Profile

• Time Zone

  Central

  
  
• Organization

  Oklahoma State University

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  Diseases of cotton, breeding wheat cultivars

  
  
• 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 decided that I wanted to go into a science-related career when I was in Middle School. I wasn't sure whether I wanted to work with plants or animals until I was a freshman in college. I had really good science teachers in middle school that took a personal interest in me and were anxious to introduce me to different areas of science.

  
  
• Profile Question 2

  What is your favorite plant? Why?

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

  My favorite plant is cotton. I love working with cotton because it has beautiful big flowers that are easy to work with and it produces such amazingly useful products.

  
  
• 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 who want to go into science is to keep an open mind about which field of science you want to specialize in until you have been introduced to many different fields of study. If you are passionate about a particular type of science go after your passion!! Don't forget that as a scientist you also need to be able to work with other people so don't neglect developing your "people" skills. Look for opportunities to work with mentor scientists through summer employment or internship opportunities. There is nothing like hands on experience to give you a taste for what it is like to work in your particular area of science interest.

  
  
• Availability

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

  
  
• Preferred Investigation Themes

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

  
  
• In addition to English, I am comfortable communicating with students in the following languages:

  None of the Above

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

  3

  
  

Recent Posts

24fgensicphspos project 3 Melanie Bayles Oct 7 at 04:59pm

My name is Melanie and I have been working on experiments with plants for many years. My work has been with breeding improved wheat and cotton plants. I fell in love with science while I was in Junior High and love to share my passion for…

more

My name is Melanie and I have been working on experiments with plants for many years. My work has been with breeding improved wheat and cotton plants. I fell in love with science while I was in Junior High and love to share my passion for experimental science with young people. I look forward to working with you as you develop your experimental design and throughout your experimental process.

Sigmas Melanie Bayles Mar 20 at 01:01pm

I am a little confused. Are you changing the temperature of the water (which was in your original design) or are you growing them under different air temperatures? 

If water temperature is changing - are you measuring and recording the water…

more

I am a little confused. Are you changing the temperature of the water (which was in your original design) or are you growing them under different air temperatures? 

If water temperature is changing - are you measuring and recording the water temperature every time you water the plants?

If air temperature is changing - how are you keeping the temperature constant for your hot and cold?

Sigmas Melanie Bayles Mar 12 at 03:36pm

I am excited to be working with you as a mentor on your project. Here are some questions to think about and make sure that you record information about.

How many pea seeds did you put into each pot?

Are you growing the plants under the same…

more

I am excited to be working with you as a mentor on your project. Here are some questions to think about and make sure that you record information about.

How many pea seeds did you put into each pot?

Are you growing the plants under the same conditions?

What is the temperature of the hot water? Are you using the same temperature hot water each time?

What is the temperature of the cold water? Are you using the same temperature cold water each time?