Profile

• Time Zone

  Pacific

  
  
• Organization

  Nevada Division of Natural Heritage

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  I specialize in endangered plant conservation and community science outreach. I use iNaturalist frequently to connect with observers in my state.

  
  
• Profile Question 1

  What is a typical day like for you?

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

  Every day is different. In the spring and summer, I often work outside, traveling around Nevada to survey for rare plants or help with community science events. During the fall and winter, I use the data I've collected to map populations of rare plants. I also spend a lot of time designing digital surveying forms, creating database queries, and writing reports.

  
  
• 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 the Carson Valley monkeyflower. It's a tiny annual plant with surprisingly large flowers that only grows and blooms in wet years. Like other monkeyflowers, the stigma responds to touch by curling up and exposing the anthers. The entire global range is about 35 miles long and 7 miles wide in Washoe, Eagle, and Carson Valleys in Nevada and California. Much of its habitat has been lost to suburban and agricultural development.

  
  
• Profile Question 3

  When and why did you decide to go into a science career?

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

  As a kid, I loved going outside and spending all day in the woods, even though I grew up in a city. I started school in a forestry program but soon realized that I was more interested in the little plants that grew under the trees so I switched schools and majors to study botany. Many options in the botany program involved lots of lab work but I chose plant ecology because I wanted to be outside more. I was lucky to be searching for a new job when the Division of Natural Heritage was hiring and it's been a great place to work.

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

  (not set)

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

  2