Profile

• Time Zone

  Eastern

  
  
• Organization

  University of Kentucky

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  I study the adaptations that allow plants to survive extreme drought. Most plants are very sensitive to drought, which can lead to crop failure and local extinction events. However, there is a group of plants that can recover from nearly complete desiccation. Through the study of these highly desiccation tolerant plants I aim to identify the genetic, physiological, and ecological adaptations that allow species to survive intense drying.

  
  
• Profile Question 1

  What lessons have you learned in your career about how science works?

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

  The most important lesson that I have learned during my time in science is not to get attached to a particular outcome. The second most important lesson is not to get discouraged.
  
  All too often experiments do not turn out how we expected (or wanted), but it is critical to see and accept the results for what they are. If we get too attached to things turning out the way we expected, we may miss the truth. It can be frustrating to be wrong, but it is really important not to get discouraged. Don't give up! The answers are out there, we just have to find them!

  
  
• Profile Question 2

  What is your favorite plant? Why?

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

  It is hard to pick just one favorite plant (there are so many amazing plants), but currently my favorite plant is the "resurrection fern". This fern is an epiphyte, meaning that it grows in the canopy and on the branches of trees. What really makes the resurrection fern amazing is that it can dry out completely (to the point that it is all shriveled up and looks dead), but it is still very alive. It is like a plant's version of hibernation. When you give water to the dry resurrection fern, it will spring back to life and resume photosynthesis nearly instantly. This amazing adaptation allows the resurrection fern to persist during intense drought.

  
  
• Profile Question 3

  (not set)

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

  (not set)

  
  
• 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

effect of different water on photosynthesis Rose A Marks Dec 11, 2017

Hi Megan (and the rest of the team),

Thanks for getting back to me! That is an interesting result. Can you think of any reasons why you the lemon water may have increased photosynthesis? I think that we can learn so much from times when…

more

Hi Megan (and the rest of the team),

Thanks for getting back to me! That is an interesting result. Can you think of any reasons why you the lemon water may have increased photosynthesis? I think that we can learn so much from times when the results of an experiment differ from our expectations. I would love to hear your thoughts on what might have caused the beneficial effect of lemon water on photosynthesis. Thanks for all our hard work!  

bill nye the planting guy Rose A Marks Dec 8, 2017

Hi Erin, Justin and Gillian, 

My name is Rose and I am the liaison for your class (that just means that I help coordinate all the other mentors and make sure everything is running smoothly). I wanted to check in on you guys and give you some…

more

Hi Erin, Justin and Gillian, 

My name is Rose and I am the liaison for your class (that just means that I help coordinate all the other mentors and make sure everything is running smoothly). I wanted to check in on you guys and give you some feedback because it seems like your mentor has been MIA. I imagine that he is just busy with the end of the semester (being a research scientist can get quite hectic at times), and will get back to you soon. 

Anyways, it looks like you guys have come up with a research question, but I was wondering if you could provide some more details on how you are planning to test your question? What variables will you manipulate? How many treatments and replications will you conduct? etc. 

I am looking forward to hearing more about your project, and don't hesitate to ask me any questions along the way! 

Rose 

The effect of light on the rate of photosynthesis Rose A Marks Dec 7, 2017

Hi, I think that you did a great job clarifying some of the details that I had questions about. Thank you! I am lookin forward to seeing what you find out! Feel free to let me know if you have any questions or concerns.