This summer, more than 80 students and faculty kept campus abuzz with the hum of hands-on field and lab research.
The Seaver Summer Research Community’s work covered topics in biology, health and human sciences, mechanical engineering, computer science and more disciplines across the college.
With such a diversity of research projects to choose from, we spoke to some of the students about their unique summer experience. Today, we spotlight biology major Alisha Kumar ‘27, mentored by biology professor Michelle Lum.
Describe your research in a way that a high school student would understand it.
Bacteria have flagella that allow them to swim, and this ability to swim is important for bacterial interactions with plants. My project is interested in understanding the genetic mechanisms behind motility in plant growth promoting rhizobacteria since having functional motility mechanisms is vital allowing them to move towards and interact with plants by forming biofilms. The specific bacteria I am focusing on for my project is a type of PGPR bacteria, Paraburkholderia unamae, that is generally associated with facilitating the growth of corn. FlhDC is a transcriptional regulator protein complex that controls the production of flagella. FlhDC is subject to multiple levels of regulation, which allows careful regulation of flagellum biosynthesis. The Lum lab has identified an upstream LysR transcriptional regulator, which belongs to a family of transcriptional regulators known to affect gene expression, that affects flhDC expression. A P. unamae mutant was generated with a deletion of the LysR gene, which now needs to be analyzed. The objective of my project is to use this mutant to determine how the LysR gene impacts the regulation of flhDC protein, and affects the motility and biofilm mechanisms in P. unamae.
Why would someone outside your field be interested in your project?
Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) interact with the roots of plants and can facilitate plant nutrient intake, produce hormones, and can protect the plant from abiotic stress/harmful pathogens. My research focuses on a type of PGPR bacteria, Paraburkholderia unamae, that is generally associated with facilitating the growth of corn. Humans rely on these interactions to yield healthy food products that are then put on the shelves of grocery stores. Every salad, pizza, cake and any other processed food items consists of ingredients that derived from crops that grow on farms. Currently, soil globally has increased in salinity and has become more polluted, so agriculturalists and plant biologists need to work together to identify bacteria that promote plant growth, like P. unamae, and can be inoculated into crop to mitigate abiotic stress.
Why would someone outside your field be interested in your project?
Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) interact with the roots of plants and can facilitate plant nutrient intake, produce hormones, and can protect the plant from abiotic stress/harmful pathogens. My research focuses on a type of PGPR bacteria, Paraburkholderia unamae, that is generally associated with facilitating the growth of corn. Humans rely on these interactions to yield healthy food products that are then put on the shelves of grocery stores. Every salad, pizza, cake and any other processed food items consists of ingredients that derived from crops that grow on farms. Currently, soil globally has increased in salinity and has become more polluted, so agriculturalists and plant biologists need to work together to identify bacteria that promote plant growth, like P. unamae, and can be inoculated into crop to mitigate abiotic stress
What are some of the lessons students learn while working on research?
Working in a lab, you learn how to use proper aseptic technique to avoid contamination between any materials. Contamination can mess with your experiment and invalidate results. It is vital to maintain a clean and sterilized environment not only to yield accurate results but also for the safety of everyone else working in the lab.
How does doing research complement coursework?
My research expands upon a project I did in Bio 112, a lab course that all freshman biology students take.
What advice would you give to someone on the fence about doing research?
By joining research you get the opportunity to for a close relationship with your professor and also create a community with your lab group. For someone that is on the fence, I would advise them to explore their options and go for it! It is honestly so rewarding to know so much and be really knowledgeable on such a niche topic that many people aren’t familiar with.
