Updated for Fall 2026.
The following faculty may invite an undergraduate researcher to join their lab next semester if the student’s interests and abilities align with the lab’s projects. Interested students should contact the faculty to discuss this possibility. Faculty not on this list may also accept suitable students. If you’ve found a faculty member to work with, contact Dr. Emily Mikucki (emily.mikucki@uvm.edu), the biology department research coordinator, or the listed instructor for research credit in your home department, to set up credit. Research arrangements can also be made via the BCOR 2995/3995 courses, contact Co-director: Marni.Slavik@uvm.edu.
Chen Lab
Department: Agriculture, Landscape, and Environment
Faculty Contact: Yolanda Chen, Ph.D.
https://www.uvm.edu/cals/ale/profile/yolanda-fanslow-chen
Project Notes: Sophomores and above. Project will be focused on studying the role of epigenetics in rapid evolution of insecticide resistance in the Colorado potato beetle.
Hannaford Lab
The Hannaford Lab in the department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (LCOM) is looking for two students, ideally a rising sophomore or junior, to start in the fall semester. They will be able to take credit through the MPBP 2995 J. Ideally the equivalent time of 2 credits to start.
Our lab is interested in the regulation of cytoskeleton through various aspects of developmental biology. We have two projects available;
- How do we sense our environment? Regulation of sensory neuron development by the cytoskeleton. Students will characterize mutations in genes which have been associated with Usher Syndrome, a genetic disease characterized by either total or progressive hearing loss and in some cases vision loss. Students will have the opportunity to learn microscopy, Drosophila genetics and molecular biology (PCR, Molecular Cloning, Crispr/Cas9).
- How do cells maintain the correct number of chromosomes? Maintaining the correct number of chromosomes is essential for cell and tissue homeostasis. Many hard-to-treat cancers are associated with changes in chromosome number, called aneuploidy. The student will investigate how dysregulation of the centrosome, the main organizer of cell division in eukaryotic cells, can lead to chromosome misegregation. Students will learn Drosophila genetics and microscopy, using an insect model of tumor growth and metastasis.
Please contact Dr. Hannaford at matthew.hannaford@med.uvm.edu for more information
Helms Cahan Lab
The Helms Cahan lab has space for 2-3 students this Fall. Students can be at any academic stage. There are a couple of projects one could work on:
- How insects cope with extreme heat and cold (molecular biology, fruit fly genetics/genomics, physiology)
- Genetic basis of social behavior in ants (DNA extraction, bioinformatics, population genetics)
Contact: scahan@uvm.edu
May Collado Lab
Department: Biology
Faculty Contact: Laura May Collado, Ph.D.
https://www.uvm.edu/cas/biology/profile/laura-j-may-collado
Project Notes: Dr. May Collado is interested in 2 junior students with an interest in the Accelerated Master’s Program to study the spatial-temporal variation of soundscapes in tropical marine systems.
Poynter Lab
Department: Medicine / VT Lung Center
Faculty Contact: Matthew Poynter, Ph.D.
https://www.uvm.edu/larnermed/bios/profile/matthew-poynter
Project Notes: 1-2 opening(s); any level of research experience (motivation is more important than experience). Students in the Poynter Lab actively participate in research on acute and chronic respiratory diseases, gaining hands-on experience with immunology and cell and molecular biology. The lab studies how novel therapies work at a mechanistic level, with a special focus on how natural and diet-induced ketosis can improve outcomes in obesity-related and allergic asthma. This research integrates preclinical models with clinical studies to connect basic science with real-world health applications.