Planting Science - Members: View: Sofia Ocampo

Sofia Ocampo

Profile

Profile

Time Zone

Eastern
Organization

University of south florida
Role

Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online
Research Interests (300 words)

I study plants and how their relationship with things around them! Specifically, I like to look at the relationship between plants and fungus. Have you ever seen a mushroom growing in some grass on on a tree ? That's a fungus! These fungus have long strands that can wrap around plant roots (and even go inside the plant roots) and help the plants. These are called mycorrhizal fungi and they are extremely important for plant health. My research focuses how populations of these mycorrhizal fungi change along an urbanization gradient, so from to the middle of the city to super wild areas.
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):

My journey into plant ecology began with my mother. She is a Nicaraguan immigrant and came to Miami when she was in high school, and always loved the outdoors. Despite this, she was never encouraged to study any subjects outside of business. Both of my parents have been realtors for as long as I have been alive, but she was always gardening. In south Florida, it is common to be given a flowering orchid as a gift, and my mother received plenty. She made sure to care for and love every single one, and when they bloomed again, she put them on display in our living room. This display of loving care and stewardship for every one of her plants grew on me. Now, as the first person in my family pursuing STEM, she has always supported my curiosity in biology. Part of my interest in biology I owe to my high school teachers. Mr. Tohulka taught us environmental sciences and always told stories about catching giant snakes, and wrestling gators and a monkey. I’m not sure if they were true, but it inspired me to follow in the route of biology. Early in high school I planned to become a herpetologist but soon my interests shifted, and I found what I genuinely loved. From my early college time and my first internship in botany, I was hooked. During my first general biology class I learned about mycorrhizal fungi creating networks between plants and even different fungi. The idea that almost every plant had fungi living inside its roots, and those fungi could be the same mushrooms I saw popping up after a good rain was mesmerizing. The underground world of fungi and plant-fungal ecology drew me in, and I fell in love with mycorrhizae. Now I plan to study mycorrhizal fungi in tropical plants for the purpose of plant conservation.
Profile Question 2

What is your favorite plant? Why?
Answer the question you selected for profile question 2 here (300 words):

I dont have a singular favorite plant; I have a favorite family. I am especially fond of palm trees. I love that it is an entirely tropical family, as well as their unique growth pattern. No secondary growth, no branches, very tall. Barely even considered a tree!
Profile Question 3

What is a typical day like for you?
Answer the question you selected for profile question 3 here (300 words):

Some days I have a teaching duty, where I am a lecture assistant for a general biology class. I love interacting with students and answering their questions! other days, I might spend a couple hours in my research lab looking at plant roots on a microscope, or mentoring my undergraduate interns.
Capacity: How many teams at a time are you comfortable working with?

1

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