Outreach

Mentoring

I believe that mentoring is an invaluable opportunity to help support interns experience science, as well as to help them explore possible future careers and further their education. I have been privileged throughout my life to have wonderful mentors and research experiences. I am proud to have provided a safe, supportive environment for interns to explore the scientific world.

Topics I have mentored interns on in the past include:

  • Experimental design
  • Microbial culturing and identification
  • Molecular biology techniques
  • Field work and field safety
  • Literature review and synthesis
  • Bioinformatic analyses via web-based, GUI and command-line tools
  • Oral and written communication of scientific results
  • Graduate school and fellowship applications
  • Mental health awareness and prioritization
  • Professional and academic networking
  • Career development in STEM fields

Science Communication

I am passionate about science communication. I was interviewed for the Mushroom Revival Podcast. I led an article for Frontiers for Young Minds, "Even Superheroes Need Help Sometimes: Three Incredible Tales of Microbial Symbiosis". I was involved in the development of a microbiome board game, Gut Check.

Preprints & open science

I am an advocate for preprints, open science, and reproducibility. I serve as a Champion of the National Microbiome Data Collaborative. I was a 2021 ASAPbio Fellow during which time we wrote a "A Guide to Preprinting for Early Career Researchers".

Expanding Your Horizons (EYH)

EYH conferences introduce 5th-8th grade girls to STEM careers. Since 2014, I have co-led the "Genome Detectives" workshop at UC Berkeley.