Harlan Svoboda
Profile
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Time ZoneEastern
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OrganizationOhio University
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RoleScientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online
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Research Interests (300 words)My research focuses on the systematics (diversity, classification, and naming) and phylogenetics (recreating the evolutionary "family tree") of passionflowers. I use techniques including microscopy and molecules/DNA to study this group.
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Profile Question 1What is your favorite plant? Why?
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Answer the question you selected for profile question 1 here (300 words):My favorite plants are the passionflowers (genus Passiflora). These vines have extremely beautiful and complex flowers that are unparalleled in the plant kingdom. Many features are unique to the genus and add to the mystery of how these wonderful plants evolved.
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Profile Question 2What is the coolest thing you have discovered or learned about plants?
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Answer the question you selected for profile question 2 here (300 words):I often come across specimens in herbaria (collections of dried, pressed plant specimens) that are new species! Even though they may have been collected decades ago, botanists did not realize they were new to science--now I get to describe them!
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Profile Question 3When and why did you decide to go into a science career?
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Answer the question you selected for profile question 3 here (300 words):From a young age, I always loved being outside and learning about the natural world. It seemed the more I learned, the more I wanted to know! I decided to follow my interests in science, and it wasn't until college that I learned how diverse and complex the plant world was! From there, I knew that I wanted to pursue my education and career in science (botany, specifically).
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AvailabilityI am NOT available, please temporarily remove me from the available mentor list
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Preferred Investigation ThemesCelery Challenge (plant anatomy, osmosis and diffusion)
C-Fern in the Open (sexual reproduction, alternation of generations)
The Wonder of Seeds (seed germination and growth)
The Power of Sunlight (photosynthesis and respiration)
What about Pollen? (pollen and pollination)
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In addition to English, I am comfortable communicating with students in the following languages:None of the Above
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Capacity: How many teams at a time are you comfortable working with?2
Recent Posts
jehsbondgrenfall2017 project 1
Harlan Svoboda
Good! Yes, I think it will be easiest to determine the rate of photosynthesis by using the "floating" method from before. Okay, so you are using green and red cabbage—will you also be doing different groups (i.e., baking soda vs.…
more
Try Again Team 6
Harlan Svoboda
Hello, Team. Any updates on your project or experiment?
Mighty Chondria
Harlan Svoboda
I just read your report (and looked at the accompanying photos) and I'm very impressed with your progress so far! Things are really looking great!
Okay, so here are just a few comments and things to consider:
- I noticed some…
Skills & Endorsements
- No skills have been endorsed yet.