Profile

• Time Zone

  Mountain

  
  
• Organization

  Northern Arizona University

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  I am fascinated by plant diversity across different types of environments. Have you ever wondered why the forest ends where it does? Why doesn't it extend into the neighboring grassland? Why do you only find some plants in very specific places? Why are others so widespread (like a dandelion)?
  
  I also study rare plants. I like to ask why the plant became rare in the first place. Was it caused by human-caused development or disturbance? Was there a natural event that caused this? It's fascinating to find out how recent these species have evolved and whether the population has ever been widespread.
  
  My research includes 1) compiling an inventory of vascular plants within a wilderness area, and 2) exploring the genetic diversity within and between separate populations of a rare plant that occurs only in Arizona.

  
  
• 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):

  Studying science is an excellent way to practice observing the environment around you in both a creative and objective way. These are skills that transcend culture, hobby, personality, and profession. These skills enable a person to make well-balanced and intentional decisions after spending time to consider multiple possibilities and observing the consequences on a smaller scale. Further, science reveals to me that our human experience is unique, and only one of the multitude of possibilities considered 'normal' by the myriad of living organisms on Earth.

  
  
• Profile Question 2

  What is tough about being a scientist?

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

  Once I began studying science I started to notice how often I made assumptions in daily life and how these assumptions colored my perception of the world. There has been a pattern to how I interact with the people and environment around me as a result of these assumptions. It's difficult not to make them, often without even noticing that this has occurred. As a scientist, it can be very difficult to make observations, build hypotheses, design experiments, and analyze results without inserting bias from these assumptions. I try to bring awareness of this tendency to both my research and my daily life. I appreciate that my mentors consistently and encouragingly watch over my efforts and bring to my attention any inconsistencies when I fail to do this. I find that there are many ways to fail as I develop my own professional scientific career, but each time I do fail, I learn another valuable lesson as to why this occurred and how to sharpen my outlook on science.

  
  
• Profile Question 3

  What is the coolest thing you have discovered or learned about plants?

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

  Plants have an intelligence that scientists continue to unravel and understand. While they do not have a true nervous system, they are still able to communicate, sense, and respond to their environment in a remarkably efficient and unique way. Over the millenia, they have deciphered specific chemical signals of animal species in order to either attract, repel, or fight them. Angiosperms (i.e. flowering plants) have evolved an intricate and vital relationship with pollinators of all shapes and kinds, while many gymnosperms (naked seed plants) and spore plants remain more reliant on abiotic elements to thrive. Plants, like many other forms of life, have developed an astonishing array of survival techniques, and I continue to find each newly discovered method more amazing (or at least as much so) as the last. I am always eager to share the knowledge that I have and learn from the inspiration and knowledge of others about this immense and immensely interesting topic.

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

  (not set)

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

  1

  
  

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