Physiological Stress Responses to Environmental Change: An Integrative Approach
Anthropogenic impacts on animals manifest through numerous and disparate environmental stressors, each eliciting distinct physiological responses. Whether organisms face changes in temperature, environmental pollutants, disease pressure, or other changes, these challenges are unified by a common thread: they all trigger stress responses that span from primary endocrine signaling to secondary metabolic responses and ultimately affect behavior, growth, and reproduction.
Research Overview
Our laboratory takes a particularly integrative approach to studying stress physiology, especially in aquatic vertebrates. We examine responses to environmental challenges at multiple levels:
- Organism Level: How environmental changes affect performance, growth, and survival.
- System Level: How blood and tissue responses reflect systemic stress and multi-organ integration.
- Cellular/Molecular Level: How gene and protein expression and function underly mechanisms of stress signaling and environmental tolerance.
Current Research Opportunities
ON-RaMP researchers will join an active, integrative, and collaborative research group. We have several ongoing projects across various areas, investigating:
- Physiological Responses to Environmental Stressors: Examining how fish respond to temperature, salinity, pH, and other environmental changes.
- Stress Axis Evolution: Understanding how stress response systems have evolved across vertebrate lineages.
- Translational Applications: Connecting our comparative studies to studies in human disease contexts.
Training Environment
As a recently established laboratory, we have both the time and resources to tailor research experiences to align with mentee interests. Researchers will gain experience with various techniques while developing core research skills, including:
- In vitro mammalian and non-mammalian cell culture and experimentation
- Molecular biology analyses (gene and protein analyses)
- Ex vivo physiological measurements (such as electrophysiology)
- In Vivo animal experimentation (with fishes)
- Data analysis and scientific writing
Professional Development
My approach to mentorship emphasizes individual growth, personal agency, and professional development. Mentorship will include:
- Individualized Mentorship Agreements to ensure clear communication of expectations
- Regular one-on-one meetings covering both research progress and career goals
- Early opportunities to contribute to publications
- Support for conference presentations and networking
- Exposure to diverse research approaches and career paths
Why Join Our Lab?
Our laboratory offers an opportunity for ON-RaMP researchers to:
- Join a supportive research community
- Build technical expertise across multiple approaches
- Make immediate contributions to studies approaching publication
- Develop independent research projects aligned with their interests
- Establish strong professional credentials through publications and presentations
While working in the Shaughnessy Lab, mentees will gain comprehensive training in modern biological research methods while contributing to our understanding of how organisms respond to environmental stressors.
Network Mentor: Dr. Ciaran Shaughnessy