Fasting-associated changes in elephant seal blubber during postnatal development
Jose Pablo Vazquez-Medina, Professor
Integrative Biology
Closed. This professor is continuing with Fall 2024 apprentices on this project; no new apprentices needed for Spring 2025.
This project seeks to characterize cells isolated from the blubber of northern elephant seal pups during the post-weaning fasting period. Elephant seal pups nurse from their mothers for ~1 month, after which they are abruptly weaned and carry out a terrestrial post-weaning fast for several months prior to undertaking their first at-sea foraging trip. During the fasting period pups develop the physiological adjustments which support extended diving in this species, including increased body oxygen storage capacity. For most mammals, prolonged fasting initiates a number of damaging cellular processes, though in elephant seals this does not appear to be the case and in fact pups are capable of supporting anabolic cellular processes in the absence of nutrient intake during the fasting period.
This project aims to develop a differentiation protocol for adipocyte precursor cells isolated from fasting elephant seal pups. We have previously isolated and cryopreserved these cells, but further characterization of the resultant cell types is required to confirm cellular phenotype(s) and develop functional assays which permit studies of blubber metabolics in vitro.
* Work on this project is expected to be conducted in-person in the lab. Some flexibility may be available for data analysis and meetings, but the primary responsibilities of the student are lab-based and thus must be completed in-person. *
Role: The student is expected to participate in weekly lab meetings and journal club discussions as their class schedule permits. The student will meet regularly (weekly) with the graduate student mentor to discuss project plans and progress, and is expected to present research updates at larger lab meetings approx. once per month (with support from the grad student mentor).
At the end of the apprenticeship, the student will be experienced in basic wet lab methods as listed above, will be able to read scientific literature in the field, and will gain knowledge pertaining to experimental design and interpretation of scientific data.
Qualifications: The student must be willing to learn, and capable of performing tasks independently after training. Must be reliable, organized, and communicative. Experience with cell culture and/or basic biochemistry or molecular biology is desirable but not required. All pertinent methods training will be provided.
PLEASE NOTE: Most of the work will be performed in-person in the lab. If possible, it is best if the student has 2-3 h blocks of availability during typical working hours (~8a-6p) on 2-3 weekdays. Working alone in the lab or outside of typical hours during which others are present is discouraged.
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Kaitlin Allen, Ph.D. candidate
Hours: 9-11 hrs
Biological & Health Sciences