Project Info
Quantum Biology – Magnetic Field Impacts on Microbial Growth and Metabolism
Suzannah Beeler
beeler@mines.edu
Project Goals and Description:
A currently under-explored aspect of biology lies in the surprising fact that magnetic fields can perturb living organisms. As just one example, tadpoles grown in the absence of Earth's magnetic field demonstrate significant developmental abnormalities. These results are quite surprising, and our current understanding of biology fails to explain any role that magnetic fields should play in the realm of living matter. Biological impacts of magnetic fields have been measured in a range of areas, from microbial life to plants and animals.
In this project, we aim to better quantify the impacts of magnetic fields on microbial systems – studying growth, metabolism, and eventually species-species interactions and microbial diversity. Towards that, the student on this project will be developing the tools to monitor growth and metabolism of microbial systems under different static magnetic fields.
More Information:
Grand Challenge: Engineer better medicines.
As this project is new, there are no existing publications this will building off of.
Primary Contacts:
Suzannah Beeler, beeler@mines.edu
Kevin Cash, kcash@mines.edu
Student Preparation
Qualifications
Minimum: Passed biology 1
Ideal: prior cell culture experience OR prior 3D printing & rapid prototyping experience
TIME COMMITMENT (HRS/WK)
5-6
SKILLS/TECHNIQUES GAINED
Cell culture techniques, UV-VIS spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, potentially (depending on student interest) 3D printing and rapid prototyping, data processing.
MENTORING PLAN
Weekly lab group meetings (in coordination with the Cash Lab), mentoring from current graduate students and other students in the lab, as needed individual meetings or subgroup meetings.
PREFERRED STUDENT STATUS
Freshman
Sophomore
Junior
Senior