GG Scholar Spotlight

What aspect of genetics and/or genomics most interests you?

I am most interested in the ways an organism’s genes help them survive in their specific environment. This is especially fascinating when the environment is harsh, like salty or polluted soils. I am in Dr. Reid Longley’s lab, where I study the microbes that live in and around soybeans. So, I’m particularly curious about the microbes that can survive in poor soils and extend this skill to help the soybean survive, too.

What (or Who) influenced you to go into your field of study?

My undergraduate thesis advisor at Haverford, Dr. Eric Miller, introduced me to plant-microbe ecology and I haven’t looked back since! Before joining Eric’s lab, I knew I was interested in biology but couldn’t figure out exactly which field I belonged in. Through my thesis research, I learned how integral the plant microbiome is to plant health and productivity, especially when it comes to agricultural crops. In that vein, there are a lot of questions into whether we can engineer microbe “probiotics” to help crops withstand abiotic and biotic stressors. One year of research wasn’t enough to satisfy my curiosity, so I’m now here pursuing these same questions at NC State!

Who or what do you hope benefits from your research?

Everyone who consumes agricultural products! That being said, I’m especially interested in effective science communication and teamwork between scientists and agricultural workers, because these are the people who are implementing our ideas on a big scale.

How can your research be used to inform decision makers?

The more we learn about plant and soil microbiomes, the more we learn about the negative consequences of common agrochemicals like fertilizers. On the outside, fertilizers seem harmless because they provide crops with their needed nutrients. However, many of these nutrients (like nitrogen) are not in a chemical form that can be used by the plant. So, a lot of the fertilizer ends up seeping out of the soil and polluting nearby waterways. If we can use microbes that already naturally provide needed nutrients to the plant instead of fertilizer, we can protect soil and water health.

What do you think is the most pressing issue or problem in your field of study?

A big problem in microbiology is our inability to culture (grow in the lab) most microbes. Microbes are specialized to live in their niche environment–soil, ocean, hydrothermal vents–so they’re not always able to grow in our sterile lab space. With modern technology like DNA sequencing, we don’t need to culture the bacteria to sequence their genome and figure out what we’ve isolated. However, it is often helpful to have a live specimen to study, so there is still work to be done to determine how to more effectively culture more microbes.

How has the GG Scholars program impacted your work?

While I’ve fully jumped into microbiology and all things microbiome, I’m still realizing my additional role as a geneticist. The GGS curriculum opened my eyes to how interwoven genetics and genomics are to other biological fields. I am also thankful for the diverse knowledge base the program provides, and that I can bounce ideas off peers in my cohorts who may not be directly related to my field of study, but can progress my research thanks to their niche insights.

How would you describe your research interests to a 3rd grader?

There are tiny organisms that live inside animals, plants, the ocean–even you!–that are called “microbes.” These microbes can help us accomplish tasks like get needed nutrients, deal with stressful conditions, or fight bad bacteria that can make us sick. I study how these microbes interact with each other in order to help the host they live in.

What’s your dream job?

Along with doing research, I like writing about doing research, and introducing non-scientists to important and cool findings. My dream job would be to work as a science writer at a newspaper like The New York Times to help make science more accessible and showcase the wonder of the world around us.

What else do you wish others knew about you?

I’m not just a scientist! Outside of the lab, I love to run, cook, eat pastries, read, and spend time in Western North Carolina enjoying our gorgeous mountains and trails.