research – Drown Lab

Jul

July 10, 2017

Mobilizing Alaskan Genomics

The Drown Lab has been awarded a two year grant to engage undergraduate researchers using new genomic technology to explore the Alaska soil microbiome. We'll be traveling across the state and working with undergraduates using the latest Nanopore sequencing devices (MinIONs).

Apr

April 14, 2017

meeting, research, undergraduate

Antibiotic resistance in a permafrost thaw gradient

Maddie McCarthy has been working for the past year in the lab exploring the presence of antibiotic resistance in microbes found in environmental samples. This week she presented her work finding widespread antibiotic resistance in a Fairbanks permafrost thaw gradient.

She used a combination of techniques including traditional culturing methods and antibiotic screening as well as nanopore sequencing to explore the resistome. She has just started comparing her sequencing data with the Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance database.

Maddie's work was supported by Alaska BLaST who is funded by the National Institute Of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers UL1GM118991, TL4GM118992, or RL5GM118990.

Oct

October 6, 2016

research

Greenhouse Grandeur

There is growth in the greenhouse! Blueberries and cranberries germinated. Now we are testing three nutrient poor soil treatments. Brace yourselves, the greenhouse pilot study is ready for take off!

Sep

September 1, 2016

field, research

Permafrost Premonition

Given winter's rapid approach, the permafrost experimental plots are getting special attention. Preemptive vegetation surveying and soil core collections are propelling the Drown lab into a future greenhouse hibernation...and I am excited about it! Do you know what this means? Vegetation surveying, soil samples and an empty greenhouse? Sounds like a pilot study to me. Maybe come January, this smiling face will be found working alongside the IAB Research Greenhouse coordinator, Mark Wright.

Aug

August 25, 2016

field, research

Fairbanks Permafrost Experiment Station

This week I got to check out the US Army Corps of Engineers' research stomping grounds, also known as the Fairbanks Permafrost Experiment Station (FPES). Accompanied by my proficient permafrost guides, Jackson and Alex, I explored this unique study site. Together we drilled soil cores, slogged through the rain and battled prolific mosquitoes. Fun field days in Fairbanks!

Aug

August 23, 2016

field, research, update

Travel to Toolik (68° 38' N, 149° 36' W, AK)

On August 20th, Biology and Wildlife graduate students and researchers traveled to UAF's Toolik Field Station for an awakening taste of arctic atmosphere. Devin and I used this nine hour road trip north of Fairbanks for investigation...in the 68th degree.

Toolik provided an opportunity to use the MinION sequencing capabilities in the field and sample for microbes on the North Slope.

Soil sampling and DNA sequencing with the MinION was supplemented with an abundance of scarlet alpine bearberry (Arctostaphylos alpina) and characteristically Alaskan Arctic beauty.

Jun

June 8, 2016

research, undergraduate

A day at the Ancient DNA lab

Lauren, Maddie, and Pat have been working hard this summer doing DNA extractions from our permafrost tunnel soil cores. They took a moment during one of long incubation times to snap a few pictures from inside the bubble of the ancient DNA lab at the University of Alaska Museum of the North.

May

May 22, 2016

meeting, research, undergraduate

University of Alaska Biomedical Research Conference

Maddie, Anastasia, and Devin attended the 9th annual University of Alaska Biomedical Research Conference (UA-BRC). For the undergraduates, this was their first research conference and they presented their work using the MinION nanopore sequencer to explore genomics. As you can see below, they drew a crowd to their poster.
UA_BRC_2016

This two-day conference showcased biomedical and One Health related research from graduate students, undergraduate students, researchers, and faculty through-out Alaska in the form of oral presentations and poster sessions. There were two workshops about career issues relevant to undergraduate and graduate student training including internship opportunities, STEM student recruitment, networking, entrepreneurship/innovation, and employer expectations.
UA_BRC2016

Apr

April 26, 2016

meeting, research

URSA Research Day 2016

Undergraduate research activities at UAF cover a broad spectrum of disciplines, from climate science to life science, engineering to anthropology, and music to theater. This year, Jackson Drew presented his URSA sponsored independent research project on the Alaska Soil Microbiome. The MinION Hackathon crew also presented their work using nanopore sequencing technology.

Apr

April 22, 2016

award, research, undergraduate

Identification antibiotic resistance in the microbial communities of a Fairbanks permafrost gradient

Undergraduate researcher Maddie McCarthy was recently awarded a BLaST Undergraduate Research Experience. Maddie will have a completely funded summer of research ahead of her. She'll be digging into the soil microbial communities of the Fairbanks Permafrost Experimental Station.

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Category Archives: research