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Join Parrish Lab

Apply Here
Thanks for your interest in participating in mentored research in the Parrish Lab. I’m thankful for all the great BYU students who want to contribute to scientific advancement. For those applying for credit before the add/drop deadline, keep the following things in mind:
  • Strong preference is given to students who: 
    • Are willing to work a minimum of 10 hours per week. 
    • Intend to work in the lab for a minimum of 18 months. 
    • Are enrolled in either Cell450R or the mentored research (Cell295R/Cell495R/Neuro449R) during the semesters or terms that you work in the lab. 
    • Will be available to work in the lab during Spring and Summer
Below are the Lab expectations. Be prepared to be held accountable to these standards if you are a part of the lab.

1) Reliability and Effort. Be here when you say you’ll be. Be here when you are scheduled to be here. Get into the lab each week for at least the number of hours that you committed to be. Lab commitments, including lab or group meetings, should be a priority and only missed on rare occasions.

2) Focus. When you are in the lab, working lab hours, you should focus on the lab. Not med school applications, not your chemistry midterm, not the BYU football game. Remember that being present for 10 hours is not the same thing as working for 10 hours.

3) Passion. Develop a passion for the lab and learning about the topics we study in the here and improving your research skills. At BYU, I need you to be as good as graduate students or post docs. That requires desire and an excitement for learning. Failure to read journal club articles is indicative of a lack of passion.

4) Maintenance of careful lab records. This includes lab notes in notebook and on Box if needed, data analysis (usually on Box).

5) Meticulousness and Care. Don’t rush experiments. If you aren’t sure, ask. Again- focus- don’t let yourself be distracted by others or by your phone or whatever while working on experiments. Headphones/music is okay unless it is distracting to you. Distraction leads to mistakes. Pay attention to details.

6) Compliance. follow the safety procedures, Honor Code and basic ethical conduct. Never, ever plagiarize or fabricate data.

7) Citizenship. Clean up your messes. Be friendly. Help out whenever you can. Inform others when there are problems in the lab.

8) Lab meeting. Attend lab meeting if required for your position! Be on time and focused, not texting on your phone.

9) Lab communication: Respond to my emails and communication from your lab mates in a timely manner.

A reference letter from a research mentor is incredibly helpful for medical and graduate school applications. If this is an outcome from the lab you are looking for, it is expected that you will work for a minimum of 1 year or 3 semesters before receiving a letter.

If you are interested in joining the lab, please fill out the application below. Afterwards, please reach out to one of the graduate students or undergraduate project leaders by sending them an email to learn more about their project and check their availability. Research positions, graduate student contact information, and undergraduate leaders contact information can be found below the application form.

Please note that we can’t take all students that apply, but we want to help as many students as possible get a rich research experience.

Graduate Students

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Melissa Blotter

Seizure propagation with novel electrophysiology technology.
Contact: mb8861@student.byu.edu
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Rachel Ricks

Studying how energy supplementation effects migraine pathophysiology.
Contact: rlricks@student.byu.edu
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Undergraduate Project Student Leads

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Jacob Norby

Analysis of seizures and seizure termination in rodent and human data.
Contact: jhn25@student.byu.edu
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Preston Withers

Determination of migraine associated pathology.
Contact: withersp@student.byu.edu
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Alexis Given

Solutions and mouse husbandry team lead.
Contact: agiven@student.byu.edu
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Lab Manager

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Isaac Stubbs

Contact Isaac with any general inquiries about the lab or the application process.
Contact: isaac01@student.byu.edu
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Adjunct Graduate Students

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Kutter Hine

Identification of target genes related to seizures using novel spatial technologies.
Contact: kh9012@student.byu.edu
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Position Description:

Lab Website and Social Media Manager

-Minimum of 5-10 hrs/ week
-Research credit position
-Update the lab website and social media accounts
-Training will be provided on how to edit the web page

Ex Vivo Seizure Team

-Minimum of 10 hrs/week (flexible)
-Research credit position
-Conduct seizure research with mouse brain slices

Solutions and Husbandry Team

-Minimum of 10 hrs/week (flexible)
-Research credit position
-Make solutions and manage animal husbandry

Migraine Pathology Team

-Minimum of 10 hrs/week
-Research credit position
-Conduct migraine research with mouse brain slices and fish brains

Fish Genetics and Husbandry Team

-Minimum of 10 hrs/week (flexible)
-Research credit position
-Conduct SD research with zebrafish brains
-Create genetic zebrafish lines and do general zebrafish husbandry

Data Analysis Team

-Minimum of 10 hrs/week
-Research credit position
-Required previous coding experience
-Conduct analysis on biological data

Immunohisto- chemistry Team

-Minimum of 10 hrs/ week
-Research credit position

-Aid in visualization of various molecules in ex vivo tissue

Cell Respiration Team

-Minimum of 10 hrs/ week
-Research credit position

-Gather metabolism data from mouse brain slices

Brain Slice Preparation Team

-Minimum of 10 hrs/ week (between 7-10 am)
-Research credit position

-Handle, anesthetize, and euthanize mice for research purposes

-Make mouse brain slices using Vibratome technology

3D Printing Team

-Minimum of 10 hrs/ week (flexible)
-Research credit position

-Master 3D printing technology for scientific applications