Profile

• Time Zone

  Pacific

  
  
• Organization

  University of California - Riverside

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  Genetics, genomics, and evolution of grain crops.

  
  
• Profile Question 1

  What is best about being a scientist?

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

  The best thing about being a scientist is having the opportunity to explore things you're curious about and share your knowledge with the world.

  
  
• Profile Question 2

  Do you have advice for students about preparing for a science career?

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

  Never be afraid to ask questions and always be open to learning something new. Read science magazines like Popular Science and Scientific American. Reach out and talk with actual scientists working on things that you're interested in. Do well in school.

  
  
• Profile Question 3

  What is your favorite plant? Why?

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

  My favorite plant is barley. Not only do I work on this plant, but it is also the fourth most important grain crop and a food staple for much of the world. Barley grows in nearly every environment on Earth and was one of the first plants to be domesticated for human use. It is used extensively in the malting and brewing industries, is used in food products such as bread and soup, and is used to feed animals. It also has a really big genome, almost one and a half times the size of our own genome!

  
  
• 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 6a 3 Christopher Fiscus Apr 10, 2020

Hi Kai, 

It depends on what you're wanting to test. If you're testing the effect of competition on seed germination, you should plant in the same bowl. Can you tell me more about your specific experiment?

Team 6a 3 Christopher Fiscus Apr 10, 2020

Hi Logan, Ariella, and Kai, 

Thank you for the update about your seed project. As someone who studies plants, I always find it incredible that a tiny seed has everything that you need to make a big plant. 

As Logan highlighted,…

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Hi Logan, Ariella, and Kai, 

Thank you for the update about your seed project. As someone who studies plants, I always find it incredible that a tiny seed has everything that you need to make a big plant. 

As Logan highlighted, whether a seed germinates depends on a number of factors. The ultimate goal though is to germinate in an environment in which the seed has the best chance of survival. After all, a seed only has one shot to get it right! 

What is the next step in your seed projects? 

Team 6a 3 Christopher Fiscus Apr 7, 2020

Hi Ariella, Kai, and Logan,

I'm happy to hear about your seed projects. 

Different plants have different requirements for seed germination. Depending on the species, successful germination is dependent on moisture, temperature, and…

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Hi Ariella, Kai, and Logan,

I'm happy to hear about your seed projects. 

Different plants have different requirements for seed germination. Depending on the species, successful germination is dependent on moisture, temperature, and light. Also, even when conditions are perfect not all seeds germinate. 

 

Ariella- have any of your other seeds germinated since your last update? 

Kai- As soon as the seeds germinate you can plant them in a pot. For popcorn I would plant no deeper than a half inch (size of your thumbnail) under the soil. Mold is to be expected on a paper towel that hasn't been treated. You might consider moving your seeds to a fresh moist paper towel. 

 

I'm excited to see how your projects turn out! 

Best,

Chris