Undergraduate Research Opportunity: Phages and Streptococcus mutans in Dental Caries
The University of Michigan–Flint is inviting undergraduate students to apply for an on-site research opportunity in the Lavering Laboratory focused on Streptococcus mutans, the primary cause of dental caries. Students will gain hands-on experience in microbiology and phage research, including bacterial culturing, biofilm assays, and phage techniques. This role offers valuable exposure to laboratory research, scientific communication, and the opportunity to contribute to innovative approaches addressing oral health and antimicrobial resistance.
Project Overview
Under the supervision of Dr. Emily Lavering, students will work on one of the following research directions:
- Identifying and characterizing phages that may be used to prevent S. mutans infections
- Studying the biofilm-forming behavior of S. mutans and its role in dental caries.
Key Responsibilities
Selected students will:
- Learn and practice sterile laboratory techniques
- Culture bacteria in solid and liquid media
- Measure bacterial growth using optical density (OD) measurements
- Learn and apply phage research techniques
- Perform biofilm assays
- Assist in developing new research methods
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