Profile

• Time Zone

  Eastern

  
  
• Organization

  University of Vermont

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  I am interested in the evolution of grasses, which are plants in the family Poaceae. Grasses are important to study because they cover a quarter of all land on Earth, and make up over half of all the calories humans eat in the form of grains like maize, rice, and wheat. I work on a genus of grasses called Melica, commonly known as melic or onion grasses. I work in the field, greenhouse, and lab to investigate the evolution of bulbs (e.g. onion, garlic, tulips) and similar plant organs called corms. Several species of Melica grow these below-ground structures, so I'm working to understand both the story of how they evolved in grasses and what genetic factors might influence their growth. You can even eat these bulbs and corms, indigenous Pomo peoples of California traditionally use them for food. The better we can understand grasses, how they function, and how they evolved, the better equipped we will be to develop more sustainable food-growing systems.

  
  
• Profile Question 1

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

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

  I was interested in science in high school, and I did well in my biology classes. However, I never thought I'd be able to have a career in science because I didn't like math and didn't do well in chemistry or even get the chance to take a physics class. After a few years of changing my mind about what I wanted to do several times, I ended up completing an undergraduate degree in biology. High school me would have been shocked that I was able to pass calculus and go on to graduate school in science. I learned that it's really okay to change your mind whenever you need to, and also that you should try not to doubt yourself, because you never know what you can achieve when you set your mind to it.

  
  
• Profile Question 2

  What is best about being a scientist?

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

  Getting to think deeply about questions you're interested in on a daily basis! It's very satisfying being able to work on something that sparks your curiosity. Working in science is also a great way to get connected with and meet people who share the same interests as you.

  
  
• Profile Question 3

  What is a typical day like for you?

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

  Every day working in science is different! Sometimes I'm working in a greenhouse, some days in the lab. As a graduate student I also teach undergraduate college students, and have my own classes to take on top of all that. Sometimes it feels like I'm juggling a lot of different things, and other times I might feel overwhelmed or stressed by it all. Despite this, I really enjoy working on my research and know that its better to take a break rather than get burned out.

  
  
• 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?

  1