Profile

• Time Zone

  Eastern

  
  
• Organization

  Cornell University

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  I'm interested in plant development, specifically the role of the shoot apical meristem (SAM). The SAM is a small but important tissue at the tip of the shoot and is responsible for generating the above ground portion of the plant. In general, the SAM has two main functions which are (1) the maintenance of a population of stem cells and (2) the controlled production of lateral organs, such as leaves. My work so far in graduate school has focused on the genetic control of SAM maintenance in maize (corn). Using a combination of molecular biology and microscopy techniques, I am hoping to identify additional regulators of SAM maintenance.

  
  
• 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):

  Never lose your sense of curiosity and ability to ask questions! While getting good grades and having a strong work ethic will help in a scientific career, it's essential to ask good questions. So be curious and question everything whether it's an interpretation of scientific data or what's reported on the news.

  
  
• Profile Question 2

  What is tough about being a scientist?

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

  Sometimes experiments just don't work or someone solves a problem before you have the chance to, which can be frustrating. Many people focus on the 'eureka!' moments in science but there is also a lot of failure involved. Any honest scientist will admit to having their share of difficulties. But failure, while perhaps frustrating, is not always a bad thing. Rather, it's the way we learn and move forward so that one day we can make that big discovery.

  
  
• Profile Question 3

  What is your favorite plant? Why?

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

  While I love working with maize, my favorite plant is the humble skunk cabbage, Symplocarpus foetidus. Not only does this plant smell terribly to attract fly pollinators, it is also one of the few plants able to produce heat! The heat is used to help release the odor compounds in the flower. They produce so much heat that snow surrounding the flowers in the early spring melts away. Pretty remarkable!

  
  
• 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

CHYHS Team 6 Jack Satterlee Apr 24, 2017

Anastasia, I've attached an edited copy of your report. Let me know if you have any questions. I think you should try being a bit more specific with your writing and also add on to the conclusion. The reader needs a written interpretation of the…

more

Anastasia, I've attached an edited copy of your report. Let me know if you have any questions. I think you should try being a bit more specific with your writing and also add on to the conclusion. The reader needs a written interpretation of the data you've presented in your tables. 

CHYHS Team 6 Jack Satterlee Apr 21, 2017

Anastasia - would you like feedback on your report, too (which I'm happy to provide, of course)?

CHYHS Team 6 Jack Satterlee Apr 19, 2017

I've attached a word doc with some edits. By all means it's not required that you include all of these and what you'll need to do will obviously depend on what your instructor is expecting for this assignment. Overall very good lab…

more

I've attached a word doc with some edits. By all means it's not required that you include all of these and what you'll need to do will obviously depend on what your instructor is expecting for this assignment. Overall very good lab report! It might seem like there are a lot of edits but most are just superficial grammar/organization things that you can take or leave. I would suggest adding some more on to the conclusion though. 

Best of luck you're almost there!