Profile

• Time Zone

  Eastern

  
  
• Organization

  University of Georgia - Athens

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  My current research focuses on a mustard plant, Boechera stricta, and how it has adapted to its local environments. I study the genetic basis of local adaptation across elevational and climate gradients to decipher how climate change will affect plant populations.

  
  
• Profile Question 1

  What is your favorite plant? Why?

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

  My favorite plant is called Mimosa pudica (the Sensitive plant). You touch it and the leaves will fold inward almost instantly! I wanted to know how it worked and so I began studying plants. Now I am where I am because of my interest in this fascinating plant!

  
  
• Profile Question 2

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

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

  I have always been excited about science. As a kid, I wanted a microscope so badly. I remember getting one when I was 7 or 8. I don't know what exactly got me interested in science, but the more I learned about it, the more I knew I wanted to pursue a career in science. It has been a lot of hard work, but I have loved it!

  
  
• Profile Question 3

  (not set)

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

  (not set)

  
  
• How did you hear about PlantingScience?

  Partner Organization E-mail

  
  
• Availability

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

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

  2

  
  

Recent Posts

Picklefloppers Derek Denney Mar 13, 2019

Ashton, thanks for posting that picture. It is always exciting to see results! If I am looking at that picture correctly, does dish 2 have some seeds that have germinated? Have you started gathering your results? What percentage of seeds have…

more

Ashton, thanks for posting that picture. It is always exciting to see results! If I am looking at that picture correctly, does dish 2 have some seeds that have germinated? Have you started gathering your results? What percentage of seeds have germinated in each of the dishes?

OrangeBananana Derek Denney Mar 13, 2019

It is interesting to see your results! So overall, what liquids did you use? Coffee, seltzer water, sugar water, and salt water, right? It is surprising to see them growing so quickly, isn't it. And it is always a surprise when our expectations…

more

It is interesting to see your results! So overall, what liquids did you use? Coffee, seltzer water, sugar water, and salt water, right? It is surprising to see them growing so quickly, isn't it. And it is always a surprise when our expectations for a scientific experiment are not met. Why do you think the seltzer water and the coffee are growing faster than the sugar water?

OrangeBananana Derek Denney Mar 11, 2019

It looks like your experiment is off to a great start! Have you had any plants begin to grow yet? I'm excited to start seeing results. I think measuring height is a great idea. Height can tell you a lot about the health of a plant. But it's…

more

It looks like your experiment is off to a great start! Have you had any plants begin to grow yet? I'm excited to start seeing results. I think measuring height is a great idea. Height can tell you a lot about the health of a plant. But it's also important to observe color too, like you mentioned. A plant could grow tall really fast, but it may be sickly looking because it's growing in a stressful environment. Or a plant could be short but green because it's a nice environment and the plant is happy. I'm glad you've thought about both of those characteristics. Are there any other things you might notice the plants doing?