Profile

• Time Zone

  Eastern

  
  
• Organization

  Smithsonian Institution

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  Plant molecular phylogenetics and evolution, gene family and genome evolution, chloroplast genome evolution, invasive species, population genetics

  
  
• Profile Question 1

  What is your favorite plant? Why?

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

  Vitis, the grape genus. I am interested in its biogeographic history, taxonomic relationships and its genome evolution

  
  
• 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):

  In high school, around junior year, enjoyed biology and chemistry classes, read The Double Helix and got interested in molecular genetics

  
  
• 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):

  That the water lily lineage is either the second or first oldest of flowering plant lineages

  
  
• 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