Undergraduate research in genome engineering and stem cells
Research Description
Dr. Zhongde Wang is looking for undergraduate student researchers to work on stem cell research and genome engineering. The current research in the lab is focusing on the following areas:
1) developing CRISPR/Cas9-based techniques to conducting genome engineering/editing in mammalian species for human disease modeling; the animal species we are working with are quite unique, including the naked mole rat, guinea pig, Syrian hamster, Peromyscus sheep and alpaca, 2) developing and assisted reproduction technologies (such as IVF, ICSI, pronuclear injection, embryo transfer, and somatic cell nuclear transfer or cloning) in these species, and 3) establish embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells and spermatogonial stem cells in these species. My lab produce the world first genetically engineered Syrian hamster, guinea pig and Peromyscus that are being used world wide as animal models to study human diseases, including cancer, metabolic syndrome and COVID-19.
Dr. Wang's work was featured in ABC4 News, read the synopsis below:
Recently, we reported in Nature that the hACE2 transgenic hamsters developed in the Wang lab are highly susceptible to the BA.2 variant of SARS-CoV-2 and develop disease (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35576972/). Very recently, we have also shown that the hACE2 transgenic hamsters are highly susceptible to BA.4 and BA.5 variants. To our knowledge, the hACE2 transgenic hamsters are the only rodent COVID-19 model that develop diseases from the infection by these new variants; therefore, this novel hamster line provides a much-needed small rodent model for testing drugs and vaccines against these variants.
Qualifications and Requirements
Students should have taken entry levels of biology and chemistry classes. Individuals who have taken more advanced classes in life science are preferred.
Application Components
Please reach out to Dr. Zhongde Wang (zonda.wang@usu.edu) for application information.
Financial Compensation
Funding is available depending on student needs and experience.