In the Powers Lab we pursue questions relating to animal energetics.  For more than 30 years the primary focus of Dr. Powers’ research has been hummingbird energetics with specific emphases on total daily energy expenditure, competition, torpor, dietary requirement, and flight.  In the last several years the lab has also worked on reproductive energetics of red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietals) in collaboration with Dr. Robert Mason at Oregon State University and the role aquaporin water channels in cutaneous water transport and overall water balance in rough-skinned newts (Taricha granulosa) in collaboration with Dr. John Schmidt here at George Fox University.

MISSION TO TRAIN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Since George Fox University has no graduate program in biology undergraduate students play a key role in lab productivity.  Peer-reviewed publications resulting from work done by research teams in the lab often include undergraduate coauthors who make important contributions to both data collection and analysis.  My mission in involving undergraduates in my research program is to provide a quality experience that prepares them to be competitive for and successful in top-level graduate programs once they finish their degree.  Students who take positions in my lab must take ownership for  entire projects rather than specific experiments assuring that they will gain valuable experience in all facets of basic research.  This includes presentation of their work at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) national meeting each January.