HRP SU18-24: Research Opportunity with Dr. Zhao-Wen Wang

Project Mentor

Dr. Zhao-Wen Wang
Neuroscience

Undergraduate Research Opportunity Description

Project Description An automated worm tracking system (Track-A-Worm) developed in the Wang lab allows quantitative analyses of locomotion behavior of C. elegans, which is very useful to interrogating gene functions. The software component of Track-A-Worm was developed to run with the Matlab in Windows environment. However, it cannot quantify worm locomotion parameters accurately in new versions of Matlab. We need to make the software fully compatible with new Matlab and hope to eventually make Track-A-Worm a standalone system.
Project Direction Track-A-Worm has proved to be very useful to worm research labs. Although the software has several major new features and runs much faster since its publication (PLoS One 2013), its requirement for the Matlab and glitches with newer versions of the Matlab have prevented implementation of the system in more research labs. We are hoping that the student is interested in continuing this work into the academic year and publishing a paper based on a new version of the software.
Mentorship and Supervision
  • 1. We will demonstrate how Track-A-Worm works.
  • 2. We will explain what improvements in the software are needed.
  • 3. We will work together with the student from time to time to test the software.
  • 4. We will help the student to publish a paper after the work is successfully completed.
Student Qualifications We are hoping to recruit a student in the computer science or biomedical engineering major. Candidates for this position need to be familiar with Matlab and software programming. Please check this website for further information about the software: https://health.uconn.edu/wang-lab/track-a-worm/ Minimum GPA: 3.0. Minimum Science GPA: 3.0.
Summer Schedule Options Research Dates: 9-10 full-time weeks to be scheduled between May 7 and August 3, 2018
Schedule: Weekly schedule is flexible. The shuttle-supported work schedule (M-F, 9am-4pm) is fine.
Project Continuation Fall 2018, Spring 2019
Academic Year Time Commitment 6 hours/week
Possible Thesis Project Yes

Application

Submit an online application for this research opportunity using the form below. The application deadline is Friday, January 26, 2018.

This application requires a resume or CV, an unofficial transcript, and a brief statement of research interests.