Biology Undergraduate Research

A great way to get hands-on experience in science is by collaborating with a faculty member on a research project. Undergraduates are encouraged to do research at Ohio State Lima to enhance their educational experience. Undergraduate research is also an increasingly important experience to have for applying to both professional school and graduate school.

Recent undergraduate research projects in the Ohio State Lima Biology Department

  • Recovering the evolutionary history of rodents in West Africa and South Central Asia using genetic data
  • How survival varies by habitat and migratory status
  • The distribution and soil preferences of rare orchids within a nature preserve
  • How digestive system morphology varies with diet and migratory status

To get involved in research, contact a faculty mentor:

Dr. Ryan Norris - Studies evolution of small mammals

Dr. Robin Bagley - Studies host-parasite relationships

Dr. Zac Beres - Studies evolution of herbicide resistance

Ohio State Lima student research presentations:

George Bauer. 2019. Do forest refugia and riverine barriers promote genetic diversity among species in the Hybomys division? Lima Campus Undergraduate Research Forum, OSU Lima and Denman Undergraduate Research Forum, OSU.

Carissa A. Bonham. 2019. Habitat description for Spiranthes ovalis var. erostellata at Oakwoods Nature Preserve. Lima Campus Undergraduate Research Forum, OSU Lima.

Baylie Brock. 2019. Habitat selection influences survival rates in house wrens. Lima Campus Undergraduate Research Forum, OSU Lima

Rachel A. Crites. 2019. Intraspecific variation in the skulls of West African soft-furred mice, Praomys rostratus. Lima Campus Undergraduate Research Forum, OSU Lima.

Parth Patel. 2019. Comparison of the survival rates between migratory and resident birds. Lima Campus Undergraduate Research Forum, OSU Lima.

Danielle Schramm, Annie Schramm, and Haley Snyder. 2019. Synthesis of glutamate racemase inhibitors via structure aided drug design. Lima Campus Undergraduate Research Forum, OSU Lima.

Amanda K. Weller. 2019. Systematics and Ecology of the Brush-tailed Mice, Calomyscus, Based on Cytb and Rbp3. Lima Campus Undergraduate Research Forum, OSU Lima and Denman Undergraduate Research Forum, OSU.

Ethan Friend. 2018. How diet and migratory status relate to digestive morphology of birds. Lima Campus Undergraduate Research Forum, OSU Lima

Hamzeh Jajeh and Muhammed Jajeh. 2018. Effects of the emerald ash borer on avian population abundance. Evidence for a 'Trophic Subsidy'? Lima Campus Undergraduate Research Forum, OSU Lima

Adriana Jurich. 2018. Recovering the evolutionary history of the humped-nose mice (Hybomys) and relatives using the IRBP gene. Denman Undergraduate Research Forum, OSU.

Stephanie Longwell and Taylor Ball. 2018. Potential for mature ash tree regeneration in Tecumseh Natural Area. Lima Campus Undergraduate Research Forum, OSU Lima

Trenton Ward. 2018. Feasibility of using drones to detect great blue heron and fox squirrel nests. Lima Campus Undergraduate Research Forum, OSU Lima

Hannah Downer. 2017. Determining the evolutionary divergence date for Mus–Rattus. Denman Undergraduate Research Forum, OSU Columbus and Lima Campus Undergraduate Research Forum, OSU Lima.

Stephanie Hempfling. 2017. The effect of diet on avian cecum size and intestinal absorbancy rate. Lima Campus Undergraduate Research Forum, OSU Lima.

Erin Place. 2017. Variation in organ size between migratory and non-migratory birds. Lima Campus Undergraduate Research Forum, OSU Lima and American Ornithological Society Conference, East Lansing MI.

Adnan Siddique. 2017. A comparison of bird digestive systems by diet. Lima Campus Undergraduate Research Forum, OSU Lima.

Rebecca Elting. 2016. A test of the effectiveness of permethrin to reduce arthropod abundance and increase nesting success of the house wren (Troglodytes aedon). Lima Campus Undergraduate Research Forum, OSU Lima.

Erica Harvey. 2016. Using plumage reflectance to distinguish between greater and lesser prairie-chickens in an area of sympatry. Lima Campus Undergraduate Research Forum, OSU Lima.


Students may also investigate undergraduate research resources at the Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry in Columbus.