looking for research topics

I put this in the Field Research section but thought that it may be useful to put it here as I am particularly interested in topics that combine research to benefit ex situ conservation.

I am a Master's student in Conservation Biology and also have 7 years zookeeper experience from which I developed a keen interest in herpetology, especially with amphibians. I managed to set up successful breeding protocols for a number of species during my work and this is something that I am particularly interested in. I have finished all of my coursework for the degree, but due to some issues with setting up research through a zoo local to the university, I have an extension and am now looking to find a new research project which I would like to be able to complete this spring, and finish writing up before October.

I studied in the UK, but am now back home in the US (Rhode Island). I have never designed a research project before and no one on the staff at my university have experience with amphibians. Therefore I am looking for possible ideas for research and wondered whether anyone here would have any practical advice on where I should start. I tried to contact a local professor in RI, but he is yet to get back to me, and I understand that he must be very busy with his own students and research.

Does anyone here know of research that needs to be done, or redone? I would particularly like it if the study could somehow tie in with captive husbandry, but at this point any field research to do with amphibians would suffice. One idea was to study the conditions (such as water quality, canopy cover, surrounding landscape and food availability) at a number of sites, and to compare these with a certain species' presence and larval growth (perhaps studying an Ambystoma spp.); perhaps collecting larvae and manipulation in the lab as well, however I would need space at a local university for this. I need a strong topic which has some good links to other research from which to write a literary review.

Thank you in advance for any information that you may have.

Rachel