Zebrafish Feeding and Maintaining Transgenic Lines
The Karlstrom Lab investigates the formation and growth vertebrate brain using zebrafish, with a focus on the regulation of neural stem cells. We are looking for a work/study eligible student to help with the feeding and maintenance of the zebrafish facility through the winter break that could continue into the Spring semester and next summer. Feeding and maintenance require about 2 hours of work daily, and we are looking for someone who could take on several daily feedings over the holidays and through January, including some weekend feedings on a rotating basis. This position could grow into an entry-level independent study project in the Spring that could include genetic crossing, PCR-based genotyping, and using fluorescence microscopy to identify transgenic fish. The student will start by learning zebrafish husbandry and breeding techniques, then progress into learning the molecular genotyping techniques (PCR genotyping) and the microscopy skills needed to identify fish that carry transgenes.
This position is for a work/study student who would be paid for fish feeding duties.
This project would be great for students who will be in Amherst over the Winter break and are interested in learning about zebrafish as a research model system, and/or in examining the mechanisms that regulate neural stem cells and brain growth.