Edith L
- Research Program Mentor

PhD candidate at University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC)

Expertise

environmental biology, plant ecology, disease ecology, soil microbiology

Bio

Hi! I am a PhD student studying how plant communities are shaped by beneficial and parasitic microbes, specifically how these interactions inform ecosystem conservation. As an ecologist, I work out in the field, in the greenhouse, as well as in the lab to study host-microbe relationships at different scales. My current work looks at how soil microbial communities might influence the success of invasive species introductions. In the past, I have also worked on epidemiology infectious disease ecology research. Outside of my work, I spend the majority of my time in the great outdoors hiking, camping, and sightseeing. I also enjoy watercolor painting the incredible landscapes I get to visit. At home, I love testing out new cooking and baking recipes and sharing food with friends.

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

Communicating Conservation

How does environmental science research get translated to public action or policy change? Research a local or interesting conservation issue (ie endangered plant species or habitat destruction in an important landscape) and develop materials that communicates the issue to a non-scientific audience. Balance your use of striking visuals that capture public attention with scientifically backed research and statistics. This project is a great opportunity to practice reading and analyzing scientific literature.

Research Paper on Species Invasion

A major cause of global biodiversity loss is the introduction of invasive species outside of their natural habitats. Investigate: 1. the cause(s) of species introduction in a novel geographic region, 2. the environmental factors contributing to its success, and 3. how the invasive species impacts its new ecosystem.

Coding skills

Teaching experience

I volunteered with an afterschool STEM program at an elementary school that engaged girls in fun, creative projects while also practicing skills like critical questioning, hypothesis testing, and observation. As an undergraduate student, I was an assistant TA in a general chemistry laboratory class. During each lab, I would support the graduate student instructor by answering conceptual questions and helping with setup, troubleshooting, and problem solving throughout each experiment. I also worked with the K-12 STEM Education and Outreach Team at a national lab to develop educational programs for high schoolers with scientists from across the lab. As a research institution, we had the opportunity to show students what it means to be a scientist as well as teach tangible skills young scientists will need to work in research. Our office held workshops and trainings for researchers to build teaching, communicating, and mentoring skills. As a staff member, I worked with both the scientists in program development, and with the students on a day-to-day basis throughout their programs.