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Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences

Explore the various projects below categorized under the general theme of Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences. Be sure to return to the Barrett College Fellows Program main page and explore projects under the other 11 themes as well. You might be surprised at what you find and maybe you will discover the perfect research project for what you hope to study!

Please do not contact the research centers or faculty listed below directly (a formal application process is a required step to joining these research opportunities).

For questions about the Barrett College Fellows Program or specific research projects, please contact Dr. Sarah Graff at: BarrettCollegeFellows@exchange.asu.edu.

Back to Barrett College Fellows main page

Research projects

Project # 3

Center name: School math & natural sciences
Campus/Location: West
Faculty lead: James Johnson

Project description

Urbanization is a rapid ecological disturbance that can alter the genotypes and phenotypes of native biota. These shifts to urban living must be understood if we hope to understand human-wildlife interactions. Our earlier wors suggetss interesting behavioral and genetic difference exist between urban and desert black widow spiders. This fellow would be trained to further this understanding, ultimately helping us collect a fuller dataset that depicts the genetic relationships within and among black widows collected from replicate urban and desert populations. # Students needed: 1-3

Special skills needed

Basic BIO lab skills and comfort working with arthropods a plus.

Majors

BIO, FOR

Years

First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025), 2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students, 4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Education, Sustainability

Project # 7

Center name: Center for Biology and Society
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Jane Maienschein

Project description

The Embryo Project involves carrying out research and learning to write for a general audience, producing a cluster of articles that are reviewed and (if accepted) published in the Embryo Project Encylopedia. Research participation begins with the Embryo Project Writing Seminar, which is a structured class as a writers workshop that meets Wednesdays 3:15-5:30. We can accept up to 10 students for the course total, including graduate students and undergraduates, and we typically have 1-3 as Barrett College Fellows in fall and spring.

Special skills needed

Interest in writing about scientific ideas for a general public, willingness to learn with and from others in a writers workshop, and interest in the broad field of embryos, development, reproduction, abortion, eugenics, and related topics, and the historical and social context.

Majors

Life sciences, health sciences, communication, journalism, history, philosophy, law, policy, and many others.

Years

2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students, 4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Health and Wellness, Humanities, Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media, Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Project # 9

Center name: Sleep, Gut Microbiome, Nutrition, and Maternal Child Health Research Program
Campus/Location: Downtown
Faculty lead: Megan Petrov

Project description

The Snuggle Bug / Acurrucadito study investigated the roles of sleep and gut microbiome development on rapid weight gain among infants. We followed mother-infant dyads six times over the baby's first year of life measuring sleep via ankle actigraphy, the gut microbiome via fecal samples, feeding practices and dietary intake, physical growth, and numerous other health factors. By the fellowship start, the study will be complete but there is a high likelihood of new similar studies that may be launched in Fall 2025 and there will be opportunities to manage the study data and contribute to analysis and scientific writing for presentations at conferences. We are seeking two students interested in contributing to data management, analysis, writing, and potentially for publications. We are also seeking students interested in supporting the development of new study protocols as we seek to recruit new mother-infant dyads for other studies.

Special skills needed

Student applicants should have an interest in physical activity/exercise and health promotion. Students will have the opportunity to gain skills related to the design and implementation of a behavioral clinical trial, including recruitment and retention; data collection, entry and management; and intervention delivery.

Majors

Nursing, nutrition, psychology, microbiology, family and human development, community health, Biochemistry, biological sciences, biomedical sciences

Years

3rd Year Students, 2nd Year Students, First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Project # 21

Center name: School of Earth and Space Exploration
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Mikhail Zolotov

Project description

The project involves reading the scientific literature on the oceanic composition and climate of early Earth and Venus and identifying their similarities and differences. The work is aimed at writing a literature review or a science paper. Biological aspects could be considered as well. At later stages, the work may include physical-chemical modeling of water-rock systems on early Venus and making predictions of precipitated minerals, possible microorganisms, and biosignatures that a spacecraft can detect on Venus.

Special skills needed

General chemistry, physics, geology, mineralogy, biology (not required), and microbiology (not required) courses taken.

Majors

Chemistry, Geology, Biology, Astrobiology, Oceanology

Years

3rd Year Students, 4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences

Project # 24

Center name: Center for Mechanisms of Evolution
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Jeremy Wideman

Project description

Using cell fractionation and mass spectrometry, we localize thousands of proteins to cellular compartments in a single experiment. The data are analyzed computationally using R.

Special skills needed

Basic understanding of cell biology, proteins, and computation.

Majors

BIO, BIOCH, anything biology related

Years

First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025), 2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences

Project # 25

Center name: SOLS
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Tim Balmer

Project description

We have developed a behavioral paradigm for mice to indicate whether they hear a tone or white noise by licking a water spout. We'd like to train mice to do this and then manipulate specific neurons in auditory brain circuits with optogenetics to test their role in hearing in noisy environments.

Special skills needed

Patience, team work, mouse handling skills, matlab programming (not essential)

Majors

Biology, Neuroscience

Years

2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences

Project # 33

Center name: Department of Physics
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Jingyue Liu

Project description

This project focuses on synthesis of novel nanostructured materials for energy and environmental applications. Nanoscale architectures possess unique physicochemical properties that can be broadly applied for developing better and sustainable technologies. In this project, we use wet chemical approach to developing robust synthesis protocols that can be scaled up for practical applications. The nanostructured materials will be used as catalysts for energy and environmental applications such as production of hydrogen and conversion of carbon dioxide to useful chemicals via catalytic reaction processes.

Special skills needed

Knowledge and experiences in inorganic chemistry, especially synthesis of inorganic materials using wet chemistry methods.

Majors

Inorganic Chemistry; Chemical Engineering; Materials Science and Engineering

Years

3rd Year Students, 4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences

Project # 34

Center name: Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics
Campus/Location: Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Qiyun Zhu

Project description

Dr. Qiyun Zhu is leading a DOE-funded project to enhance scikit-bio (https://scikit.bio/), a renowned open-source Python library for bioinformatics. Scikit-bio offers a range of algorithms and data structures extensively utilized in biological data analysis. Our goal is to augment its capabilities, particularly in handling and interpreting large-scale, multi-layered biological data (multi-omics), crucial for unraveling the intricate interactions among organisms and the environment. Specifically, we seek to recruite 1-3 students to add and refine functionalities for 1) efficient processing of diverse data types, 2) seamless integration of multi-omic datasets, and 3) characterization and labeling (annotation) of biological elements. This opportunity is a gateway for students to collaborate with leading bioinformatics experts and software engineers. Ideal candidates should have a keen interest in open-source scientific computing and a basic understanding of programming, preferably in Python. Students from diverse academic backgrounds who are enthusiastic about merging computing with biology are encouraged to apply. Participants will receive hands-on experience in contributing to high-quality software, valuable mentorship, and skill development that is highly desired in both academic and industry settings. This experience will be a significant stepping stone in your career in bioinformatics, software development, or data science.

Special skills needed

- Strong programming skills, preferably in Python, is essential for this position.
- Experience in open-source software development is highly preferable but not essential.
- Experience or interest in machine learning, computer science, mathematics, or statistics is preferrable but not essential.
- Experience or interest in evolutionary biology, ecology, genetics, molecular biology, or any other biology fields is preferrable but not essential.
- The applicant may read the scikit-bio guideline for contribution: https://scikit.bio/contribute.html to assess their comfortableness with the development work.

Majors

Any major is appropriate, as long as you have the right skillset. Some successful candidates were from majors such as Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology, Mathematics, Statistics, etc.

Years

First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025), 2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students, 4th Year Students- Seniors, ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Health and Wellness

Project # 36

Center name: MSD, Space Architecture & Extreme Environments (SAEE)
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Elena Rocchi

Project description

Barrett Honors students will participate in SAEE Barrett Research programs, including:
1) Working in the labs of the Interplanetary Initiative, The Next Lab, and the Luminosity Lab, contributing to cutting-edge science, with one student per lab.
2) Engaging in supply chain management within the Business program to contribute to designing the first Starbucks in space, with one student.
3) Participating in the SAEE Barrett Global Flex program in Rome, one of the space capitals of the world, providing an ideal environment for this program and open to all.
The faculty lead is Elena Rocchi, working in collaboration with the different lab directors, program heads, and faculty abroad. By the time of application, new opportunities in labs and cities may arise, so students are encouraged to schedule a meeting with me, as the leading faculty member, to discuss available placements and opportunities in more detail.

Special skills needed

Self-Time Management; Design Capacity and Interest in Making Things; Collaboration and Teamwork; Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving; Adaptability and Flexibility; Attention to Detail; Interpersonal and Cross-Cultural Communication; Initiative and Drive; Technical Competency; Global Perspective

Majors

Architecture,
Industrial Design,
Graphic Design (for virtual simulations/technologies),
Computer Science (for virtual simulations/technologies),
Design, Arts,
Mechanical Engineering,
Civil Engineering,
Urban Planning,
Business Administration (Supply Chain Management),
Environmental Design,
Aerospace Engineering,
Biomedical Engineering (for health-related research in space),
Materials Science,
Sustainability Studies,
International Studies (for global perspectives),
Electrical Engineering (for wearable technology design),
Physics (for space science and research applications)

Years

2nd Year Students, 4th Year Students- Seniors, ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work), 3rd Year Students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Art, Architecture, and Design, Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Business and Entrepreneurship, Education, Engineering, Health and Wellness, Humanities, Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media, Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability

Project # 37

Center name: Consortium for science, policy & outcomes
Campus/Location: Fully remote
Faculty lead: Robert Cook-Deegan

Project description

I support three students on the pangenome project, and one student (plus a former student who graduated) on the BRAINshare project.

Special skills needed

Writing and organization skills.

Majors

Any

Years

2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students, 4th Year Students- Seniors, ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Health and Wellness, Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Project # 38

Center name: Simon A Levin Mathematical, Computational and Modeling Sciences Center
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Fabio Milner

Project description

It has been established that phone dating app users tend to engage in riskier behavior for STI transmission than non-users. We want to begin by describing the age-sex structure of the sexually active population and use mathematical modeling to study the connection between dating apps use and increased STI incidence.

Special skills needed

Calculus 1 (differentiation) and some experience computing is desirable (MATLAB and/or Python).

Majors

All

Years

2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students, 4th Year Students- Seniors, ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Project # 40

Center name: Exomaterials lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Dan Shim

Project description

This research project will involve a series of high-pressure experiments and the synthesis of volatile storage within planetary materials. The student will receive training and conduct independent research utilizing both laser-heated diamond-anvil cells and multi-anvil presses. They will perform X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and electron microscopy studies on the synthesized materials.

The primary applications of this study lie in the fields of planetary science and materials chemistry. The student will be primarily mentored by Professor Dan Shim at the School of Earth and Space Exploration. They will also collaborate with postdoctoral researchers and Ph.D. students within his research group.

Special skills needed

Laboratory experiences

Majors

Chemistry, physics, materials science, Earth science, planetary science, materials engineering.

Years

4th Year Students- Seniors, 3rd Year Students, 2nd Year Students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences

Project # 41

Center name: The SOCIAL Neurobiology lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Jessica Verpeut

Project description

The current project is focused on examining cognitive, motor deficits, and cellular changes in an Alzheimer’s rat model in the lab of Dr. Jessica Verpeut. We aim to investigate the behavioral and neurological changes that occur over time in these rat models, specifically identifying motor and cognitive deficits resulting from disease progression. Students will participate in behavioral testing (motor tasks and Morris Water Maze), navigating machine learning software to track behavior/movement, and potentially analyze brain samples for Alzheimer’s-related anomalies. Students should be open to animal handling and have an interest in neuroscience. Those with coding experience are highly encouraged.

Special skills needed

Coding and animal handling.

Majors

Neuroscience and math-related majors.

Years

First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025), 2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences

Project # 47

Center name: Cosmology Initiative
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Simon Foreman

Project description

What are the fundamental laws that determine the birth, evolution, and contents of the universe? The field of “21cm cosmology” aims to help answer this question, by measuring faint radiation from distant clouds of hydrogen gas, relating the distribution of these clouds to the underlying “large-scale structure” of the universe, and using the statistical properties of this structure to learn about the universe and fundamental physics.

This project will investigate a specific topic in 21cm cosmology, involving a mixture of theoretical, computational, and/or data analysis work. The precise topic is to be determined, but possible topics include: forecasting the sensitivity of the upcoming CHORD telescope in measuring the cosmic large-scale structure (https://www.chord-observatory.ca); refining/extending theoretical models for clustering patterns of hydrogen gas; developing simulations that can be used to predict cross-correlation signals that can be measured with upcoming data; or contributing to data analysis infrastructure for CHORD or the currently-operating CHIME telescope (https://chime-experiment.ca/en).

Feel free to contact Prof. Foreman for further information.

Special skills needed

Experience with scientific computing in Python (at least one course in Python programming, or substantial experience outside of courses), and familiarity with Fourier transforms and statistics. Familarity with concepts in astronomy or cosmology is welcome, but not required.

Majors

Physics, Astronomy, Computer Science

Years

3rd Year Students, 4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences

Project # 49

Center name: School of Mathematics and Statistical Sciences (SoMSS)
Campus/Location: Tempe, Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Heyrim Cho

Project description

In many cancers, cellular heterogeneity plays a significant role in resistance to treatment and tumor recurrence. Thus, it is crucial to gain a better understanding of how a tumor’s growth dynamics and its response to treatment influence – and are influenced by – cellular heterogeneity and the interactions between different cell populations, in order to make more accurate predictions about treatment responses. In this project, we will develop and compare different experimental designs and data collection protocols to accurately infer and predict tumor interaction types and radiotherapy responses.

Special skills needed

ODE/Differential equation, Matlab coding, some concepts in probability and statistics

Majors

Applied Math, Computational biology

Years

3rd Year Students, ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work), 2nd Year Students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics

Project # 50

Center name: Global Drylands Center
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Tyson Terry

Project description

Monitor seeds inside multiple growth chambers of differing climates to determine general seed respiration rates according to temperature. We will then monitor growth of seeds with different pre-germination respiration demands to see how respiration is likely to affect plant reproduction by seed. (2-3 students) (faculty lead: Tyson Terry)

Special skills needed

Attention to detail, basic computer skills, enthusiasm about plants

Majors

Biological Sciences

Years

4th Year Students- Seniors, 3rd Year Students, 2nd Year Students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences

Project # 51

Center name: Center for Global Health
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Amber Wutich

Project description

AW4A’s goal is to advance water security in Arizona’s most water-insecure households. Our international, interdisciplinary team works under the leadership of MacArthur Fellow, Dr. Amber Wutich. Based on the premise that it is impossible to create meaningful environmental justice impacts in communities without establishing trust and committing to long-haul connections with those communities, we are building a multi-stakeholder network facilitated through a partnership between Arizona State University (ASU), Northern Arizona University (NAU) and the University of Arizona (U of A) to engage and co-develop projects with water-insecure communities across the state.

At the AW4A network, we expect to create in-person and virtual spaces that allow stakeholders who are experiencing water insecurity to learn from each other, build leadership and advocacy capacity, and enhance existing opportunities for collaboration. Fully integrated into the AW4A team, the Barrett College Fellow will take a leading role in building this collaborative network, developing and implementing the effective relationship building and communication strategies that are vital to its success. This involves hosting workshops and webinars, as well as maintaining newsletters, blogs, graphic creations, and other media tasks to keep our partners and community engaged with our work.

Special skills needed

We are seeking a dynamic student invested in learning how to create and maintain relationships with multiple stakeholders involved in socio-environmental issues (i.e., water security in low-income communities) across Arizona. Skills that are valued are:
Strong written and verbal communication skills that enhance the quality of team and project outputs.
Critical thinking and problem-solving skills to deal with unexpected situations.
A desire to work on complex problems as part of an interdisciplinary team.
Curiosity and learning mindset about stakeholder engagement and community-based research.
Minimum basic understanding of Spanish.
Ability to work with Canva or other graphic design software.
Ability to work with Mailchimp or other newsletter design and distribution software.

Majors

Business, management, marketing, and related support services,
Marketing/marketing management,
Multi-/interdisciplinary studies,
Journalism,
Environmental studies,
Communication sciences and disorders,
Anthropology,
Global Health,
Liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies,
Graphic design,
Digital communication and media/multimedia,
Environmental design/architecture,
Geography,
Environmental/environmental health engineering

Years

First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025), 2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students, ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Law, Justice, and Public Service, Art, Architecture, and Design, Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Business and Entrepreneurship, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Education, Engineering, Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability

Project # 54

Center name: Imaging Informatics Research (JLiang Lab)
Campus/Location: Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Jianming Liang

Project description

This is a set of projects aiming to develop novel methods and systems in artificial intelligence (AI), artificial general intelligence (AGI), and deep learning (DL) towards multimodal medical foundation models for medicine, imaging, and clinical reports (based on ChatGPT/GPT-4, Gemini/Bard, and LLaMA) to support clinical decision-making and facilitate precision medicine. While my lab is working on the brain, heart, lung, skin, eye, and abdomen diseases across modalities (images, lab tests, reports, videos, and audio) you may choose to focus on one particular condition at one specific modality based on your interest. My lab has the infrastructure to accommodate multiple students in this research direction.

Special skills needed

Skills required:
1) Strong programming skills in Python -- you have taken courses in computer science and programming, and have experience in using GitHub;
2) Good understanding of machine (deep) learning -- you have taken courses in machine learning, and gained experience in training AI models;
3) Determination to pursue majors in computer science, computer engineering, data science and analytics, robotics and autonomous systems, software engineering, biomedical informatics, and biomedical engineering;
4) Deep commitment to conducting rigorous experiments to establish state-of-the-art baselines, and
5) Strong desire to publish a paper at a top conference and turn it into a journal article in your first year with my lab.

Majors

Biomedical Informatics and Data Science;
Computer Science;
Computer Engineering;
Robotics and Autonomous Systems;
Data Science, Analytics, and Engineering;
Software Engineering; and
Biomedical Engineering

Years

3rd Year Students, 4th Year Students- Seniors, ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work), 2nd Year Students, First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Business and Entrepreneurship, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Engineering, Health and Wellness, Law, Justice, and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Project # 58

Center name: Simon A Levin Mathematical Computational and Modeling Sciences Center
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Fabio Milner

Project description

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are very common, particularly among 18-to-24-year-olds. It has been observed that they are more common among dating app users than among non-users. If we want to study a possible causal relation or correlation between STI incidence and use of dating apps, we must first know the structure of the sexually active population, hopefully by age and sex. We also need to know the rate at which the various groups considered in the structure acquire new individuals (onset or restart of sexual activity) and the rate at which they lose them (cessation of sexual activity). Building a model for this population will be the first step in the project. The next step will be to build a model for the transmission of STIs across the groups in the sexually active population. This will involve the collection and preparation of data, parameter fitting, research question(s) formulation, experimental design to answer the question(s), and analysis of scenarios. This exciting project will be hands-on, not lecture style. Participants will be responsible for conducting literature reviews, selecting and summarizing articles, discussing and carrying out model formulation, formulating research question(s) and analyzing results that help answer them.

Special skills needed

Quantitative and analytical thinking, Understanding the meaning of and using derivatives and differentiation (calculus 1)

Majors

All

Years

2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students, 4th Year Students- Seniors, ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Health and Wellness, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Project # 61

Center name: BEAR Lab
Campus/Location: Downtown
Faculty lead: Candace Lewis

Project description

Research highlights a complex interplay between the gut microbiome and mental health, particularly in aging populations. This research seeks to explore the effects of psilocybin on the gut microbiome of aged mice. Using 16S rRNA sequencing to analyze fecal samples collected from mice treated with either psilocybin or saline, we aim to identify changes in microbial diversity and composition associated with psilocybin administration.

The analysis will prioritize microbial taxa linked to neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory pathways, given their critical roles in the gut-brain axis and cognitive health. By comparing microbial profiles between psilocybin-treated and saline-treated groups, the study could uncover how psilocybin modulates the gut microbiota and its potential impact on age-related behaviors like anxiety, depression, and memory.

This research has the potential to reveal novel microbiome-mediated mechanisms underlying psilocybin's effects. Insights gained could advance the preclinical evaluation of psilocybin as a therapeutic intervention for aging-related conditions, including dementia, offering a deeper understanding of its role in promoting mental and neurological health during aging.

Special skills needed

Experience in data analyses/coding, can be from prior research experience or course work.

Majors

Biology, microbiology, neuroscience, psychology, or related majors

Years

3rd Year Students, 4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics

Project # 66

Center name: Buseck Center for Meteorite Studies
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Rhonda Stroud

Project description

The project will involve laboratory studies of meteorites with scanning electron microscopy, X-ray computed tomography, and other methods, working with the Director of the Center for Meteorite Studies, and graduate students in her group.

Special skills needed

introductory coursework in physics, chemistry, or astronomy or geology,
python programming

Majors

SESE, Physics, Chemistry, computer science

Years

2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students, 4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences

Project # 67

Center name: School of Life Sciences
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Hinsby Cadillo-Quiroz

Project description

This a microbiology and engineering project where, along with PhD student, we seek to test various combinations of microbial cultures to optimize the growth and activity of methanotrophic bacteria and heterotrophic bacteria. Fundamentally, this experiment will be built on physiology and genomic data testing whether metabolic interactions can complement and provide a mixed growth where the limitations of low levels of methane can be alleviated by heterotrophs co-metabolism.
This a computationally assisted (engineering) and bench-driven (microbiology) project, where complementary interactions will allow testing hundreds of permutations testing microbial strains.

Special skills needed

Students that have completed Mic 220 and 205, or MIC 300 level classes will be considered for students focusing in Microbiology component, students who have completed Process or Bioreactor engineering classes (or equivalent) will be considered. Experience in microbiology labs, Arduino systems, or bioreactor system will be highly considered

Majors

Microbiology, Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering

Years

4th Year Students- Seniors, 3rd Year Students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Engineering

Project # 69

Center name: Fisher Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Rebecca Fisher

Project description

Dr. Rebecca Fisher (Professor, School of Life Sciences and Director of Anatomy, School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering (SOMME)) is collaborating with colleagues in the SOMME and the School of Biological & Health Systems Engineering
to design an innovative curriculum for medical students that integrates anatomy, medical imaging, and clinical skills training. The Virtual Anatomy Project will include opportunities for students to: 1) assess the pros and cons of existing extended reality platforms, AI tools, and other educational technologies, 2) explore new ways to utilize existing and emerging technologies to design an integrated anatomy, medical imaging, and clinical skills curriculum, and 3) critically assess the learning outcomes of these curricula.

Special skills needed

Seeking students who have taken at least one college-level anatomy course (e.g., BIO 201 or equivalent) and have experience using XR platforms and AI.

Majors

All majors welcome, but prior coursework in biology, engineering, and other related sciences will be helpful for this project.

Years

2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Education

Project # 74

Center name: ASU Social Media Observatory
Campus/Location: Fully remote
Faculty lead: Bryan Henderson

Project description

This research seeks to identify trends in how students make sense of science-related information (e.g., climate change; COVID vaccinations) through social media, and then informed by these trends, design classroom interventions to support students in more critically evaluating the different ways science information is spread throughout digital social networks like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.

My research team has been developing classroom activities for middle school students designed to help them think more critically about the science-related information they encounter on social media. For example, we have been developing classroom activities where students have to make sense of conflicting evidence about climate change being shared by two different hypothetical accounts on social media. These activities are being delivered to students through a classroom technology I created called Braincandy.

I would gladly welcome 1-3 Barrett College Fellows that are interested in helping further the development of these social media classroom activities and assist with pilot testing them at local schools.

Special skills needed

While all necessary skills can be trained during the research itself, some experience with digital content creation (e.g., graphic design; presentation creation; image editing) is desirable. A genuine interest in education and/or science-related issues is also a plus.

Majors

This research is at the intersection of science/technology, psychology/sociology, and education. Hence, this opportunity is relevant to many different academic majors. We seek students concerned with social media misinformation and interested in helping address the issue through the development of classroom materials that support more critical sensemaking of information shared on social media networks.

Years

ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work), 4th Year Students- Seniors, 3rd Year Students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Education, Journalism, Communication, and Mass Media, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Project # 75

Center name: College of Health Solutions
Campus/Location: Downtown
Faculty lead: My VT Phan

Project description

My lab research aims to document the local viruses found in the environment in Maricopa County (eg. dust, air, water, insects). The project will involve sample handling, extraction of nucleic acids and genomic sequencing using the MinION platform. The resulting sequence data will be computationally processed to identify virus genomic sequences and important patterns will be examined. Some possible questions to be answered are: (a) are there geographical or condition-specific viruses, (b) what additional features determine the type and abundance of local environmental viruses, and (c) how do local patterns compare to those observed in other parts of the world? Depending on student’s background and research interests, the student will have the opportunity to learn (i) how a biological experiment in virus genomics is set up; (ii) knowledge and experience in both wet-lab (molecular biology) and dry-lab (bioinformatics) in virus genomics research; (iii) rapid MinION sequencing, and (iv) phylogenetics analyses to virus sequence data.

Special skills needed

The student is expected to have some experience with molecular biology (eg. basic lab safety, pipetting) and basic computer skills. Careful attention to detail, organization and time management are essential.

Majors

Microbiology, Evolutionary Biology, Evolution and Medicine, Environmental Life Sciences, Biology, Molecular Biology, Computational Life Sciences, Molecular Biology

Years

4th Year Students- Seniors, 3rd Year Students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Health and Wellness

Project # 76

Center name: Center for Biological Design and Biomimetics
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Petr Sulc

Project description

Have you ever tried to assemble Legos just by shaking the box? Nature does this successfully all the time, and in biomolecular nanotechnology, we try to imitate this process to construct nanoscale machines. We use designed molecules (made out of DNA, RNA, or proteins) as basic building blocks that self-assemble and arrange in 3D to create nanoscale structures and devices, with applications ranging from biomanufacturing to diagnostics and therapeutics. Our group develops design and simulation tools to understand the device assembly and operation, and we are seeking to enhance our tools by AI-driven design component (e.g. training machine learning models to help to automate the design and verification of nanostructure in-silico, integration of chatGPT into the tools, etc). The work will be performed in close collaboration with the experimental section of our lab, and we will aim to experimentally verify some of the AI-generated designs.

Special skills needed

We are seeking students with experience with coding in javascript, python and/or C++. Prior experience with machine learning and training of deep neural networks / LLMs is a plus.

Majors

Computer science, Physics, Math, Engineering

Years

2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students, 4th Year Students- Seniors, ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Engineering

Project # 77

Center name: Biodiversity Knowledge Integration Center
Campus/Location: Flexible to remote and/or in-person, Fully remote
Faculty lead: Beckett Sterner

Project description

This project studies viruses detected in North American rodents to advance understanding of reservoir hosts and improve risk modeling for zoonotic disease spread. It will be the first comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of studies publishing virus detection results and experimental or statistical studies of factors that influence disease spread. Students with an interest in biology (no prior skills required) can join an ongoing team that extracts and analyzes virus detection studies. Students with some prior computational or statistics background can join a team working on data visualization and analytics. Both tracks can accommodate as many students as are interested and have the relevant background. We have had many prior honors fellows go on to do successful thesis projects based on the data they extract, and we encourage students to develop publishable journal articles from their work.

Special skills needed

Students with an interest in biology (no prior skills required) can join an ongoing team that extracts and analyzes virus detection studies. Students with some prior computational or statistics background (e.g. ability to program or analyze data to produce statistical summaries and trends) can join a team working on data visualization and analytics.

Majors

Biology, Computer Science, Math, Data Science, Statistics, Physics

Years

First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025), 2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students, 4th Year Students- Seniors, ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Health and Wellness

Project # 79

Center name: School of Complex Adaptive Systems
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Enrico Borriello

Project description

A key focus of complexity studies is understanding how interactions within dynamic networks give rise to emergent complexity and behaviors. By joining this project, the student will have the opportunity to explore the fundamental principles of network theory, including key concepts and quantitative metrics for analyzing network properties at both global and local scales. They will apply mathematical models and computational tools to investigate the structure and dynamics of complex systems across a variety of real-world domains, ranging from biological to social and technological networks.

Specifically, the student will gain the tools to identify network motifs associated with the directional transfer of information and uncover how these motifs relate to overall network functionality and behavior. This project provides a data-driven approach to tackling complexity science problems, integrating analytical methodologies with Python-based computational tools.

Special skills needed

Basic understanding of calculus, probability and statistics, and Python.

Majors

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Business and Entrepreneurship, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Engineering, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Years

ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work), 4th Year Students- Seniors, 3rd Year Students, 2nd Year Students, First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Business and Entrepreneurship, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Engineering, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Project # 80

Center name: School of Molecular Sciences & Biodesign Center for Molecular Design and Biomim…
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Di Liu

Project description

This project explores the design and synthesis of complex DNA and RNA topological structures, including knots and links, to address fundamental questions in biology and medicine. By leveraging cutting-edge techniques in bionanotechnology, we aim to construct and characterize these intricate structures and to reveal novel insights into the biophysical properties of nucleic acids and their potential biomedical applications. Students will gain hands-on experience in molecular biology and nanotechnology techniques, including DNA and RNA handling, gel electrophoresis, and various characterization methods. Computational tools may be used for structural modeling and prediction.

Special skills needed

Basic experimental skills in biochemistry or molecular biology. Programming skills are also preferred.

Majors

Chemistry, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Molecular biology, Physics

Years

4th Year Students- Seniors, 3rd Year Students, 2nd Year Students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences

Project # 92

Center name: School of Molecular Sciences & School of Ocean Futures
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Liza Roger

Project description

My team focuses on understanding stress in corals and other symbiotic cnidarians (ie. sea anemones and upside-down jellyfish) from a cellular and biochemical point of view. We work on protein, symbiosis, metabolites, free radicals etc. to better understand environmental stress ahead of designing treatments such as nanomedicine for corals or chemical cues to improve coral health. For more information visit https://sms.asu.edu and https://oceans.asu.edu.

Special skills needed

Cleanliness, willingness to learn, can think on their feet, interested in marine research, knowledge in chemistry and biochemistry (some knowledge in marine science would be nice), the specific skill set here will be acquired during the Honors project (e.g. coral cell dissociation, coral culture, multiwell assays, fluorescence imaging, coral/anemone/jellyfish husbandry, protein extraction western blot, nanoparticle synthesis, cytotoxicity etc).

Majors

Chemistry, biochemistry, (case dependent: conservation biology, cellular biology)

Years

3rd Year Students, 4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Sustainability

Project # 97

Center name: OASIS Learning Futures Collaborative; Mary Lou Fulton College
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Erin Rotheram-Fuller

Project description

We can support up to four students for this project where we are using drama during story time to increase communication, engagement and literacy skills for preschool aged children who are minimally verbal.

Special skills needed

Good organizational skills, enjoy watching and playing with young children, interest in understanding disabilities and early education engagement strategies, and attention to detail!

Majors

This would be ideal for students in the social sciences and education majors. We have several parts of the project that students can take part in, from play-based assessments in schools, to online coding of classroom videos. There is also an opportunity to build and use databases, and assist in analyses for those who are interested (but not required!). This is also an ideal match for students from any field who are interested in learning more about children with disabilities.

Years

First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025), 2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students, 4th Year Students- Seniors, ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Education, Health and Wellness, Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Project # 98

Center name: SolarSPELL
Campus/Location: Tempe, Fully remote, Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Laura Hosman

Project description

SolarSPELL is seeking a team of students who are passionate about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to curate regionally-relevant, open-access, educational content for the collections in the SolarSPELL library. Students will review, research, and select high-quality STEM resources that align with the curricula and educational needs of SolarSPELL’s target regions, including countries in the Pacific Islands, East Africa, Northeast Syria, and Southern Africa. Interns will focus on ensuring that materials are engaging, culturally appropriate, and suitable for offline learning environments. This project will also involve identifying gaps in the existing library collections and sourcing innovative content that supports foundational STEM education and sparks curiosity in learners worldwide.

Special skills needed

- Interest in STEM Education: Passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics topics.
- Ability to thrive in a team environment and work effectively with others.
- Detail oriented and reliable; a strong and honest work ethic motivates you
- Globally minded; you have a desire to work for a department that serves communities from all over the world

Majors

All majors

Years

First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025), 2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students, 4th Year Students- Seniors, ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Education, Engineering, Sustainability

Project # 100

Center name: Biodiversity Knowledge Integration Center
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Matthew Jones

Project description

Fragmentary remains of multiple undescribed new species of fossil bats and insectivorous mammals are in need of description and analysis. These specimens are between 60-45 million years old, a time interval during which earth experienced multiple significant warming events. Our lab studies how climatic and other abiotic changes during this time period impacted mammalian evolution and biogeography, and the description of these new species will be important to our broader understanding of these changes at this point in earth history.

Special skills needed

Attention to detail; patience; willingness to learn anatomical terminology and taxonomy of small mammal fossils; writing skills; basic understanding of how to read a scientific paper.

Majors

Biological Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Years

2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students, 4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences

Project # 101

Center name: School of Life Sciences, Social Insect Research Group
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Stephen Pratt

Project description

Brood, encompassing eggs, larvae, and pupae, constitutes a crucial component within insect colonies, representing a significant investment of time and resources. Brood are particularly vulnerable during the emigration of ant colonies, when they must be transported from the old nest to the new one, distinguishing ants from other eusocial insects like bees, wasps, and termites, which typically abandon their brood at the old nest during emigration. Extensive research has explored emigration and brood transport behaviors in various ant species, with a particular focus on the well-studied genus Temnothorax over the past two decades. However, our recent investigations have revealed a novel behavior: sequential brood transfer during the emigration of T. rugatulus, where a returning ant attempts to take over a brood item being transported by another ant. While sequential transport is documented in other ant species during the foraging process, its occurrence during emigration has only been observed in Camponotus yamaokai. This study aims to elucidate the mechanisms and potential advantages of sequential brood transfer during emigration, contributing to a deeper understanding of the ecological forces that shape the evolution of this behavior.

Special skills needed

No specific skills are required, as key methods will be taught during the fellowship.

Majors

Biology, Biochemistry, and Psychology are all appropriate. Students in other majors who are interested in studying animal behavior are also welcome to apply.

Years

First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025), 2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences

Project # 102

Center name: School of Life Sciences, Social Insect Research Group
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Stephen Pratt

Project description

Nest site selection is a critical collective decision for ant colonies, directly influencing survival, brood development, and resource accessibility. Ants of the genus Temnothorax are a model system for studying nest site selection. In particular, studies on rock-crevice-nesting ant T. rugatulus have shown the importance of cavity size and light levels as drivers of nest choice. However, the role of another key feature—the crevice slope—remains poorly understood. Emigrating colonies can choose among crevices with a range of inclines, from horizontal to vertical. Field observations suggest that the ants prefer crevices with a 45° incline, perhaps reflecting a balance between a stable substrate and effective drainage. No experimental test of slope preference has been conducted. This project will fill this gap through controlled laboratory experiments in which colonies are given a choice between artificial crevice nests differing in slope. By complementing field observations of natural nest geometries, this study aims to unravel how slope influences microhabitat selection in ants, offering insights into the evolution of adaptations to rocky ecosystems.

Special skills needed

No specific skills are required, as key methods will be taught during the fellowship.

Majors

Biology, Biochemistry, and Psychology are all appropriate. Students in other majors who are interested in studying animal behavior are also welcome to apply.

Years

First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025), 2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences

Project # 103

Center name: School of Life Sciences, Social Insect Research Group
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Stephen Pratt

Project description

Pharmacological manipulation offers a unique lens through which to study the neurobiological basis of collective behavior. Caffeine, a stimulant known to enhance cognitive performance in vertebrates, has been shown to improve foraging efficiency in ants, most likely by modulating neurotransmitter activity. This project examines how caffeine exposure influences decision-making and consensus-building during nest site selection in Temnothorax rugatulus. Colonies will be provisioned with caffeine-laced sucrose solutions, followed by emigration assays to assess changes in scouting, recruitment, quorum threshold, and error rates (e.g., choosing inferior nests). Parallel experiments will test if caffeine disrupts or sharpens collective preferences under time constraints. This study bridges individual physiology and social complexity by linking neurochemical perturbations to group-level outcomes, offering novel insights into the evolution of collective cognition and the potential ecological consequences of anthropogenic pollutants on insect societies.

Special skills needed

No specific skills are required, as key methods will be taught during the fellowship.

Majors

Biology, Biochemistry, and Psychology are all appropriate. Students in other majors who are interested in studying animal behavior are also welcome to apply.

Years

First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025), 2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences

Project # 104

Center name: Collective Logic Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Bryan Daniels

Project description

Honey bees solve collective challenges on a daily basis. The aggregate work output of a colony is resilient and adaptive to environmental changes. Information exchange between bees is crucial to these collective outcomes. In this project, using existing honey bee tracking data, we will construct a classifier that predicts bee behavior based on where it is in the hive and which other bees it interacts with. This will eventually be developed into a computational model of bee decision-making. This project will involve data science techniques and coding in Python.

Special skills needed

Some degree of familiarity or desire to learn programming and data analysis in Python.

Majors

I am open to a diversity of backgrounds. This project could be a good fit for students interested in applied math, computer engineering, data analytics, computer science, physics, or biology.

Years

2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students, 4th Year Students- Seniors, ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics

Project # 105

Center name: Collective Logic Lab, School of Complex Adaptive Systems
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Bryan Daniels

Project description

Inside each of your cells, a complicated choreography determines which proteins will be produced and how the cell will behave. This can be understood using Boolean networks: For instance, if gene X and gene Y are expressed, then this will cause gene Z to be expressed. Large networks of these interactions, essentially Boolean logic gates, define how cells respond to their environment or change into different cell types. Experimental data on the expression of genes in single cells is giving us greater insight into the logic of these networks. The long-term goal of this project is to develop an algorithm to convert gene expression data to a prediction of which genes can most easily control a cell's fate. This project will involve data analysis and writing code in Python.

Special skills needed

Some degree of familiarity or desire to learn programming and data analysis in Python.

Majors

We are open to a diversity of backgrounds. This project could be a good fit for students interested in applied math, computer engineering, data analytics, computer science, physics, or biology.

Years

2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students, 4th Year Students- Seniors, ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics

Project # 106

Center name: Biodesign Compact X-ray Free Electron Laser Laboratory
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Nicholas Matlis

Project description

High energy pulses of terahertz radiation (commonly referred to as "THz pulses") in the millimeter-wave band have emerged as a new tool enabling exploration of fundamental properties of materials, development of new telecommunications standards and development of advanced accelerator technologies among other things. For materials science, the low photon energies in THz pulses allow interrogation of collective and quantum dynamics with unprecedented finesse, while for accelerators, the short wavelengths of THz pulses allow manipulation of electrons on small scales inaccessible by standard approaches. World-class infrastructure, both existing and under development, at the Biodesign Institute, including high-energy lasers as well as compact X-ray light sources combined with recent breakthroughs in THz-source technologies present multiple opportunities for unique research projects leveraging the benefits of high-energy THz pulses. Among these are development of new, efficient THz sources in collaboration with international partners; study of the nonlinear response of materials such as lithium niobate (which is ubiquitous across telecommunications technologies) driven by high-intensity laser pulses; and X-ray studies of atomic-scale dynamics of materials driven by intense THz pulses. Up to three students will be accepted for up to three projects with significant overlap to be supervised by Prof. Matlis.

Special skills needed

Strong physics & engineering background. Perseverance, aptitude for hands-on work and ability to leverage physical intuition and mathematical skills is necessary. Knowledge of optics, electromagnetism or lasers is a plus.

Majors

Physics, Engineering, Related

Years

4th Year Students- Seniors, 3rd Year Students, 2nd Year Students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Engineering

Project # 107

Center name: LightWorks
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Ivan Ermanoski

Project description

This project aims to develop materials and technologies for thermochemical hydrogen production for fuels, long-duration energy storage, and for chemical feedstocks. The project is predominantly lab-based and includes chemical synthesis, mechanical and electrical design, and experiment-computer interface.

Special skills needed

Interest in renewable energy, and in sustainable fuels and chemicals

Majors

Chemical, mechanical, electrical engineering, chemistry, physics, and related disciplines

Years

First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025), 2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students, 4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Engineering

Project # 108

Center name: LightWorks
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Ivan Ermanoski

Project description

This project is working to develop a renewable alternative to the Haber-Bosch process for ammonia production as an important chemical for the production of nitrogen fertilizers and other critical chemicals. The project is predominantly lab-based and includes chemical synthesis, mechanical and electrical design, and experiment-computer interface.

Special skills needed

Interest in renewable energy, and in sustainable fuels and chemicals

Majors

Chemical, mechanical, electrical engineering, chemistry, physics, and related disciplines

Years

First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025), 2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students, 4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Engineering

Project # 109

Center name:
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Susanne Neuer

Project description

We are seeking up to three motivated students with an interest in marine microbial ecology to join our marine lab at the Walton Center of Planetary Health on ASU's main campus. Our research focuses on the role of marine microbes in the formation of aggregates and sinking particles, a critical process in the global carbon cycle. This work explores the "Biological Carbon Pump," which drives the export of organic carbon to the deep ocean.
The students will gain hands-on experience with marine phytoplankton and bacteria, including growing axenic cultures and conducting experiments on microbial aggregation. With increasing proficiency in culturing and experimental techniques, the students will have the opportunity to engage in several research projects, such as:

1. Investigating the role of dissolved exudates from phytoplankton in bacterial growth and aggregate formation.
2. Examining how bacterial growth phases influence their aggregation potential.
3. Comparing the aggregation potential of bacteria grown in co-cultures versus individual strains.
This position provides an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research on the intersection of marine microbiology and the global carbon cycle.

Special skills needed

MIC 220 and MIC 206

Majors

Microbiology, Biology

Years

2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students, 4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences

Project # 110

Center name: LightWorks
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Ivan Ermanoski

Project description

The goal of this project is to determine the feasibility of edible mushroom cultivation on abiotic substrates. The approach is a sustainable alternative to photosynthetic crops, to decrease the environmental footprint of food production by 100x, while improving nutritional quality and access to food and minimizing food waste. The project is predominantly lab-based and mycelium cultivation, mechanical and electrical design, and experiment-computer interface.

Special skills needed

Interest in in sustainable food systems

Majors

Biology, chemical, mechanical, electrical engineering, chemistry, physics, and related disciplines

Years

First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025), 2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students, 4th Year Students- Seniors

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Engineering, Sustainability

Project # 114

Center name: Kusumi Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe
Faculty lead: Kenro Kusumi

Project description

There are about 30,000 amniote vertebrate species, and nearly 10,000 of these species are reptiles. Reptiles display incredible diversity of morphological and physiological adaptations to their environments, compared with mammals and birds, but they have not been the focus on genomic or molecular studies. We have deciphered the genome of the Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), a hallmark species of the desert southwest that is threatened with habitat loss and disease. This recent work is described in this video. We have also completed the reference genome for the Sonoran desert tortoise (G. morafkai) and the Texas tortoise (G. berlandieri) and are using these data to study the effects of changes in the Colorado River and monsoon precipitation on the evolution of these species across the southwestern US. Students with interest or skills in computational biology or bioinformatics will work with researchers to further investigate the genetics of the desert tortoises.

Special skills needed

Scripting (R, Python) or coding skills preferred, Familiarity with command line platforms (UNIX, Linux, etc.), Interest in applying computational approaches to conservation science

Majors

BS Biological Sciences, BS Data Science, BS Biochemistry, BS Neuroscience, BS Geography or GIS

Years

First Year Students (new to ASU Fall 2025), 2nd Year Students, 3rd Year Students, ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Sustainability

Project # 122

Center name: School of Molecular Sciences, Earley Lab
Campus/Location: Tempe, Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Justin Earley

Project description

This project aims to develop Bloch Sphere Hero, a rhythm-based game that teaches quantum control. Inspired by Guitar Hero, the game challenges players to apply quantum gate operations by timing electromagnetic pulses that manipulate a qubit’s state on the Bloch sphere. Players will match pulse sequences to execute precise quantum operations, reinforcing intuition for qubit control, coherence, and error correction.

As a researcher, you will contribute to designing and implementing game mechanics, visualizing quantum state evolution, and developing pulse-based interactions. The project involves programming in Python. You will build an interactive system where players respond to dynamically generated pulse sequences, simulating real-world quantum control techniques.

This opportunity is ideal for students with Python experience and some familiarity with quantum mechanics. Prior experience with game development is helpful but not required. This project will provide hands-on experience in computational physics, quantum information science, and scientific visualization while creating an engaging and educational tool for understanding quantum mechanics.

Special skills needed

Python programming experience (required), calculus (required), linear algebra (suggested), and interest in STEM education

Majors

Chemistry, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering

Years

ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work), 4th Year Students- Seniors, 3rd Year Students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Education

Project # 125

Center name: School of Earth and Space Exploration
Campus/Location: Tempe, Flexible to remote and/or in-person
Faculty lead: Larry Nittler

Project description

This project involves analyzing data returned by spacecraft-based x-ray fluorescence instruments used to determine the surface compositions of planetary bodies, specifically the Moon and the planet Mercury. We are in the process of comparing analysis software developed for NASA's MESSENGER mission to that being developed for ESA's BepiColombo mission, which will arrive at Mercury in late 2026. We are also interested in performing an independent analysis of data reported by the Indian space agency for their lunar orbiter Chandrayaan-3. Both projects involve code development in IDL and/or python.

Special skills needed

Programming skills (preferably python), an interest in space science, some physics training

Majors

Physics, astrophysics, computer science

Years

3rd Year Students, 4th Year Students- Seniors, ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work)

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences

Project # 130

Center name: Online research on honeybee colonies
Campus/Location: Tempe, Polytechnic
Faculty lead: Hong Lei

Project description

As an eusocial species, honeybee colonies are known to demonstrate age dependent behaviors. Young bees take care of the brood; older bees become forager. At any given time, different individuals are performing different behaviors in the hive. Recognizing and quantify these behaviors is important for understanding organizing principles of a society, but this task is challenging because of large number of bees. Could this work be automated by a computerized tracker powered by machine learning?

Special skills needed

Machine learning, Matlab, Arduino, Jetson Nano, computer vision

Majors

Computer science, Biology

Years

ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work), 2nd Year Students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics, Engineering

Project # 132

Center name: Biodiversity Knowledge Integration Center
Campus/Location: Fully remote
Faculty lead: Chandra Earl

Project description

This project applies occupancy modeling—a statistical method for estimating species presence and detection probabilities—to NEON (National Ecological Observatory Network) species data. While there is no predefined research question, students will have the opportunity to develop their own biological question and apply these models to explore species distributions and habitat use. This project is ideal for students interested in ecological research, quantitative modeling, and gaining experience with NEON data while addressing species and environmental dynamics.

All projects will have myself as a faculty lead (with others assisting depending on the project) and I'd accept one student per project.

Special skills needed

Students must be computer savvy and either have some familiarity with data science/coding (either in Python or R) or the desire/time to learn the fundamentals as a part of the internship. While an interest in general biology/ecology is preferred as these projects lie at the intersection of computer science and biology, deep knowledge is not necessary.

Majors

Biological Sciences, Biology, Data Science, Environmental Science

Years

ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work), 4th Year Students- Seniors, 3rd Year Students, 2nd Year Students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics

Project # 133

Center name: Biodiversity Knowledge Integration Center
Campus/Location: Fully remote
Faculty lead: Chandra Earl

Project description

This project focuses on building an automated pipeline to collect biodiversity data from Reddit and upload it to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Using Python, SQL, and Apache Airflow, the pipeline processes posts related to species sightings and geographic locations. The student will work on implementing and optimizing a cloud-based workflow, integrating the ChatGPT API for data extraction, and ensuring the extracted data meets quality and formatting standards for GBIF. This project provides hands-on experience in data engineering, pipeline development, and leveraging AI-powered tools to solve global biodiversity challenges.

All projects will have myself as a faculty lead (with others assisting depending on the project) and I'd accept one student per project.

Special skills needed

Students must be computer savvy and either have some familiarity with data science/coding (either in Python or R) or the desire/time to learn the fundamentals as a part of the internship. While an interest in general biology/ecology is preferred as these projects lie at the intersection of computer science and biology, deep knowledge is not necessary.

Majors

Biological Sciences, Biology, Data Science, Environmental Science

Years

ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work), 4th Year Students- Seniors, 3rd Year Students, 2nd Year Students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics

Project # 134

Center name: Biodiversity Knowledge Integration Center
Campus/Location: Fully remote
Faculty lead: Chandra Earl

Project description

This project applies inverse matrix population models (MPMs) to study the population dynamics of native Hawaiian land snails, which face severe declines due to habitat loss, invasive species, and climate change. Using R, the study analyzes monthly population data from captive rearing programs to estimate key demographic parameters like survival and fecundity rates. Students will refine and implement stage-structured models using methods such as Wood’s quadratic programming and time-averaged vital rates. This project is ideal for students interested in learning the basics of data modeling and conservation, with a focus on applying quantitative tools to inform management strategies for endangered species.

All projects will have myself as a faculty lead (with others assisting depending on the project) and I'd accept one student per project.

Special skills needed

Students must be computer savvy and either have some familiarity with data science/coding (either in Python or R) or the desire/time to learn the fundamentals as a part of the internship. While an interest in general biology/ecology is preferred as these projects lie at the intersection of computer science and biology, deep knowledge is not necessary.

Majors

Biological Sciences, Biology, Data Science, Environmental Science

Years

ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work), 4th Year Students- Seniors, 3rd Year Students, 2nd Year Students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics

Project # 135

Center name: Biodiversity Knowledge Integration Center
Campus/Location: Fully remote
Faculty lead: Chandra Earl

Project description

This project focuses on developing an OpenAI-powered assistant to help users navigate NEON (National Ecological Observatory Network) text and protocols. The assistant will function as a chatbot, providing recommendations for datasets and resources based on user queries. While the project is in its early stages, students will research methods for training and customizing OpenAI models to understand NEON-specific content and design workflows to create a functional, user-friendly tool. This project is ideal for students interested in AI applications, data science, and developing tools to make ecological data more accessible.

All projects will have myself as a faculty lead (with others assisting depending on the project) and I'd accept one student per project.

Special skills needed

Students must be computer savvy and either have some familiarity with data science/coding (either in Python or R) or the desire/time to learn the fundamentals as a part of the internship. While an interest in general biology/ecology is preferred as these projects lie at the intersection of computer science and biology, deep knowledge is not necessary.

Majors

Biological Sciences, Biology, Data Science, Environmental Science

Years

ASU Online Barrett Honors Students (fully remote work), 4th Year Students- Seniors, 3rd Year Students, 2nd Year Students

Themes

Cross-listed with the following themes:

Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, Data Analytics and Mathematics