Profile

• Time Zone

  Pacific

  
  
• Organization

  USGS - Southwest Biological Research Center (Moab, UT)

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  I am a Research Ecologist with the Southwest Biological Science Center at the United States Geological Survey. I recently finished my PhD at the University of California, Irvine and am a former National Park Service Young Leader in Climate Change. Broadly, I am a plant ecophysiologist interested in invasive species, their evolutionary ecology, and their impacts on native plant communities in “extreme” environments. My field sites include much of the desert southwest, alpine regions of Colorado, the montane forests of Baja California, and the tundra of northern Japan. All of my research focuses on climate change impacts on native systems, with an emphasis on Parks and protected areas. You can follow me on Twitter @DanielEWinkler, or find more information on my website at www.winklerde.com.

  
  
• Profile Question 1

  What is best about being a scientist?

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

  Being a scientist affords you the opportunity to look at the world through the coolest lens possible: one that is inquisitive, one that questions everything around you, one that allows you to answer important questions. Also, you can travel around the world, get paid to climb mountains, solve complex puzzles, and educate others about this beautiful and fragile world we live in.

  
  
• Profile Question 2

  What is your favorite plant? Why?

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

  The alpine version of prairie blue bells, a.k.a. Mertensia lanceolata. This plant grows in the inter-mountain region of the United States and at its highest elevations the plant becomes incredibly dwarfed to tolerate the cold temperatures, ferocious winds, and intense solar radiation. This plant is one of my favorite examples of plants responding to incredible environmental variation. It's gorgeous too!

  
  
• 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):

  Ask questions. All the time. Never stop asking questions and being curious about everything around you. Inquisitive people are often the most successful.

  
  
• 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

A Loose Goose using a Noose on a Moose to get out of Bruce the... Daniel E Winkler Mar 6, 2018

Hi Nick,

Yes, that's definitely a personal and inappropriate question.

I'm Daniel, the liaison for this project and am monitoring all of the posts that happen in these groups so please keep it to the science you're doing. Though…

more

Hi Nick,

Yes, that's definitely a personal and inappropriate question.

I'm Daniel, the liaison for this project and am monitoring all of the posts that happen in these groups so please keep it to the science you're doing. Though asking mentors about their science and interests is fine and I encourage you to do so. The important thing is that you're getting a grade for these projects (including the posts you do) so make sure you're working appropriately.

Best,

Daniel

bchsoreillyfall2017 project 12 Daniel E Winkler Dec 12, 2017

Good luck with the mung beans!

It's common for seeds to be picky and it might just be that the pea plants weren't in ideal conditions or the seeds weren't entirely viable. This is to me is one of the great things about science...when…

more

Good luck with the mung beans!

It's common for seeds to be picky and it might just be that the pea plants weren't in ideal conditions or the seeds weren't entirely viable. This is to me is one of the great things about science...when it doesn't work according to plan, you revise your plan and try again.

bchsoreillyfall2017 project 12 Daniel E Winkler Dec 12, 2017

Good luck with the mung beans!

It's common for seeds to be picky and it might just be that the pea plants weren't in ideal conditions or the seeds weren't entirely viable. This is to me is one of the great things about science...when…

more

Good luck with the mung beans!

It's common for seeds to be picky and it might just be that the pea plants weren't in ideal conditions or the seeds weren't entirely viable. This is to me is one of the great things about science...when it doesn't work according to plan, you revise your plan and try again.