Undergraduate Research & Internships in the Department of Natural Sciences

Why Participate In research or an Internship?

  • Apply classroom knowledge to real-world scientific problems
  • Gain valuable technical and professional skills
  • Build a network with researchers, professionals, and peers
  • Enhance your resume & graduate school applications
  • Make a meaningful contribution to ongoing research & community projects
Trinity Yates holding Munch, a rescued opossum at Macon Museum of Arts & Sciences
Faculty in the Department of Natural Sciences know that science and engineering students learn best through experience. That's why we offer several ways for students to get involved in 
the process of scientific and engineering research. Students can get involved in undergraduate research projects ranging from surveying insects or parasites to learning investigating questions in organic chemistry. Faculty across all disciplines offer student opportunities to get involved! 
We also offer internship opportunities for students in the Department of Natural Sciences. Student interns can work on campus or at our off campus partners including: Go Fish Education Center, Macon Museum of Arts and Sciences, USDA Research Station, GA DNR and more! 

 

Undergraduate Research & Internship Examples

 

Investigating the Antioxidative Properties of Common Grocery Items using Fluorescence Decays of Water-soluble Dyes

Khatmullin Lab Presentation at STEMposium
Dr. Khatmullin's lab is interested in green organic chemistry. Green organic chemistry is a promising field of chemistry that utilizes nontoxic chemicals for the synthesis and production of target chemicals, which allows the reduction of waste. In Dr.K's lab, students investigate the fluorescence decay of systems initially containing water-soluble water dyes with common oxidants, which are gradually exposed to antioxidants. The antioxidants are delivered in the form of common fruits, vegetables, and commercially available beverages.
This project focuses on developing an undergraduate experiment in Green Organic Chemistry where students can learn the principles of synthesizing products using environmentally friendly reactants. It also provides a platform for students to learn the standard organic synthesis lab techniques, IR spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy techniques, enhancing their knowledge and skills. 

 

 Honeybees on the Cochran Campus

Students harvesting honey.

Middle Georgia State University has two hives of honeybees on the Cochran campus. Professor Kirby Swenson uses the hives to teach students about beekeeping, the importance of bees and other pollinators to ecosystems, and to get students involved in research about bees. Some future research plans include using substances from bees and beehives to treat diseases, figuring out how to reduce beehive losses from such factors and viruses and parasitic beetles, and experimenting with ways to increase honey production. A student honeybee club also helps students get involved in learning about and researching honeybees. Contact Mr. Kirby Swenson for more information.

Aleighah working on a histology sample in the Dr. Chris Rigsby Lab.

Internship In Histological Techniques

Students working with Dr. Christine Rigsby get hands-on experience with histology—learning how to prepare and  study tissue samples. Students work with methods like tissue fixation, processing, and embedding, and learn how to cut tissue sections using a microtome. Students also prepare stained slides using different staining techniques and capture images of those slides with digital imaging software.

 


 CONTACT: Dr. Dawn Sherry, Chair, Dept Nat Sci for more information!