Profile

• Time Zone

  Central

  
  
• Gender

  Male

  
  
• Organization

  University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

  
  
• Employment Status

  University / College Faculty

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  I have interests in microbial function in the environment, agricultural waste management, pathogen fate in complex environments, microbial detection methods, biodegradable plastics, and soil and compost microbiology. Related interests include environmental and soil sciences, contaminant transport, microbial involvement in the detection and degradation of hard-to-degrade proteins, and greenhouse gas mitigation. I'm also active in mass mortality disposal, such as avian influenza.
  
  
  
  Oh, and I love football!

  
  
• Do you have previous experience in mentorship or educational outreach? Please list here (200 words)

  PlantingScience mentor since November 2008 and mentoring in general since 1997

  
  
• Which of the following best describes your career stage?

  Mid-Career

  
  
• Profile Question 1

  When and why did you decide to go into a science career?

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 1 here (300 words):

  I grew up next to a landfill and my father worked at a wastewater treatment plant. Science always intrigued me.

  
  
• Profile Question 2

  What is best about being a scientist?

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 2 here (300 words):

  Questioning everything around me and us

  
  
• Profile Question 3

  What is a typical day like for you?

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 3 here (300 words):

  Everyday is different

  
  
• Help represent the outreach efforts of your societies. Please click all those organizations you are a member of:

  American Society of Agronomy
  Crop Science Society of America
  Soil Science Society of America
  Agricultural Institute of Canada, Air & Waste Management Association, American Society for Microbiology, Canadian Society of Agronomy, Canadian Society of Soil Science, International Union of Soil Scientists, United States Composting Council

  
  
• How did you hear about PlantingScience?

  Presentation at a Conference

  
  
• Availability

  I am NOT available, please temporarily remove me from the available mentor list

  
  
• Preferred Student Level(s)

  Middle School Students (Grades 6,7,8)
  High School Students (Grades 9,10,11,12)
  Undergraduate Students

  
  
• Preferred Investigation Themes

  The Wonder of Seeds (seed germination and growth)
  Agronomy Feeds the World (where does food come from?)
  Plants Get Sick, Too!

  
  
• Challenge, ELL, Honors

  Academically Challenged
  ELL - English language learners
  Honors or AP - Advanced Placement

  
  
• In addition to English, I am comfortable communicating with students in the following languages:

  None of the Above

  
  
• Videoconference Ability

  Yes

  
  
• Capacity: How many teams at a time are you comfortable working with?

  2

  
  

Recent Posts

Dandelion Destroyers. Rob Michitsch Apr 28, 2023

Hope you all had some fun along the way. Sorry that I wasn't more engaged with you. Take care all :)

Dandelion Destroyers. Rob Michitsch Apr 25, 2023

Now the big questions are did you see what you hypothesized? If not, why do you not see what you thought? Let's start there. Cheers.

Dandelion Destroyers. Rob Michitsch Apr 22, 2023

Do y'all have any questions for me?