Research
Our lab is mainly interested in parasitic worms (helminths) that cause pronounced diseases to humans and animals. Many of the human diseases are termed Neglected Tropical Diseases, because they infect hundreds of millions of people in tropical regions but are sadly overlooked by R&D efforts in developed countries.
People
Nic
Nic
HeHim
Principal investigator
Previous: UW-Madison
Eau Claire, WI (via Huxley, IA)
Rachel
Rachel
SheHer
Undergraduate researcher
Major: Microbiology
Ellendale, MN
Chase
Chase
HeHim
Undergraduate researcher
Major: Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
Woodbury, MN
Sophie
Sophie
SheHer
Undergraduate researcher
Major: Bioinformatics
South Beloit, IL
Avery
Avery
SheHer
Undergraduate researcher
Major: Biochemistry/Molecular BiologyMinor: Spanish
Onalaska, WI
Helen
Helen
SheHer
Undergraduate researcher
Major: Biology
Eau Claire, WI
Saige
Saige
SheHer
Undergraduate researcher
Major: Biology (Pre-Vet)
Muskego, WI
Sonja 
Sonja
SheHer
Undergraduate researcher
Major: Biology (Pre-Professional Health)
Apple Valley, MN
Alumni
Alumni
Projects
Flatworm sensory behaviors
RachelChaseSonja SaigeSophie
Flatworm sensory behaviors
RachelChaseSonja SaigeSophiewrmXpress
NicSophie
wrmXpress
NicSophieGround squirrel parasites
Ground squirrel parasites
Mosquito larvae sensory behaviors
AveryHelen
Mosquito larvae sensory behaviors
AveryHelenI am recruiting undergraduate researchers for the fall and spring terms, as well as Winterim and Summer REU programs.
Interested? Get in touch →
Potential projects include:
- Establishing new innovate behavioral assays by designing and implementing a custom imaging platform (📷 Cameras! 🤖 3D printing! 🪱 Worms!)
- Engineering software to track and extract features from videos of moving animals ( 🖥️ Computers! 🐍 Python!)
- Deciphering how parasites are able to find snails (🧠 Behaviors! 🐌 Animals!)
- Surveying the intestinal parasite community of California ground squirrels (💩 Poop! 🐿️ Squirrels!)
Publications
Click the year to expand the publication list.
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📄 2025
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📄 2023
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📄 2022
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📄 2020
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📄 2019
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📄 2018 and earlier
Lab protocols
Name | Status | Category |
|---|---|---|
Snail and schistosome recipes | Complete | SchistosomesSnailsRecipes |
Harvesting schistosome miracidia | Complete | Schistosomes |
Snail husbandry | Complete | Snails |
Preparing samples for Plasmidsaurus sequencing | Complete | Lab tasks |
RNA extraction from Biomphalaria | Complete | Molecular biology |
Squirrel fecal flotation | Complete | Parasitology |
Genewiz file transfer | Complete | Bioinformatics |
Tracking InVision videos | Complete | BioinformaticsImaging |
Video recording with the Zeiss Stemi 508 | Complete | Imaging |
Laser cutting acrylic at the Blugold Makerspace | Complete | Imaging |
InVision arena assembly | Complete | Imaging |
InVision imaging | Complete | Imaging |
Miracidia behavioral assay with the InVision device | Complete | ImagingSnailsSchistosomes |
Mosquito husbandry | Complete | Mosquitoes |
Planaria husbandry | Complete | Planaria |
Infecting snails | In progress | SchistosomesSnails |
Autoclave | In progress | Lab tasks |
Gel electrophoresis | In progress | Molecular biology |
18S metabarcoding analysis | In progress | Bioinformatics |
Using the BOSE supercomputer | In progress | Bioinformatics |
SLEAP tracking InVision videos | In progress | MosquitoesPlanaria |
Running wrmXpress on BOSE | In progress | |
Template | Not started | SchistosomesSnailsLab tasksMolecular biologyRecipes |