Profile

• Time Zone

  Eastern

  
  
• Organization

  Duke University

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  My PhD work investigates gravity perception and response in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. I have worked to improve the understanding of root gravitropism and to understand the short-acting governing mechanism through the use genetic and microscopy tools. I have also used a molecular and genetic approach to better understand how the control of hormone response genes affect targeted growth response in different cell types. I also am interested in the development of biosensors to better understand the dynamics of cellular biology.
  
  From a broader perspective, I am interested in understanding signaling pathways and tropic responses of plants and how understanding these processes could lead to improving global food security. Furthermore, I enjoy science communication and promoting evidence based policy changes.

  
  
• Profile Question 1

  What is best about being a scientist?

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

  I would say the best thing about being in science is finding out something new, either by your own experiments or in your team. I find learning something entirely new, even if it is a small advance, is an exciting little secret that improves further after you get to share it with others.

  
  
• Profile Question 2

  What is the coolest thing you have discovered or learned about plants?

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

  I find one of the first things you learn about plants as organisms is one of the coolest things. Plants have the ability to respond to their environment even though they are sessile organisms. Through these tropic responses, plants are able to sense their environment and adapt. Plants can respond to changes in sunlight, water, gravity, and other changes.

  
  
• Profile Question 3

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

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

  In high school I really enjoyed science. I think was drawn to science in high school because I liked the idea that there were answers to questions that could be easily looked up or read in a textbook. My love of science changed during the end of high school and later on in graduate school. The further I advanced in science, I realized how most scientific questions are not as simple or easily answered. I realized how this knowledge I took for granted earlier in my education is hard fought through experimentation and validation. Later, I began to appreciate the process of finding out, for example, how a signaling pathway works can be as rewarding as knowing something right away.

  
  
• Availability

  I am NOT available, please temporarily remove me from the available mentor list

  
  
• Preferred Investigation Themes

  The Wonder of Seeds (seed germination and growth)
  The Power of Sunlight (photosynthesis and respiration)
  Foundations of Genetics (traits, variation and environment in rapidly cycling Brassica)
  Genetics in Arabidopsis (investigation with a model species to track transmission of traits)
  Agronomy Feeds the World (where does food come from?)
  What about Pollen? (pollen and pollination)
  C-Fern in the Open (sexual reproduction, alternation of generations)
  Plants Get Sick, Too!
  Celery Challenge (plant anatomy, osmosis and diffusion)

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

  2

  
  

Recent Posts

sxutatumfall2021 project 9 Katelyn Sageman-Furnas Oct 4, 2021

Hi guys! I'm a researcher at Duke University working with Arabidopsis. I was wondering which question you wanted to work with first? Do you think the height and the trichomes are related? Or are you interested in both questions separately? 

The Biohazards Katelyn Sageman-Furnas Oct 4, 2021

Hi all! I am a postdoc at Duke University who is currently working on signaling in Arabidopsis. Have you guys started your module already? 

Team ChloroFeels Katelyn Sageman-Furnas Dec 19, 2017

 

Dear Team Chlorofeels,

Thank you for sharing your presentation with me! I really enjoyed reading how your experimets worked out. 

A couple minor comments:

1. Every photo that wasn't taken by any of you needs a citation.
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more

 

Dear Team Chlorofeels,

Thank you for sharing your presentation with me! I really enjoyed reading how your experimets worked out. 

A couple minor comments:

1. Every photo that wasn't taken by any of you needs a citation.
2. I think it would be good to put control data in your presentation. That is normally the first thing that scientists look for.
3. I like how you planned and wrote up your experiment. 
4. I really liked all of the photos of course! 
5. From your presentation it is clear that you all really thought about interpreting your results which is great.

And of course a few further questions to think about: 

Could there have been any source of error other than the light bulb heating up your experiment that could have affected your results? 

While it is true that C4 plans are generally more well-adapted to warmer, harsher environments, does that mean that they will underperform in moderate environments? Can you think of any everyday crops that are C4 plants? I would like to leave you guys with a bit of information about C3 vs C4 plants and the possible effect of climate change.

https://www.e-education.psu.edu/earth131/node/1167

All in all I would give you guys an 8/10! Good work! I really enjoyed our discussions and all the best for your futures! 

Best,

Katie