Profile

• Time Zone

  Eastern

  
  
• Gender

  Female

  
  
• Organization

  Bowling Green State University

  
  
• Employment Status

  University / College Graduate Student

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  My research focuses on the invertebrates who live in the soil. These invertebrates (e.g. millipedes, springtails, isopods, etc.) are very important in the process of decomposition, which returns vital nutrients to the soil. I'm interested in what makes these invertebrates tick. What drives them to be present and active in the soils. To take a small look into this I set up an experiment along an elevational gradient where soil nutrients varied, knowing that nutritional value of leaves does drive decomposition. Additionally, I added two different nutrients, calcium and zinc, that play vital roles in how invertebrates build their exoskeleton. I did this to measure whether or not the community changes when additional nutrients are available. I also measured the decomposition activity of the invertebrates, because maybe their numbers didn't change but they became more active in order to obtain the newly available nutrients. By knowing more about what makes our soil invertebrates present and active, we can know more about how to make them efficiently cycle nutrients. This can have applications in areas where nutrients cycle slowly, such as in agricultural fields.

  
  
• 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):

  I've loved science for as long as I can remember, particularly animal science. Steve Irwin and Bill Nye were (in fact, still are) my science heroes. Watching Bill Nye shows in my science classes made me love science, and watching Steve Irwin in my home only increased my love for animals. I originally was interested in becoming a veterinarian but fell in love with ecology when I first learned it in high school. It was everything I wanted in science: understanding how animals interact with their environment. I majored in ecology and conservation during my undergraduate studies. During this time I volunteered in a lab helping with research, which encouraged me to continue in research and obtain my Master's degree. I'm now interested in helping others understand science and love it as much as I do.

  
  
• Profile Question 2

  Can you share a funny/interesting lab or field story?

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

  My field work took place this summer in the tropical rain forest of Hawaii! It sounds like a dream come true to most people but it was actually very challenging. First thing you should know about the rain forest is that it rains a lot! Also, these forests are a large number of invasive wild pigs. The pigs are large, about 200lbs, and will charge you if provoked, especially the mothers protecting their piglets. On our first day out in the field, we were hiking through a clearing that had knee high grass. We were about half way through the clearing when suddenly something black jumped from the grass squealing loudly. It was a piglet frantically calling for mom to come save it from these two strangers that happened upon it. We quickly ran backward. Having forest on either side of us there was every chance that we placed ourselves in between the baby and the mom, which is the most dangerous situation possible. Luckily, we did not see mom at all and could make our escape through the forest. From then on, I wore jingle bells and carried a whistle to scare away any pigs before we could get in a situation like that again. Even though it annoyed my assistant, I felt much safer with them!

  
  
• Profile Question 3

  What was the first science experiment you ever designed? How did it turn out?

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

  The first science experiment involved my pet hamster. He was losing hair on his bottom and I wanted to know why. I compared his health to my brother's hamster who was not losing hair. After a week of observing him and attempting to change his diet to see if it would help, I realized I had changed his brand of bedding recently. I switched his bedding back to the brand I had used previously and his hair began to grow back. I not only learned a lesson in the scientific method, but I also improved the health of my pet!

  
  
• Availability

  I am currently available for mentoring, please send me team match invitations

  
  
• Preferred Student Level(s)

  Middle School Students (Grades 6,7,8)
  High School Students (Grades 9,10,11,12)
  Undergraduate Students

  
  
• Preferred Investigation Themes

  The Wonder of Seeds (seed germination and growth)
  What about Pollen? (pollen and pollination)
  Agronomy Feeds the World (where does food come from?)
  The Power of Sunlight (photosynthesis and respiration)
  Celery Challenge (plant anatomy, osmosis and diffusion)
  C-Fern in the Open (sexual reproduction, alternation of generations)
  Foundations of Genetics (traits, variation and environment in rapidly cycling Brassica)
  Genetics in Arabidopsis (investigation with a model species to track transmission of traits)
  Plants Get Sick, Too!

  
  
• Challenge, ELL, Honors

  Academically Challenged
  Honors or AP - Advanced Placement

  
  
• Videoconference Ability

  Yes

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

  5

  
  

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