of this pathway exacerbates acinar cell injury and sustains the persistent inflammatory cascade characteristic of pancreatic disease, making it a vital therapeutic target.

Understanding these molecular mechanisms offers an exceptional research opportunity for undergraduate students eager to bridge the gap between basic science and clinical application. Joining our laboratory will allow students to engage directly in the translational pipeline, helping transform cellular discoveries into potential patient therapies. Undergraduates gain hands-on experience with essential laboratory techniques and interact with basic, preclinical, and physician scientists. By investigating the ASMase pathway, undergraduates do not only learn about science; they will actively contribute to pioneering research that will shape future clinical treatments for pancreatitis.

• Mentor: Dr. Rana Herro
• Location: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center 
• Time Commitment: 10-15 hours/week
• Website: https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/research/divisions/i/immunobiology/labs/herro 

Project Description: We are looking for a highly motivated undergrad student who is eager to find cures and curious to learn about fibrosis. Fibrosis is an end stage disease and kills over 45% of populations whether directly or via progressing to cancer. We identified a novel role for TNF superfamily members in fibrosis and cancer in murine models. We want to validate these findings on patient-derived organoids, to further therapies to the clinic.

• Mentor: Ron Panganiban 
• Location: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center 
• Time Commitment: 10-15 hours/week
• Website: https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/research/divisions/a/asthma/labs/panganiban

Project Description: My laboratory investigates how cells die by pyroptosis, a highly inflammatory form of programmed cell death mediated by the gasdermin proteins and is implicated in various diseases, including allergic diseases and cancer. Our research is focused on the mechanisms of Gasdermin B-mediated pyroptosis. Using a genome-wide CRISPR screen, we have identified candidate regulators of Gasdermin B-mediated pyroptosis in airway epithelial cells. The student researcher will conduct follow-up studies on some of the candidate regulators (following discussion with the mentor on which regulators to prioritize). Experiments will include generation of knockout cell lines using CRISPR and biochemical assays to validate the effect of gene knockouts on Gasdermin B-mediated pyroptosis. The student will also learn fundamental molecular biology and cell biology tools such as qPCR, electrophoresis, western blot, microscopy, bacterial and mammalian cell culture.

No previous knowledge/experience is required for joining the lab. We are looking for curious, dedicated, and driven aspiring young scientists who have true passion for scientific discovery.

• Mentor: Megan MacIver
• Location: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center 
• Time Commitment: 8-10 hours/week

Project Description: Alterations in the interleukin-17A (IL-17A) pathway are associated with multiple neurological diseases, including neurodevelopmental disorders like autism spectrum disorder (ASD). One example of this is maternal immune activation (MIA), which occurs when a mother has a strong immune response during pregnancy. Preclinical studies in rodents have shown that IL-17A signaling is necessary for the behavioral deficits and cortical disorganization observed in MIA offspring. Therefore, the IL-17A pathway is a promising treatment target for MIA-associated ASD. Our lab is focusing on finding a novel therapeutic by using microRNAs to target the IL-17A pathway at critical timepoints during neurodevelopment in MIA mice.

We are looking for a motivated undergraduate student with an interest in neurodevelopmental disorders. A student in our lab will get hands-on experience with designing and running experiments, analyzing data, and participating in lab meetings as well as scientific discussions. The main techniques used for this project are cell culture, Western blot, RNA-seq, RT-qPCR, immunohistochemistry, and animal work.

We are open to bringing on a student who is interested in long-term research with us!

• Mentor: Ms. Rebecca Beres
• Location: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center 
• Time Commitment: 8-10 hours/week
• Website: https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/research/divisions/p/pathology/labs/zhao

Project Description: The stratum corneum (SC), the outermost layer of the skin, contains many lipids that play important roles in skin health. Our lab is developing methods to study these lipids using mass spectrometry.

We're looking for a highly motivated undergraduate student who is curious about science and excited to learn. Students will receive hands-on training in day-to-day wet-lab responsibilities, including preparing samples and reagents, pipetting, performing liquid-liquid extractions, and preparing samples for mass spectrometry. Students will also learn how to analyze data, troubleshoot experiments, and understand how laboratory techniques are used to answer scientific questions.

• Mentor: Dr. Lara Kanbar 
• Location: Remote
• Time Commitment: 10 hours/week

Project Description: Current possible solutions for school violence prevention are school-based threat assessments, preventive programs, and best practices. In inpatient settings, clinical professionals perform interviews with standardized questionnaires (BRACHA, SSS)to evaluate students, after which the interview is transcribed. It is labor-intensive and subjective for clinicians to identify risk factors and make timely judgments. Natural language processing is then used to identify key risk factors in the interview that could predict future aggression using machine learning.

We built a machine learning algorithm (ARIA) that takes transcribed interviews as input and produces a risk prediction label as output using natural language processing (NLP) of structured interview transcripts. Currently, the algorithm investigates all possible word phrases in an interview to arrive at the prediction.

The long-term goal of the research is to analyze participant interviews, detect students with elevated risk for aggressive acts, provide risk characteristics (e.g., impulsivity, negative thoughts), and suggest support for the preemptive prevention of these acts. There are multiple projects underway within this study.

The student will learn about large scale subject recruitment, data management, programming, data processing, natural language processing, and machine learning depending on their interest. The student will be provided a laptop and require Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) training upon starting the project.