Profile

• Time Zone

  Pacific

  
  
• Organization

  University of California - Merced

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  I am interested in ecosystem ecology. More specifically, my research is on the effects of disturbance (such as wildfire) on soil microbial communities and their impacts on nutrient cycling. My research is applicable to projects investigating plant-soil interactions (especially with a microbial or nutrient component).

  
  
• 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):

  As a kid, I always really liked being outside, but never really knew what I wanted for a job when I grew up. Science was interesting to me, but I never really saw myself as a scientist. Then, during my first year of high school in biology class, we watched a movie about scientists studying sea turtles in the Galapagos. They were camped out on this remote island. I was amazed that that was a job! From then on I knew I wanted to study ecology.

  
  
• Profile Question 2

  What is your favorite plant? Why?

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

  I think pitcher plants are the coolest. They live in environments like bogs that are really low in nutrition. To survive, they lure insects into a modified leaf that harbors enzymes that kill and break the insects down. They are then able to feed on the insect carcasses. We usually think about plants as passive and nice, but these guys are cold-blooded killers!

  
  
• Profile Question 3

  What is best about being a scientist?

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

  The best thing about being a scientist is that you have a lot of autonomy. As long as you are getting your work done and doing a good job, you have a lot of control over what you do. It's fun to be able to ask questions and try to answer them. Who knows, maybe someday you'll make a cool discovery! I think that is pretty cool.

  
  
• 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

FLOP! 6DW Nicholas Dove Nov 15, 2016

Is there a plant in a bottle without orbeez? How much has that plant grown?

TheGreatScientists Nicholas Dove Nov 15, 2016

That sounds like a really cool experiment! Can you tell me a bit about your experimental design?

TheGreatScientists Nicholas Dove Nov 6, 2016

Hi guys,

My name is Nicholas, and I am a grad student at the University of California, Merced. I study how different wildfires affect soil microbes (bacteria and fungi) and how this affects biogeochemical cycling and plant nutrition. It's…

more

Hi guys,

My name is Nicholas, and I am a grad student at the University of California, Merced. I study how different wildfires affect soil microbes (bacteria and fungi) and how this affects biogeochemical cycling and plant nutrition. It's really fun. During the summer I'm outside all the time, hiking around and collecting soil.

I saw the game the other night! Super crazy! I'm originally from Boston, so I can appreciate breaking a curse. I'm also a big Patriots fan if anyone here likes football.

What are your ideas for the project? Do you have any questions?