Our Work
The Matty Lab at the University of Portland seeks to understand how non-pathogenic microbes (like those in the gut microbiome) impact animal behavior. We do this using a microscopic nematode worm, Caenorhabditis elegans, behavioral assays, genetic techniques, and microscopy. We value collaboration, integrity, sharing & learning from our mistakes, and enthusiasm for biology.
Meet the Matty Lab
The Matty Lab is a research lab consisting of full-time University of Portland undergraduate students.
Do you want to learn more about what we do?
Read our most recent work, which highlights the genetic pathways involved in C. elegans risk-taking and the genes necessary for altering behavior in response to acute starvation.
Are you interested in undergraduate research at UP?
At UP there are two main ways to do research:
1) Semester credit: BIO290 and BIO493 are independent research. With faculty permission, you can enroll for 1, 2, or 3 credit hours. This correlates to ~3, 6, or 9 hours in lab each week.
If you're interested in doing research in the Matty lab for a semester, please fill out this fairly long Google Form.
2) Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE). These applications are campus-wide and open in January and February. The SURE program provides on-campus housing and a stipend for 6-10 week full-time summer researchers.
Other ways to do research
There are opportunities beyond the Matty lab (&beyond UP) that may be available to you
Check out the opportunities and resources available to all early-career researchers through this great online community!
This summer research program is entirely ONLINE and available to members of minoritized backgrounds
Look up opportunities online!
Google "REU" or "summer research program" and your topic of interest. These applications usually open in January before the summer program