Undergraduate Research

Lindsay Culpepper

Department: Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture

Research: Amphibian Conservation

Graduate Mentor: David Chen

Period: May 2021 - Present

• Culpepper L, Chen D, Kouba A, and Vance CK. (2022). Hatch rate of Fowler’s toad (Anaxyrus fowleri) embryos as influenced by different culture media. Abstract accepted to the 48th IETS (International Embryo Technology Society) annual conference. Savannah, Georgia. January 10-13, 2022.

Trinity Kassuhn

Department: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology

Research: Amphibian Conservation

Graduate Mentor: David Chen

Period: February 2021 - Present

• Coming Soon!

Shaina Lampert

Department: Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture

Research: Amphibian Conservation

Graduate Mentor: Isabella Burger and Amanda Gillis

Period: January 2020 - December 2020

• Lampert S, Burger I, Kouba A, Vance CK. (2021). Growth and development comparison of offspring produced from different cryopreservation protocols. MSU Fall Graduate Research Symposium. Mississippi State University. October 2021.

Matt Harjes

Department: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology (Pre-Vet)

Research: Biophotonics

Graduate Mentor: Mariana Santos-Rivera

Period: August 2019 - April 2021

• Santos-Rivera M, Harjes M, Jamison H, Baird R, and Vance CK. (2020). Anastomosis groups of Rhizoctonia solani detection and discrimination using Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) and chemometrics. National Science Foundation, Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) event. August 3rd, 2020.
• Santos-Rivera M, Harjes M, Baird R, and Vance CK. (2021). Aquaphotomic profile of Near Infrared spectral signatures from four Anastomosis Groups of Rhizoctonia solani. The 4th International Aquaphotomics conference, Kobe, Japan, 20-22 March 2021.

Ellianna Blair

Department: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology (Pre-Vet)

Research: Biophotonics

Graduate Mentor: Mariana Santos-Rivera

Period: February 2019 - December 2019

• Blair E, Santos-Rivera M, Free A, Jefferson V, Meyer F, Thoresen M, Woolums A, and Vance CK. (2019). Profiling Mannheimia haemolytica Infection in Dairy Calves by Multivariate Analysis for Rapid Diagnosis of Bovine Respiratory Disease. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, ABRCMS. Anaheim, CA. November 13-16, 2019.
• Blair E, Santos-Rivera M, Free A, Jefferson V, Meyer F, Thoresen M, Woolums A, and Vance CK. (2019). Hematological and clinical evaluation of dairy cows with Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) caused by Mannheimia haemolytica. Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium (UGRS). July 2019.

Rachael Feeney

Department: Animal and Dairy Sciences (Pre-Vet)

Research: Biophotonics - Amphibian Conservation

Graduate Mentor: Allison Julien-Woods

Period: January 2018 - May 2019

• Feeney R, Julien A, Santos-Rivera M, Guy E, Kouba A, and Vance CK. (2019). Seasonal Comparisons of Behavioral and Chemical Responses of Male Desmognathus fuscus to Female Pheromones. MSU Annual Spring undergraduate research symposium. April 16th, 2019.
• Feeney R, Julien A, Santos-Rivera M, Kouba A, and Vance CK. (2019). Behavioral and Chemical Response of Male Desmognathus fuscus to Potential Female Pheromone Water. 2019 Annual SE PARC (Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation) Meeting. Black Mountain, NC. February 14th -17th, 2019.
• Feeney R, Julien A, Kouba A, and Vance CK. (2018). Responses of Reproductive and Non-reproductive Male Ambystoma tigrinum to Female Pheromones. Mississippi Academy of Sciences, Second Annual Summer Student Science Symposium. Mississippi State, MS. July 26, 2018.

Addison Hoven

Department: Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture

Research: Biophotonics - Amphibian Conservation

Graduate Mentor: Allison Julien-Woods

Period: January 2017 - May 2019

• Hoven A, Julien A, Gade M, and Vance CK. (2019). In situ use of Ultrasonography to validate sex in wild caudates. 2019 Annual SE PARC (Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation) Meeting. Black Mountain, NC. February 14th -17th, 2019.
• Hoven A, Julien A, Durfey C, Feugang J, and Vance CK. (2017). Effects of Magnetic Nanoparticles conjugated to Annexin-V on the purification and cold storage of Anaxyrus fowleri sperm. The 5th NanoBio Summit. Atmore, AL. November 9-10, 2017.
• Hoven A, Julien A, Vance CK, and Feugang J. (2017). The Effects of Nanoparticle-purification of amphibian sperm on cold- storage and in-vitro fertilization rates. Mississippi Academy of Sciences, First Annual Summer Student Science Symposium. Mississippi State, MS. July 2017.
• Hoven A, Julien A, and Vance CK. (2017). Physiological parameters as a potential indicator of reproductive status in Ambystoma tigrinum. MSU Annual Spring undergraduate research symposium. April 13, 2017.

Auriana Tucker

Department: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomolgy, and Plant Pathology

Research: Biophotonics - Amphibian Conservation

Graduate Mentor: Allison Julien-Woods

Period: May 2017 - August 2018

• Tucker A, Julien A, Feugang J, Kouba A, Willard S, Ryan P, and Vance CK. (2018). Quantum dot labeling of lithobates sevosus embryos using assisted reproductive technologies (ART). The 32nd Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences, MANRRS National Conference and Career. Greensboro, NC. April 4-7, 2018.
• Tucker A, Julien A, Kouba A, and Vance CK. (2017). Long term development and metamorphic parameters of an endangered anuran species produced by in-vitro fertilization. Mississippi Academy of Sciences, First Annual Summer Student Science Symposium. Mississippi State, MS. July 2017.
• Tucker A, Julien A, Park S, Feugang J, Kouba A, Willard S, Ryan P, and Vance CK. (2017). IAnalyzing the rate of quantom dot uptake for anaxyrus fowleri and lithobates sevosus. MSU Annual Spring undergraduate research symposium. April 13, 2017.
• Tucker A, Julien A, Park S, Feugang J, Kouba A, Willard S, Ryan P, and Vance CK. (2017). Determining if tadpole density is a factor in quantom dot uptake using in vivo imaging systems. The 32nd Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences, MANRRS National Conference and Career. Pittsburgh, PA. March 29 to April 1, 2017.

Norman Lewis

Department: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomolgy, and Plant Pathology

Research: Biophotonics - Amphibian Conservation

Graduate Mentor: Allison Julien-Woods

Period: January 2018 - December 2018

• Lewis N, Julien A, Kouba A, Feugang J, and Vance CK. (2018). Quantum Dot Nanoparticles: Linking Drug Delivery Modes to Target Tissue Specificity. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, ABRCMS. Indianapolis, IN. November 14-17, 2018.
• Lewis N, Julien A, Kouba A, Feugang J, and Vance CK. (2018). In-Vivo Quantum Dot hormone Tracking. New Mexico Academy of Science (NMAS) research symposium. Albuquerque, NM. October 27, 2018.

Lauren Agcanas

Department: Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture

Research: Biophotonics - Amphibian Conservation

Graduate Mentor: Kristen Counsell

Period: January 2017 - December 2017

• Agcanas L, Counsell K, Shappell N, Bowers S, Ryan P, Willards S, and Vance CK. (2017). 19 A novel approach to comparing reproductive stage serum profiles in mares using near-infrared spectroscopy and aquaphotomics. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 29 (1), 117-117. Download
• Agcanas L, Counsell K, Walt H, and Vance CK. (2017). Evaluating specific gravity and osmolality as alternative methods of normalization in giant panda urine. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, ABRCMS. Anaheim, CA. November 1-4, 2017.
• Agcanas L, Counsell K, Walt H, Kouba A, and Vance CK. (2017). Evaluating urine normalization methods in the giant panda and eastern tiger salamander urine. MSU Annual Spring undergraduate research symposium. April 13, 2017.
• Agcanas L, Counsell K, and Vance CK. (2017). Aquaphotomics: multivariate analysis of replicability in NIR spectra of biological fluids. The 32nd Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences, MANRRS National Conference and Career. Pittsburgh, PA. March 29 to April 1, 2017.

Hunter Walt

Department: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology

Research: Biophotonics - Amphibian Conservation

Graduate Mentor: Kristen Counsell

Period: January 2017 - December 2017

• Walt H, Counsell K, Agcanas L, and Vance CK. (2017). Comparative study of creatinine and specific gravity for the normalization of anuran urine. MSU Annual Spring undergraduate research symposium. April 13, 2017.