Planting Science - Members: View: Lauren Glevanik

Lauren Glevanik

Profile

Profile

Time Zone

Pacific
Organization

University of California - Los Angeles
Role

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

Imagine a meadow of wildflowers: how do so many different plant species coexist at once, even though they’re competing for the same resources? My research investigates how wildflowers compete or coexist with each other – I look for patterns that can help us determine which species will succeed. Specifically, I compare how differences in their seeds help plants escape bad situations and keep surviving.

In “sciency” terms, I study the effects of seed dispersal on community assembly using a trait-based coexistence modeling framework. What this really means is I split my time between working with plants and coding on the computer. I plant seeds at my field study site, and as they grow I measure physical characteristics like leaf area, heights, root depth, and seed weight – these traits tell us how plants respond to the environment.

I can use those measurements in my code to show that plants are gathering resources using different strategies reflected in their traits; for example, plants “share” water if one species has a big long root to get water deep underground, but another plant has a network of shallow roots to gather mist that condenses on top of the soil. They are pulling water from different areas, and avoiding having to compete directly with each other. Traits help describe how plants can “play nice” and share resources so they can all live together.

My current project looks at how plants in stressful conditions change the size of their seeds. Heavier seeds have a better chance of survival because the parent plant sends them off with a larger “packed lunch,” but if the seed is lighter, it has less stored energy but could escape farther away to survive somewhere else. I want to know how these changes might save species from going extinct in very stressful environments.
Profile Question 1

Do you have advice for students about preparing for a science career?
Answer the question you selected for profile question 1 here (300 words):

Ask questions. I did not expect this to be difficult, but it’s the hardest part of the job! Science is built on questions: what-ifs, what would happen, how does that work, why is that, and so many more. It’s not a one-and-done process. Sometimes halfway through a project, I’ll actually go back and change my original question if I see something happening that inspires a different direction!

And here’s a secret - while asking new and interesting questions is definitely the hardest part, it’s also the best part because you get to figure out something no one has ever done before! Curiosity and creativity are skills you need to practice often, so question everything!
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 thought science was cool, but I didn’t love it all the time. Only specific parts of it were cool to me - I liked photosynthesis and plants, but I could never remember the chemical equations for anything. I always made mistakes with experiments and on tests, and I felt really discouraged and like I wasn’t good enough to do science. But, in your job as a scientist, you can pick the parts you like and stop doing what you don’t like! I still don't like chemistry or math, but I can go to my scientist friends and ask them for help.

I used to be scared of not being smart enough to be a scientist, especially when I was in high school. But, I learned that mistakes are part of the work, and as long as you ask questions & work to understand and fix your mistakes, you’re doing great!
Profile Question 3

What is best about being a scientist?
Answer the question you selected for profile question 3 here (300 words):

I think the best thing about being a scientist is that I get to do what I want all day! While I’m always busy, I get to choose the parts I like. In no particular order, my favorite things about my job are:

I get to talk to people all day about plants and why and how we see beautiful patterns in nature.

I can be outside and enjoy the weather in the fall and spring, but not so much that I get tired of working outside. It’s like a fun field trip treat!

I collaborate and share ideas with my friends, then we all get excited about experiments we want to do together.

I get to be the one to write about discoveries I make and share new information with the world!
Capacity: How many teams at a time are you comfortable working with?

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