Learn more about the research opportunities in CREST

How it works

After students acceptance into the CREST program, students identify which research topics and/or mentors they are most interested in. The CREST leadership team will contact the mentors to pair students with faculty members in March-April. The student and mentor will meet to discuss the potential project, expectations, and scheduling. The projects will start in summer and last through spring quarter, with flexible scheduling of ~9 hours/week each quarter on the research project. The student and mentor can adjust the hours per week/quarter as they would like to accommodate the student and research project.

Not sure if you’re ready for a research experience?

CREST does not require any previous research experience. We have designed seminars to help participants learn about the scientific process and created activities to help you navigate your project. And you won’t be alone; we’ll have regular activities where CREST participants will be able to meet other science education students as you complete the program together. We’ll also have explicit discussions on how to adapt your experiences into future K-12 lessons.

Research Topics and Mentors

A list of faculty members and research topics available are listed below, with an example of a potential research experience (other projects may be available within each research topic). Topics span Biology, Chemistry, Geosciences, and Physics, including several interdisciplinary projects. If you’re already interested in working with a particular faculty member, you’ll be able to let us know in the application process. If you’re not sure, we’ll help you find a mentor in a topic you’re interested in. You can learn more about faculty members research below and on the science department faculty websites.

Jump to a discipline: Biology, Chemistry, Geosciences, Physics

Biology Mentors:

Mentor	Research Topic	Potential Research Experience for CREST Scholars (other projects may be available)
Paul Spruell	Conservation and management of native fishes	In Dr. Spruell’s lab, a participating student would have the opportunity to sample fish using both passive and active capture methods (e.g. fish traps and backpack and boat electrofishing). Students would also have the opportunity to collect genetic information from the samples collected in the field. Potential lab-based techniques include DNA extraction, agarose gel electrophoresis, PCR, and analysis of genotypic and sequence data.
Camille McNeely	Stream ecology and aquatic invertebrate zoology	Dr. McNeely is an aquatic ecologist with an interest in the connections between ecosystem processes, community interactions, and the influence of natural landscapes. Her interests include how resource fluxes impact organism interactions and how individual species affect ecosystem processes.  Her research often focuses on invertebrates, nutrient cycling, or food webs. Dr. McNeely is currently collaborating with the Methow Beaver Project in central Washington to evaluate stream restoration techniques, and the Spokane Tribe of Indians to survey invertebrates of the Spokane River Basin in support of salmon reintroduction. Other recent projects include nutrient assessments of local streams, lakes, and wetlands, and surveys of freshwater sponges and fairy shrimp.  CREST students working with Dr. McNeely will have the opportunity to learn a diversity of field and laboratory techniques in aquatic ecology. Dr. McNeely has advised over 50 undergraduate students in research projects and these students regularly present their work at local, regional, and or national conferences and some earn co-authorship on manuscripts.
Jason Ashley	Bone Cell Biology	Dr. Ashley is a cell and molecular biologist with a research interest in bone physiology and pathology. Specifically, he studies the molecular mechanisms of osteoclast differentiation and function. When osteoclast activity is properly coupled with the bone-forming function of osteoblasts, bone integrity is preserved and adapted to stress. Dysfunction of osteoclast activity, however, can result in disease. For example, insufficient osteoclast activity can lead to abnormally high bone mass; these dense bones are paradoxically more prone to fracture due to poor matrix organization. Conversely, excessive osteoclast activity results in loss of bone mass and increased risk of fractures. A better understanding of osteoclast function will allow for better treatment of both conditions. CREST students working in Dr. Ashley’s lab will learn a wide variety of molecular biology (e.g. Western blotting, end-point and real-time RT-PCR, cDNA cloning, and enzymatic activity assays) and cell culture skills (e.g., culture and differentiation of primary and immortalized osteoclast precursors, production of retroviral and lentiviral gene vectors, and brightfield and fluorescence microscopy). Dr. Ashley has advised over 45 undergraduate students in research projects within the past 5 years at EWU; these students regularly present their work at local and national conferences, and some earn co-authorship on manuscripts.
Andrea Castillo	Molecular Microbiology	Dr. Andrea Castillo is a molecular microbiologist interested in the role of small RNAs (sRNA) in bacterial virulence, developing probiotics for therapeutic intervention, and manuka honey’s impact on bacterial physiology. Some current projects include: 1) identifying mRNA regulatory targets of sRNAs located in a clinically relevant DNA region of the bacterial pathogen Helicobacter pylori, 2) engineering Lactococcus lactis to express high levels of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA, for development as a therapeutic, and 3) exploring manuka honey’s antibacterial mechanisms and its impact on formation of antibiotic resistant bacterial life forms. CREST students working in Dr. Castillo’s lab will learn a wide variety of molecular and microbiology skills including making solutions and culture media, culturing and genetic manipulation of bacteria, and monitoring gene expression by Northern blot, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and RNA-sequencing. They will also develop scientific writing and presentation skills by applying for internally funded grants and presenting their work at the Eastern Washington University Student Research and Creative Works Symposium and American Society for Microbiology Northwest Regional Conference. Multiple students have earned co-authorship on manuscripts. Dr. Castillo has advised 34 undergraduate students in research projects in the last 15 years at EWU.
Rebecca Brown	Plant ecology, restoration ecology, riparian ecology	Dr. Brown studies plant ecology in a range of ecosystems, including riparian zones, Inland Northwest prairies, and the Channeled Scablands. Her recent projects include riparian restoration after dam removal on the Elwha River, Washington, prairie restoration on the EWU Campus, invasive annual grass distribution and management, and assessing the role beavers play in mitigating wildfire effects in eastern Washington. CREST students working in Dr. Brown’s lab will learn a wide variety of field, lab, and analytical skills required for understanding plant ecology, including effective experimental design, plot and transect surveys of plant communities, topographic surveys, mixed linear modeling, and reading scientific literature. Dr. Brown has advised over 50 undergraduate students in research projects in the last 20 years at EWU. These students regularly present their work at regional, national, and/or international conferences and some earn co-authorship on scientific publications.
Judd A. Case	Vertebrate evolution especially of mammals in Gondwana	Dr. Case’s research focuses on four basic areas that encompass his own research as well as the areas in which he teaches.  In his lab, a participating student (as have students in the past, most of which resulted in the students presenting their research at the EWU Student Research & Creative Works Symposium) may explore one the following areas:  1) Vertebrate (primarily mammalian) paleontology, here students have explored dietary niches based on tooth morphology and microwear patterns on tooth enamel to determine diet.  One student worked on an Antarctic dinosaur that resulted in a publication and another researched on fossil lizards from Australia for a soon to be submitted publication. 2) Comparison of dental morphology, dental pathology or jaw form and function of fossil hominins and modern humans. 3) Histology and pathology of tissues from normal to abnormal and how disease conditions alter the normal cell morphology as the disease progresses. Past projects have looked at bone, liver, kidney, heart, pancreas, and lymphatic tissues. 4) Comparison of normal blood conditions to disease conditions and how the disease alters the normal blood tissue.  Past projects have examined sickle cell disease, Thalassemia, multiple myeloma, diagnosis of cancers through blood morphology and blood panel data.
Justin Bastow	Ecosystem ecology, soil food webs, insect ecology	Dr. Justin Bastow is currently researching how soil food webs and pollinator communities respond to prairie restoration. His soil food web research includes research on carbon storage in terrestrial ecosystems, and how soil food webs are affected by climate change. His pollinator restoration research looks at how wild bees interact with native plants, and the factors that limit the populations and overall biodiversity of this important group of insects. Collaborators working with Dr. Bastow would combine field sampling of the EWU Prairie Restoration site as well as prairie remnant sites with lab work to quantify soil properties or identify wild bees. Depending on the interests of the collaborator, this work could also involve small scale experiments in the field or lab to test hypotheses about how to promote soil carbon sequestration or wild pollinator populations. Pollinator research is most suitable to spring and summer quarters, while soil research can be conducted throughout the year.
Joanna Joyner-Matos	Comparative Physiology, Cellular-Level Processes	Dr. Joyner-Matos’ research focuses on the comparative and ecological physiology of aquatic invertebrates. Her research topics often focus on changes to water quality, such as the consequences of run-off from agriculture and from roads, and trace metal pollution downstream from mining sites. In her lab, a participating student is likely to engage in both field work, learning how to sample water quality and collect invertebrates from nearby lakes and wetlands, and will engage in laboratory studies. Short-term laboratory studies involve measuring traits of invertebrates that were collected from the field sites, including their size, behavior, reproductive activity and (as resources permit) physiological traits such as gene or protein expression.  A longer-term laboratory component to the study involves culturing aquatic invertebrates that are easy to maintain in the laboratory, such as the amphipod (a small crustacean that can be fed fish food), exposing the invertebrates to a range of conditions that mimic conditions at field sites, and then measuring relevant fitness-related, physiological, and/or behavioral traits. Dr. Joyner-Matos’ students present their results at the annual EWU symposium, are coauthors or presenters at regional or national conferences, and serve as coauthors on peer-reviewed manuscripts.
Luis Matos	Evolutionary Genetics, Host/Pathogen Interactions	Dr. Matos’ research interests are twofold: the evolutionary genetics of host/pathogen interactions and the development of probiotics for therapeutic purposes. In host-pathogen interactions, he is interested in understanding how pathogen genetics and virulence change following host shifts to permit a successful long-term infection of the novel host. With the probiotics work, he is interested in engineering the food-grade bacterium Lactococcus lactis as a delivery vehicle for therapeutic proteins. To understand host/pathogen interactions, the Matos lab uses Drosophila and Drosophila-specific viruses in a model system to learn about the evolution of virulence (harm to host) following host shifts by studying the genetics of the pathogen and pathogenesis in the host. Their goal is to understand why pathogens are capable of moving across host species (e.g. bats to humans in coronaviruses). Toward developing probiotics the Matos lab is working to develop a probiotic that would serve as an alternative therapy for acne. Current therapies are very harsh on the skin and reduce skin microbiome diversity to harmful levels. Another project currently in the lab involves engineering a probiotic organism to reduce general inflammation via modulation of the gut microbiome. CREST students working in Dr. Matos’ lab will learn a wide variety of molecular biology and microbiology skills (DNA purification, PCR, electrophoresis, restriction analysis, cloning, transformation, microscopy, media preparation, etc.). Dr. Matos has advised over 70 undergraduate students in research projects in the last 15 years at EWU and some of these students present their work at local, regional, and or national conferences. A project in the Matos lab might see a CREST student choose a gene, design a synthetic construct, have the gene synthesized, introduce the gene into a plasmid, transform the plasmid into a bacterial host, and conduct assays with the transformed organism to determine whether the engineered protein is producing the desired effect.
Jeni Walke	Microbial and Disease Ecology, Host-Microbiome Interactions	Dr. Walke’s research investigates the drivers of microbial community structure and function, particularly in host-associated microbiomes. Participating students in the Walke lab can gain experience in 1) field work with animals on a local wildlife refuge, 2) molecular and microbiological methods to quantify microbial community structure and function, and 3) computational bioinformatics to analyze complex DNA sequencing data.

Chemistry Mentors:

Mentor	Research Topic	Potential Research Experience for CREST Scholars (other projects may be available)
Jeffrey A. Rahn	Synthesis of inorganic compounds	Dr. Jeffery Rahn’s research involves the synthesis and characterization of transition metal compounds to examine how their structure affects the ways they react.
Wes E. Steiner	Analytical and Instrumental Analysis	Dr. Wes Steiner’s research focuses on the use of both quantitative chemical analysis and the principles of instrumental analysis to explore a wide variety of research topics. These research topics may include for example areas of research involving health, environment, agriculture, defense, and chemistry instruction. Presently Dr. Steiner’s research group is focused on the fundamental research mentorship of undergraduate students in the use of sample preparation, data acquisition, data analysis, report writing, and conference presentation as it is applied to the above-mentioned research topics. Here, for example, the use of a liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) system, could be actively employed to involve instructing undergraduates on the fundamental theory and operation of scanned monitoring to that of selected ion monitoring to establish retention times, target ion masses, and qualifying ion masses for use in both qualitative and quantitative method development assays for the common combinations of over the counter analgesics that may contain acetaminophen, ibuprofen, acetylsalicylic acid, and/or caffeine. Additionally, in a separate but related fundamental type of study, the identification and quantitation method development of assays for antibiotics, such as sulfamethoxazole, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, and tetracycline that may be found in animal originated food products such as milk and meats that can pose a possible health risk to humans could also be explored.
Tony Masiello	Molecular Spectroscopy	Detection of greenhouse gas and ozone-depleting molecules in the atmosphere is often reliant upon observing how molecules interact with light. Dr. Tony Masiello works with students to use lasers and/or infrared light to detect and analyze the way in which molecules absorb light. This not only gives insight into the quantum mechanical energy levels of molecules, but also helps scientist to determine the concentration of these gases in the environment.
Yao Houndonougbo	Atomic structural biology, virtual drug design, materials science, computer modeling and simulations	Dr. Yao Houndonougbo’s research focuses on the application of computer modeling and simulations to drug design and the study of protein-ligand interactions as well as the adsorption and transport properties in materials such as Metal–organic framework (MOF). Current research projects examine the docking of drug like molecules to human inosine triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase (ITPA), the interactions between small-molecule ligands and ITPA, and the mechanism of carbon dioxide adsorption in MOF. Students select parts of these projects based on their interest and effort to contribute. A standard one-year (three quarter terms) project begins with tutorials and modules to train students for the Linux operating system and the modeling software during their first quarter term. Students perform their computational modeling or simulation tasks related to their project and begin collecting data in the second quarter therm. Students analyze and interpret their data in the third quarter term. Finally, students present their research at the annual EWU student symposium and/or at ACS regional meetings.
Ashley Lamm	Polymer Synthesis	Plastics and polymers play a vital role in our daily lives due to their versatility and wide range of applications. However, their persistence in the environment poses significant ecological challenges. Dr. Ashley Lamm’s research is aimed at addressing this issue by developing environmentally degradable polymers. Under Dr. Lamm’s guidance, students are actively involved in synthesizing novel polymers and conducting comprehensive property analyses. Each student performs kinetic analyses on their synthesized polymers and presents their findings at the university’s research symposium. The outcomes of their research contribute to Dr. Lamm’s presentations at scientific conferences and may be included in her scholarly publications.

Geosciences Mentors:

Mentor	Research Topic	Potential Research Experience for CREST Scholars (other projects may be available)
Lauren Stachowiak	GIS, Wildfires	Dr. Stachowiak’s research focuses on dendrochronology, GIS, wildfire science, and anthropogenic climate change. An example of a project an undergraduate student worked on in Dr. Stachowiak’s lab focused on dendrochronology of an abandoned homestead. The student studied a site that historically was a town but now only has one structure, building footprints, and relic property treelines remaining. With Dr. Stechowiak’s mentorship, the student used dendrochronology and satellite imagery analysis to reconstruct the town’s history. The student presented the findings in a poster at EWU’s Research and Creative Works Symposium.
Sarah G. Tsikalas	Weather and climate patterns	Dr. Tsikalas’s research focuses on statistical analysis of changing weather patterns in the Pacific Northwest, investigating changes in temperature and moisture variables. A participating student would contribute to data collection, organization, and analysis using statistical software. Throughout the year, the student would gain hands-on experience in data manipulation, statistical modeling techniques, and interpretation of results, culminating in the submission of a peer-reviewed research paper and academic presentation.
Chad Pritchard	Groundwater Hydrology & Regional Geology	Dr. Pritchard’s research focuses on deciphering regional geology with a focus on modeling per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) fate and transport in the West Plains.  In Dr. Pritchard’s lab students analyze samples from field mapping of the West Plains including mineral separation with the US Geologic Survey for U/Pb age determination of 1.5 billion- to 49-million-year-old rocks in isolated buttes, analyzing geochemistry for identifying lava flows, or determining hydrologic and geotechnical properties of soil and rock.  Students work with regional and national leaders to help understand how geologic processes have changed over the last 1.5 billion years in the Pacific Northwest and how these rocks influence groundwater flow and the hydrogeologic cycle.
Richard Orndorff	Geotechnical Engineering, Surface Processes	Dr. Richard Orndorff’s research involves the geotechnical properties of earth materials and more specifically the properties of soils in the Inland Northwest. Recent projects have explored the geotechnical properties (including grain size distribution, optimal water content for compaction, unconfined compressive strength, shear strength, and Atterberg limits) of soils derived from Ice Age lake (Lakes Missoula, Lewis, and Columbia) sediments. Other recent projects focused on the properties of Mt. Mazama ash from the Latah Valley and variations in grain size and megaripple morphometry on the West Plains. Most recently, students have conducted research on the impact of elevation and slope aspect on the properties of soils underlying the Palouse Prairie Restoration Project at Eastern Washington University. A typical one-year project begins with identifying the topic of interest while taking GEOS 475 (Engineering Geology of Soil). Students learn and become proficient at ASTM standard tests then apply these tests to their soil samples. Results are interpreted and communicated at the annual EWU Student Research and Creative Works Symposium as well as regional professional conferences.
Erin D. Dascher	Watershed Science, GIS	Dr. Dascher’s research focuses on analyzing large geospatial datasets to assess land use/cover changes and prioritize restoration/conservation activities at a watershed scale. In their lab, a participating student would use geospatial visualization and spatial analysis techniques to assess complex environmental problems and to develop decision-support tools for stakeholders engaged in watershed management.
Carmen Nezat	Soil and Water Geochemistry	Dr. Carmen Nezat’s research explores how trace metals contribute to soil and water geochemistry. Recent projects explored the metal composition of atmospheric dust in neighborhoods of variable socioeconomic standing, lead uptake by plants in a mining-contaminated region, and soil lead content surrounding a (legacy) shooting range. A typical one-year project begins with identifying the topic of interest and developing hypotheses. Students then choose sampling sites and determine the appropriate sampling scheme for testing their hypotheses. Next, they practice sampling methods that comply with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. Once their samples are collected, students prepare the samples for trace metal element analysis via Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy. After determining trace metal quantities in each sample, students use the trace metal data to evaluate their hypotheses. Results are interpreted and communicated at the annual EWU student symposium. Results may be included in Dr. Nezat’s conference presentations and manuscripts.

Physics Mentors:

Mentor	Research Topic	Potential Research Experience for CREST Scholars (other projects may be available)
Jason Stoke	Optical Characterization of Transparent Thin Films	Dr. Jason Stokes research involves the characterization of transparent thin films incorporated into solar cell devices and other electronic applications.  Students will spend time growing thin films on substrates with a well-known optical response using atomic layer deposition (ALD), spin coating and drop cast techniques with a possible thermal and/or chemical anneal.  These thin films will be characterized using spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE).  Optical models will be developed to fit experimental SE data and possibly used in the development of more complex models involving a multi-layer stack.  In addition to SE analysis, surface morphology will be analyzed using electron microscopy.  Results will be published in the journal “Thin Solid Films” or other applicable journals.  Students will be able to present their research findings at the EWU student research symposium held each spring.