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RESEARCH BIO SIUC; degree B.S. Plant Biology.

 

    As a first generation college student, I entered SIUC unknowing of the difference between undergraduate and graduate schooling. I was scooped up by the assistant director of the honors program whom began working with me to build up my C.V.

 

Research Rookies is an undergraduate research program oriented to freshman and is how I started my research career. I studied sustainability and conducted research on light energy waste on campus. January of my freshman year, I began working in the soil ecology lab of Dr. Sara Baer. Along with assisting graduate students in processing samples for research, I did several research projects myself.

 

During the summer of 2009 I worked an internship with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). In addition to working with wildlife, natural heritage and fisheries biologists I conducted a research project on Asian Bush Honeysuckle (Lonicera macckii). Sustainability found its way into my life through a course with then Assistant Professor Matt Therell and my project partner Makayla Bonney*. As a service learning project Makayla and I wrote a grant proposal to the “Green Fund” to fund the installation of hydration stations on campus.

 

Siumultaneously I was appointed by the Mayor and served as a board member on the sustainability council for the city of Carbondale. I also held a  treasurer position in the restoration club at SIUC, which aimed to educate the public on native plant restoration.

 

Before entering my senior year, I accepted a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) opportunity from the Sevilletta LTER and conducted research on fungi in Pinon/Juniper forests. My New Mexico research was also attributed to my summer research for the McNair scholars program. Finally, I danced with the Southern Illinois Dance Company (SIDC) for four years. This student run organization is where I got my first taste of choreography.

 

 

 

 

RESEARCH BIO IUB; M.S. EEB:

 

   My decision to attend graduate school stemmed from my desire to educate the public about science. I figured that if I wanted to teach people about science one day, I needed to become a sort of expert in the field. The first project I conducted was focused on restoring the prairie and fighting pesky weeds.

 

I began mentoring an undergraduate student at this time – Audrey Pangello. I worked with Audrey for three years and also mentored another student Erin Wilde. I had some great mentors as an undergraduate and wanted to pay it forward during my graduate years.

 

My thesis research was titled: “Roots of diversity: does soil source effect the success or failure of a restoration” which I conducted at Nachusa Grasslands in North Central Illinois. Aside from research science, I volunteered for many outreach organizations at IUB including: Jim Holland, Girls Inc. and the Boys and Girls club. While studying journalism at IUB I co-founded the “Science Writers at IU” with a fellow science writer, Amanda Solliday.

 

Through the science writer’s organization, I began blogging about science for the general public for NPR’s “A Moment of Science”. I took on the role of a teaching assistant at IUB and my duties ranged from grading papers to instructing my own lab section. I taught a variety of subjects from plants and fungi, to human physiology.

 

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