Profile

• Time Zone

  Pacific

  
  
• Organization

  University of California - Berkeley

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  I'm interested in how microbes makes plant healthy. My research is focused on what microbes help the plant and other microbes fight off disease. My current project is looking at how we can use plant microbes for sustainable agriculture and conservation of endangered plants.

  
  
• Which of the following best describes your career stage?

  Graduate Student

  
  
• 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 was always interested in the outdoors as a kid. During high school I became interested in the processes that drive these beautiful natural environments. This prompted me to apply and join the US Fish and Wildlife Services as an intern. My USFWS supervisor encouraged me to pursue a University track in Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences and I haven't looked back since! Mentors, supervisors, and my advisor were all instrumental in my choice to pursue a career in science.

  
  
• Profile Question 2

  What is best about being a scientist?

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

  1) Being able to ask the questions that you are personally interested in and that no one has asked before. Being at the forefront of your field is both empowering and exciting!
  2) The potential benefits your research may have on society is also an awesome benefit.

  
  
• Profile Question 3

  What is your favorite plant? Why?

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

  Polyscias bisattenuata ('ohe'ohe). This endangered endemic Hawaiian plant has cool funky fruit that we got to collect for vouchers, DNA sampling, and propagation. They mostly exist on steep cliff faces and gulches so these collection trips were always the most fun.

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

  3

  
  

Recent Posts

the bean squad Mason Kamalani Chock Nov 1, 2020

Hey Bean Squad, Sounds like you found some interesting things.

Kyle: Do you have any guesses as to why Poweraid did the best? Levi suggested vitamins but I'm guessing Gatorade does too. Is there a difference in ingredients between the two?…

more

Hey Bean Squad, Sounds like you found some interesting things.

Kyle: Do you have any guesses as to why Poweraid did the best? Levi suggested vitamins but I'm guessing Gatorade does too. Is there a difference in ingredients between the two? Nice job.

Sam: Thanks for the nice update and the CER process. Could you clarify what C5 means?

Levi: Awesome CER process. Is there something in Gatorade that might have been not so good for the plants? Nice job and thanks for the updates. That's so weird that the plant took up the red dye in Gatorade! That must've looked funky.

The Paw Patrolers Mason Kamalani Chock Nov 1, 2020

Hey Team,

Elliot: Wow that is a lot of growth in a short time! very cool. I wonder what caused the immediate growth? Thanks for the picture updates!

Isaac: Nice info on the C.E.R. process. Do you have any guesses on why coffee did the best?…

more

Hey Team,

Elliot: Wow that is a lot of growth in a short time! very cool. I wonder what caused the immediate growth? Thanks for the picture updates!

Isaac: Nice info on the C.E.R. process. Do you have any guesses on why coffee did the best? Nice job.

The three daisy's Mason Kamalani Chock Nov 1, 2020

I like the C.E.R. practice you are all using. It sounds like the plants grow best when they are in 1) more sun, 2) larger containers, and 3) MMM (could you expand on what this means?). These are great starts to beginning to think how plants…

more

I like the C.E.R. practice you are all using. It sounds like the plants grow best when they are in 1) more sun, 2) larger containers, and 3) MMM (could you expand on what this means?). These are great starts to beginning to think how plants grow in a scientific way. Awesome!! Do any of you have any reasons why these conditions might have provided the best growth?