Class Year
Current Hometown:
St Paul, MN
Job and Employer
Work:
Teaching statistics to biology undergraduates, leading a research team that investigates fundamental questions in evolutionary biology, and mentoring undergrads graduate students and postdocs in their research.
Graduate School
Graduation Year
Degree
Senior project:
Internship:
Human ecology in action:
I am currently engaged in an interdisciplinary attempt to domesticate a new species, Silphium integrifolium, as a sustainable, perennial oilseed crop. This work includes collaboration between agronomists, food scientists, plant breeders, and geneticists. The challenge of domesticating a plant with an eye on long-term sustainability is a perfect ‘human ecological’ problem and my training at COA has prepared me for this challenge.
Considerations for prospective students:
The small size of COA and close relationships between students and other students, and students and faculty is a fantastic opportunity to dig into fun challenges. This form of learning is exceptionally applicable to how we solve ‘real-world’ problems after college.