Ongoing Projects:

- Measuring exercise-induced muscle damage with MRI using T2 weighted images

- Measuring changes in muscle volume after resistance training

- Measuring muscle magnesium after exercise using 31P MRS

- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) physics and electromagnetic simulation

- Reliability testing of functional MRI (fMRI)

- Radio-Frequency (RF) coil development

- Contrast-enhanced MRI using paramagnetic nanoparticles

- fMRI signal stability during prolonged practice

- fMRI and DTI connectivity during working memory

- fMRI and DTI studies of age-related degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease

- Behavioral and brain imaging studies of saccadic eye movement in schizophrenia

- fMRI studies of language-related memory processes

Graduate Research Opportunities: Graduate students from different departments work within BIRC on advanced imaging applications. These can include formal Research Assistantships, informal mentoring relationships, and collaborative relationships via their major professor and the BIRC. Additionally there are 1-2 students per year accepted as Franklin Foundation Fellows, who train specifically in multiple bio-imaging techniques and are supported by the Center (see the Franklin Foundation for more information).

Undergraduate Research Opportunities: Undergraduate students work within BIRC on a regular basis in order to get hands on research experience. We view these kinds of laboratory experiences as integral to an undergraduate research education and encourage UGA students to become involved in the many exciting research projects within the BIRC. Students typically work for 2 or more semesters with graduate students and a faculty mentor on specific projects that are ongoing in the lab. PSYC 4800, 4850, BIOL 4960/70, and a variety of Honors experiences including Honors Theses are available. Please visit the UGA Psychology Department for more information. The BIRC also typically supports one to two students affiliated with the Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (CURO) and the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP).