Summer Research Fellow Spotlight Gavin Norman
"Insects are some of the most diverse organisms on the planet. Furthermore, most species of insects rely on a plant host for nourishment, shelter, rearing, and even mating purposes. As the climate continues to change, along with the distribution of plants and insects, the likelihood for these host-dependent species to make a host shift increases dramatically. Our model species, the pine sawfly, is heavily dependent on its host pine species. N. pinetum is a specialist that specifically interacts with white pine, while N. lecontei is a generalist that can survive on multiple pines. Throughout its lifecycle the sawfly uses its host for feeding, mating, and growing as larva. The purpose of this project is to produce a series of crosses between these two species to uncover the genetic underpinnings of these performance differences. In particular, crossing these two species together to produce hybrid offspring, which he will then use to produce recombinant offspring with different combinations of host-use genes."
Q: How did you first get interested in undergraduate research at UK?
A: "I took BIO 198 with Dr. Weisrock my freshman year and he introduced me to other research oriented courses that have given me a plethora of experiences in undergraduate research."
Q: How long have you been engaged in undergraduate research?
A: "Two semesters of BIO 395 and two summers of UGR at UK."
Q: Describe what a typical day of remote summer research activity looks like for you. How does this differ from your pre-COVID research activity?
A: "Everyday I score sawfly mating videos that are shared with me on Google Drive for various behaviors and record the times at which the pairs mate, if they mate, for about three and a half hours. Then, I go looking for sawflies to rear for around one and a half hours, if the weather is good. However, if the weather is bad, I spend an hour and a half doing literature searches for reviews on assortative mating on Google Scholar."
Q: What has been the most exciting aspect of your research so far?
A: "Going out to search for sawflies. Mostly, because I always end up in some random part of the forest far from the trail because I found a good run of pine. Also, because the satisfaction of finding a colony is as rewarding as getting an "A" on your genetics exam."
Q: What advice would you give to other UK students thinking about doing research?
A: "Look through the list of available faculty mentors for your department and email a mentor researching a topic that really interests you. Also, don't be afraid to ask questions. You will learn so much more and have a much more enriched experience. "
The UK Office of Undergraduate Research's Summer Research & Creativity Fellowship program provides undergraduates with the opportunity to study in a wide variety of disciplines while doing intensive and self-directed research under the supervision of a faculty mentor.