Profile

• Time Zone

  Pacific

  
  
• Organization

  University of California - Santa Cruz

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  i am interested in all kinds of research! if a person asks an interesting question, i would like to know what they discover from testing their hypothesis. my passion for consuming and understanding new information extends beyond botany and biology, my declared areas of research at ucsc. in my free time, which has been plentiful during covid, i challenge my understandings and perspectives through reading a variety of analog and digital sources on topics ranging from astrophysics to social justice, economics to climate change, biochemistry to philosophy.

  
  
• Profile Question 1

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

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

  In February of 2012, the New York Times published an article about a Russian team of botanists who had apparently generate whole flowering plants from the placental cells of a 31,800 year old fruit. While some tales of plants growing from ancient seeds or cells have been discredited, radiocarbon dating of the ancient cells was confirmed. The resilience and diversity of plants astonishes me.
  
  Luckily, I am attending UCSC, home of the Human Genome Project. I plan to be an active researcher at the Genomics Institute and contribute to our currently limited knowledge of the genetics of plants and fungi.

  
  
• Profile Question 2

  What is a typical day like for you?

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

  6:45 am - Rise from slumber. It's a new day!
  7:00 am - Walk the dog and greet the neighborhood plants, still covered in morning dew
  7:30 am - Listen to NPR and stretch with a cup of coffee nearby
  8:00 am - 10:00 am - Plant Physiology Class
  10:00 am - 12:00 pm - Genetics & Biochemistry Class
  12:00 pm - 2:00 pm - Rhetoric in Scientific Writing Class
  2:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Study, research, communicate through email, mentor young students through Planting Science!
  8:00 pm - Cook dinner! Arguably my favorite time of day, I love to cook!
  10:00 pm - Read until I fall asleep & dream of coffee in the morning.

  
  
• Profile Question 3

  Do you have advice for students about preparing for a science career?

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

  My advice to students considering a career in science is to learn how to ask good questions. As a "Scientist Mentor", I will create a nonjudgemental space for youth to express their interests and ask questions about science, student life, mentor relationships, etc. Using my experience as a student and a researcher, I will guide young scientists through the key components of a good question. Then, we will use resources and tools to research their question and organize the answers they find.

  
  
• 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?

  2