Adam Albright, a rising senior, has been selected by the College of Arts and Science Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Mentorship Program Committee to receive summer funding to pursue his research. 

Albright’s research proposal is titled “Flying Flies.” He is investigating the mechanisms underlying a set of hierarchical traits across the genotype to phenotype map that contribute to flight performance in fruit flies. His project is focused on developing an imaging technique to characterize flight muscles to relate flight muscle size and structure to flight performance. He is using a wind tunnel apparatus (shown in the foreground of the photo) built by Dr. Kevin Middleton to measure flight performance in hundreds of fly lines. After collecting the behavioral data, he will scan the fly genomes and look for regions of DNA that are associated with high and low performance.

Albright is carrying out the project with fellow Mizzou Biology undergraduate Kayla Robinson and in collaboration with Dr. Libby King and Dr. Kevin Middleton. 

“I am grateful for the opportunity to be surrounded by so many driven and supportive individuals this summer in the King lab,” says Albright.

The Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Mentorship Program (URCAMP) encourages and supports undergraduate research by providing stipends for students to work alongside faculty mentors to learn firsthand about the natural integration of research, creative activity, and teaching.