Maria Abate
Research Program:
Team Cichlid Research Group
Research Profile:
Jessica Giannetto, a champion at the microscope.
Research Project:
Recognition of heterospecific
anti-predator odor signals and the consequent brain development in juvenile Nicaraguan
cichlids
Based on previous research, it is known
that freshwater Nicaraguan cichlids can detect alarm cue from other members of
its own species; in other words, conspecific alarm
cue. However, the question arises whether or not the fish can utilize alarm
cues from other species. The research I conducted helped to draw conclusions on
this topic.
My experience with Team Cichlid has been
great. I started volunteering in the lab as a sophomore and am now going into
my 3rd year. Prof. Abate has been my
mentor and friend for these 3 years. As an undergraduate, especially a
sophomore, it was difficult to find a position in a lab doing research. I heard
about Team Cichlid through my marine biology class and decided to get involved.
I started volunteering and helping with husbandry. I helped other
undergraduates with their research, and eventually had the opportunity to work
on my own project. After discussing my interests with Professor Abate, we
decided that I would focus on the neurological development of Nicaraguan cichlids.
The fish were exposed to alarm cue over the summer by other members of Team
Cichlid, and then I jumped in to do dissections, measurements, and analyzed
data. I could not have done my work without the constant help of Prof. Abate and
the other undergraduate members of the team.
Current Members of
Team Cichlid:
Robert “Will” Abdu
(bottom right)
Maggie Buttlar
Dan Crawford
Victoria Gau
Zackary Gersten
Jessica Giannetto
Hannah Harvey
Jaho King (bottom center)
Laura Le (top and
bottom left)
Conor McManus
Team Cichlid at EEEF in BU
Today.
Team Cichlid Conference Papers and Undergraduate Grants
Some Boston University Team Cichlid Alumnae:
Rear: Hung Pham, Andrew
Eng, Kristen Vollrath,
Front: Elise Magarian,
Nancy Lee
Andrew Eng (CAS BIO 2007) currently is a research technician in the Center
for Brain Injury and Repair at the Department of Neurosurgery, University of
Pennsylvania.
I worked as part of Team Cichlid from
summer of 2006 to summer of 2007, with two semesters of directed undergrad
research. Team Cichlid was a unique experience because we worked very
closely with each other (being a small group) and worked very closely with Professor
Abate. It was my first foray into scientific research, and I learned
about many other (but still fundamental, vital) aspects of research beyond just
conducting experiments - grant writing, data interpretation and presentation,
teamwork, coping with setbacks, and being [obsessively] dedicated to and
excited about science. If the experience had been any different, it would be
difficult to imagine that I would be where I am now, seriously considering
research as a career.
Kristen Vollrath (CAS
BIO 2007)
Currently,
I am a graduate student at San Francisco State University and conduct
my research at the California Academy of Sciences (a natural history
museum). My research is on the origin of sea urchins and creating a species
level phylogeny focusing on the earliest (fossil) echinoids. My work in the
cichlid lab was immensely helpful for preparing me for graduate school in
many ways. Although I am not currently working on animal behavior, the
skills I learned through the cichlid lab (hard work, independent
thinking, scientific writing, statistics, etc) and my experience there, have
not only helped me get into graduate school, but succeed as a scientist.
Hung
Pham (CAS BIO 2007) worked as a Research
Assistant at Phylonix Inc. in Cambridge, MA after
graduation.
My time being on the cichlid team had been
an enriching part of my research experiences. I have learned a lot about
olfaction and its importance in convict cichlids. The most important thing
about being on the team is the connections and student and professor
relationship. This also helped increase my overall experience at Boston
University.
Nancy
Lee (CAS BIO 2007) works as a Research
Assistant at the Brigham and Womens Hospital in
Boston. Nancy stills sends us tips on
where to find cichlids from local aquarists.
She will be attending UMASS Medical School.
Elise Magarian
(CAS BIO 2007) works as a Research Assistant at the Boston Children’s
Hospital. Elise presented her cichlid research at local conferences after
graduation. She will be attending a
graduate program in nursing.
Craig O’Connell
(CAS BIO 2005) is a graduate
student at Coastal Carolina University studying sharks and ways to help
conserve them. When Craig was a junior at Boston University, he began the
cichlid colony to study their parental behavior. He did not know at the time
that he would be the first member of Team Cichlid!
More Team Cichlid profiles coming soon…….
Teaching and
Curriculum Development
Research
Interests and Collaborations
Undergraduate
Research Program: Research
Send an email to Maria Abate