Blog
SciTALK in January!
There are so many possibilities in the world of science! To take a closer look at what it means to go into science as a career, join us for SciTALK, a three-part series of virtual meet-ups to give teens in grades 9-12 the chance to meet scientists from different fields to talk about research, career paths and just what life is like as a scientist. Each class date will feature two different researchers, hosted by Phipps’ science education outreach manager Dr. Maria Wheeler-Dubas. Read about our guest scientists below, and check out Phipps Virtual Explorers Academy page for more details and to register!
January 13
Dr. Nancy Trun – Associate Professor, Duquesne University
Dr. Nancy Trun is a microbiologist currently working on how to clean up abandoned coal mine drainage in Western PA using the awesome power of bacteria. She is an Associate Professor at Duquesne University in the Biology Department. She has also written a microbial genetics text book, has been nationally recognized for her teachings labs, and is a huge Penguins fans.
Megan Petersdorf – PhD Student, New York University
Megan is a primatologist - a scientist that studies monkeys and apes. Her research focuses on wild baboons living in Zambia, where she follows them around to record behavior, take photographs, and collect their poop. She studies how baboons communicate, find mates, and make friends.
January 20
Dr. Sara McClelland – Assistant Professor, Moravian College
Dr. McClelland is an ecological physiologist interested in understanding how human-induced environmental changes, like pollution and pesticide use, are impacting animals. She loves hiking, playing in streams and looking for animals, and she believes it’s up to all of us to keep the environment healthy. She is interested in understanding how the choices we make impact the environment, so that we can try to find ways to have less of a negative impact on the planet.
Jasmin Graham – MarSci-LACE Program Coordinator, Mote Marine Lab
Jasmin specializes in elasmobranch ecology and evolution. Her past research interests include smalltooth sawfish movement ecology and hammerhead shark phylogeny. Jasmin has a passion for science education and making science more accessible for everyone. She is the project coordinator for an NSF funded diversity initiative called MarSci-LACE and is the CEO of Minorities in Shark Sciences, an organization dedicated to supporting women of color in shark science.
January 27
Dr. Tanisha Williams – Postdoctoral Fellow, Bucknell University
Dr. Williams has always had a love for plants and never looked back after a study abroad experience in the Amazonian rainforest of Peru! She is currently working on several projects as a postdoctoral fellow. Some of her research includes understanding how biogeographic barriers impact species distributions of an Australian legume, updating the conservation status using population genomics methods of a grass found at the edge of its range in Pennsylvania, and working with a dynamic team to examine the role indigenous peoples have on plant genetics, ecology, and how this relationship shapes anthropology in the Northern Territory of Australia. Dr. Williams has a passion for communicating science and the importance of botanical and international research, and this includes volunteering and advocacy. She was also the founder of #BlackBotanistsWeek, an online campaign to promote, highlight, and create a safe place for Black people who love plants.
Rachel Reeb – PhD Student, University of Pittsburgh
Rachel, one of Phipps’ Botany in Action fellows, studies invasive plant ecology at the University of Pittsburgh. Her research investigates how the timing of invasive plants’ life cycle events (such as leaf-out and flowering) impact their ability to compete with native plants. Previously, Rachel received her undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary, where she studied the population biology of common milkweed.
