{"id":26,"date":"2015-11-09T16:57:35","date_gmt":"2015-11-09T21:57:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cob-dev\/?page_id=26"},"modified":"2026-03-04T09:17:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T14:17:20","slug":"research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/research\/","title":{"rendered":"Research & Internships"},"content":{"rendered":"

The College of Science encourages institutional partnerships for research on the development of improved models for teaching, learning and cross-disciplinary integration of science, mathematics, and technology and the understanding of their impact on society.<\/p>\n

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Research<\/h2>\n\t\n
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\n \"Biology\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n Biology plants group explores spring flora at Carter Caves Wildflower Weekend\n <\/a>\n\n \n April 11, 2026\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\t\t
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\n \"Biology\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n Biology student earns prestigious national research fellowship\n <\/a>\n\n \n April 9, 2026\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\t\t
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\n \"Biology\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n Biology professor Dr. Valluri recognized for breakthrough cancer diagnostic innovation\n <\/a>\n\n \n April 9, 2026\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\t\t
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\n \"Biology\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n Biology students earn awards at 2026 Association of Southeastern Biologists meeting\n <\/a>\n\n \n March 30, 2026\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Dr. Nadja Spitzer – Functional Neuroscience & Transcriptomics<\/h3>\n\n\n\t
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Dr. Spitzer leads Theme 2 of the West Virginia Network for Functional Neuroscience & Transcriptomics (WV-NFNT). This theme focuses on building jurisdictional capabilities in understanding structure-function mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity that occur in response to external inputs or perturbations and contribute to generating and modulating the central nervous system.<\/p>\n

Visit Dr. Spitzer’s research website<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n

Dr. Yongick Kim \u2013 Circadian Clocks in Cyanobacteria<\/h3>\n

Research in Dr. Kim\u2019s laboratory explores how tiny organisms called cyanobacteria keep time using their circadian clock system. This clock is built from three main proteins\u2014KaiA, KaiB, and KaiC\u2014that work together to generate a ~24-hour rhythm. We study how these proteins interact, change shape, and control when the clock \u201cticks,\u201d using a combination of biochemistry and molecular biology techniques. Students in the lab get hands-on experience with protein purification, gel electrophoresis, and other tools to see these clock proteins in action. Our goal is to better understand how biological clocks work at the molecular level and to explore how this knowledge can be applied to fields such as renewable energy, biotechnology, and human health.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Visit Dr. Kim\u2019s research website<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n

Dr. Kyle Palmquist – Plant Ecology<\/h3>\n

Dr. Palmquist\u2019s research focuses on characterizing how plant communities are responding to multiple sources of environmental change ultimately to inform land management and conservation. Ongoing projects in the lab include: mapping salt marsh decline and die-off in response to sea-level rise, evaluating the strategic use of livestock grazing to reduce invasive species, and improving ecological forecasts of plant community responses to climate change.<\/p>\n

\"Dr.
Graduate student Catie Schwartzmann, Dr. Palmquist, and collaborators at Boise State University collecting plant community data in central Idaho prior to sheep grazing that targets invasive species.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Visit Dr. Palmquist\u2019s research website<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n

CDDC – Cell Differentiation and Development Center<\/h3>\n

The Cell Differentiation and Development Center is an inter-disciplinary aimed at increasing institutional research capacity at Marshall University. The products and outcomes of this venture will be applied to further technology-based economic development in Huntington, Cabell county and the surrounding area.<\/p>\n

Dr. Victor Fet – Scorpiology<\/h3>\n

Dr. Fet’s research involves reconstructing scorpion evolution and phylogeny with molecular techniques, particularly mitochondrial DNA PCR and sequence analysis – the same methods as are used in forensic science, DNA fingerprinting, and genetic engineering. It also covers taxonomy, systematics, paleontology, morphology, and various phenomena specific to scorpions, including in particular their sensory organs. Dr. Fet also contributes to the field as the editor of “Euscorpius”, the Occasional Publications in Scorpiology, an online peer-reviewed research journal and the only research periodical completely devoted to scorpions, mainly to their systematics.<\/p>\n

Visit Euscorpius<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n

Dr. Peter Saveliev – Digital Image Analysis<\/h3>\n

Dr. Peter Saveliev’s research is in digital image analysis. For this purpose, I use the techniques of algebraic topology, especially homology theory. The applications are: image enhancement, image matching, search, and retrieval, tumor detection and other computer aided diagnosis, evaluation of the strength of a bone or other porous material, surveillance and other motion tracking tasks, and much more.<\/p>\n

Visit Dr. Saveliev’s website<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n

Dr. Jagan Valluri – Cell and Space Biology<\/h3>\n

Dr. Jagan Valluri’s research centers around the effects of microgravity on biological systems; however, studies that are underway range from stem cell research in microgravity to the effects of microgravity on anti-tumor natural products.<\/p>\n

Visit Dr. Valluri’s research website<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n

Additional Research Opportunities<\/h3>\n