Profile

• Time Zone

  Eastern

  
  
• Organization

  Michigan State University

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  I am interested in how soil fungi (specifically mycorrhizae and pathogens) influence tree seedling recruitment under various light levels. In particular, I am interested in how these interactions can shape tree seedling shade tolerance and community development.

  
  
• Profile Question 1

  When and why did you decide to go into a science career?

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

  I knew when I was in elementary school that I wanted to be a scientist. I always loved learning, and I knew that I wanted to uncover and contribute more knowledge. I grew up in the foothills of California, in Sequoia National Forest, which greatly influenced my decision to study trees.

  
  
• Profile Question 2

  What is best about being a scientist?

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

  The best thing about being a scientist is getting to uncover new things about the world every day. I am constantly learning, and I get to contribute my knowledge through my experiments.

  
  
• Profile Question 3

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

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

  Always be learning new things, and be inspired to figure out things that other people have never tested or seed before. Stay curious and ask lots of questions.

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

  2

  
  

Recent Posts

cfern reproduction Katherine Wood Apr 21, 2018

That's still very interesting. Keep close watch of your salt and control plants and keep up your measurements! : )   

cfern reproduction Katherine Wood Apr 11, 2018

2 drops sounds good to me. Just make sure that they are close enough to the spores that you are seeing some interaction effect.

I did a quick search on the internet and can't find a lot of information on exact amounts of those substances in…

more

2 drops sounds good to me. Just make sure that they are close enough to the spores that you are seeing some interaction effect.

I did a quick search on the internet and can't find a lot of information on exact amounts of those substances in the environment. I did find some interesting links you might use if you have a report though:

https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/clean_living/soaps__detergents_safety_2.aspxhttps://www.cleaninginstitute.org/clean_living/soaps__detergents_safety_2.aspx

https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=oil_environment

https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/Environmental_impacts_of_road_salt_and_other_de-icing_chemicals

These could also be a good starting point. Maybe the amount in the environment will vary with your location and the kinds of practices people have there.

cfern reproduction Katherine Wood Apr 9, 2018

That sounds really good. I'm glad you guys came up with an alternative plan to your original project that is both feasible, but also very interesting. 

You have determined the amount of your spores for each petri dish and what you will…

more

That sounds really good. I'm glad you guys came up with an alternative plan to your original project that is both feasible, but also very interesting. 

You have determined the amount of your spores for each petri dish and what you will measure. Have you determined how much of each of the treatment materials you will add to the petri dishes? Do you have a baseline of that quantity, maybe based off of data about those products getting into the environment?