Profile

• Time Zone

  Pacific

  
  
• Organization

  Washington State University - Pullman

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  Plasmodesmata are the connections between plant cells, allowing for direct contact of neighboring cells' cytoplasm. I use transmission electron microscopy for structural analysis of these organelles and confocal microscopy to perform live imaging of fluorescent dyes passing through them.

  
  
• Profile Question 1

  What is your favorite plant? Why?

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

  I first encountered Tradescantia as home decor and was struck by its bright purple and iridescent green coloring. In my graduate studies I use the stamens as a model system for studying plasmodesmata regulation. I now have multiple species in my personal collection, and I get to use it every day in my labwork.

  
  
• Profile Question 2

  Can you describe your attitude toward science when you were in high school?

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

  In high school, I loved science. I took every Advanced Placement course my school offered, and when I had free time, I would do the Barron's AP prep books for fun. I finally had the base knowledge to begin understanding the laws that described that pesky question of "why" the world behaved the way it did. Every new concept I was taught unlocked a new field I could ask questions about, and I couldn't wait to go to college and specialize.

  
  
• Profile Question 3

  What is tough about being a scientist?

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

  Being a scientist means performing novel research. Being on that "cutting edge" is incredible, but it also means encounting new problems. You have to be able to admit when you don't know things (which is perfectly normal!) and ask for help/guidance from people with more experience. Sometimes there isn't anyone with more experience though, and you have to troubleshoot on your own. It can be frustrating when experiments don't work, but perseverance is a virtue with great rewards.

  
  
• Help represent the outreach efforts of your societies. Please click all those organizations you are a member of:

  (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

Team Name Goes Here Vincent James Dec 21, 2023

It was great working with you too!!

The DOA Vincent James Dec 20, 2023

How has your project been coming along?

Team Name Goes Here Vincent James Dec 20, 2023

That's very interesting!  Do you have any ideas why the leaf discs in the pop floated faster?