Abigail Boyle Email & Phone Number

Fort Myers, Fl, Us

Valparaiso, Indiana, United States

I hold drop-in Help Sessions for Introductory Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Courses to aid in homework assistance, supplementary instruction and test preparation. I also have tutored up to 7+ students a week with one-on-one sessions for Genetics, Introductory Chemistry and Introductory Biology Courses. In order to challenge and practice each subject, I create problems and questions to help students understand concepts, as well as work through given worksheets. I also act as a Peer Tutor Mentor, where I educate our new tutors on the procedures and expectations the Academic Success Center has for their employees.

Valparaiso, Indiana, United States

I am currently studying the gene-by-environment interactions in Arabidopsis thaliana due to Midwestern climate change. During the fall 2022 semester and the spring 2023 semester, I watered and rotated 100 strains of A. thaliana based on experimental and control groups over the course of 2 months. During this time, I also measured the times of first germination, leaf, flower, bolt and seed production in the experimental and control groups over the course of 2 months. With my lead professor and research team, we utilized software R to conduct ANOVA test finding p-values between the different lines of A. thaliana and the different watering conditions. These findings were presented in an oral and poster presentation at the Symposium of Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (Source) and the Indiana Academy of Science Meeting towards the end of the spring 2023 and 2024 semester. The future plans of this project is to study the physiological traits of A. thaliana that led to the ANOVA results via QTL analysis.

Valparaiso, Indiana, United States

I helped to prepare laboratories for Valpo's General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Application of Chemistry in Engineering and Intro into Chemistry labs. This role included preparing solutions, cleaning glassware, handling chemical instruments, and general organization.

Valparaiso, Indiana, United States

I aided new biology students in adjusting to college life and developing a sense of community in the biology department. I did this by helping to facilitate and lead discussions in the BIO 101: Biology at Valpo course, as well as acting as a guide to incoming students. During this class, we introduced study strategies and campus/departmental resources available to incoming students.

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

I worked to identify major driver genes functions in immune regulation of colorectal cancer. I specifically looked at the effect of the Driver Gene Mutation SMAD4 in vitro via organoids and looked for differences in cell proliferation rate and drug sensitivity when the mutation was present and when it wasn't. To quantify this I utilized a BrdU assay and drug sensitivity assay with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). I also looked at immune cell infiltrate present in C57BL/6 Mice tissue via immunofluorescence. I presented my findings in a poster presentation format at the Summer Undergraduate Research Expo (SURE) Symposium at the University of Minnesota.

Valparaiso, Indiana, United States

I helped in the set-up of lab materials which includes creating solutions, caring for invertebrate organisms, and making invertebrate organisms’ habitat. I would also take charge in cleaning up lab materials such as glassware and fish tanks, relocating invertebrate organism, and general organization. When my direct help in lab was not required, I would harvest seeds from the plant Arabidopsis thaliana to be used in future labs. During work time, I floated around the lab room and aiding in answering student’s questions about lab coursework and set-up. For two field trips during the semester, I transported students via 12 person vans.

Hastings, Michigan, United States

I conducted my Spotted Knapweed Biocontrol Research Product independently. This project studied the effect of seedhead weevils’ density on spotted knapweed coverage and overall plant diversity at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute. For this research, I measured spotted knapweed percent coverage, plant diversity and weevil density in 6 locations across Pierce Cedar Creek Institute Property over the span of 3 months. During this time, I identified over 60 different plants via app Seek, Michigan Flora and PCCI Revised Inventory of Vascular Plants. The analysis portion of this project found the relationship between the three different factors via ANOVA testing. Through this research, I determined which of the study sites should future weevils be released to control spotted knapweed spread. While creating a manuscript, I analyzed and found literature relating to the study of spotted knapweed and seedhead weevils. I presented my overall findings in an oral presentation, a poster presentation and a lab manuscript. This internship also allowed me to volunteer 20+ hours of work with trail maintenance, native planting, weeding, controlled burning, and forest surveys as well as aiding other student researchers in their projects, working with animals such as Blanchard’s Cricket Frogs, Eastern Box Turtles, and Massasauga Rattlesnakes.