Mentoring

One of my goals as a mentor is to build and maintain a strong, supportive research group in biogeochemistry and ecosystem science. 

Research that is both independent and collaborative is an essential part of a STEM education that will prepare students for many career paths. Students will gain skills in how to design and execute experiments, interpret data, how to communicate effectively to different audiences, and how to collaborate in a diverse team. 

As a research mentor, I encourage students to develop their own research ideas and goals within a broad area that I feel qualified to support, both intellectually and logistically. However, students should differentiate themselves from their supervisor, so I encourage them to seek out advice from other experts who can help them incorporate in their research other elements that are beyond my expertise. This approach gives my students some intellectual independence and allows me to learn from them, while forming stronger connections with other researchers by co-mentoring students. Students should seek out mentors, resources, courses, and workshops to complement your training.

As a lab group leader, I invite motivated undergraduate and graduate students to join my lab to become practitioners of ecology and environmental science. I welcome folks from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, because I am convinced that this makes for a vibrant and interesting community. I endeavor to meet each student where they are, and to develop our mentoring relationship in a way that supports their intellectual, academic, and personal growth. I strive to be accessible, encouraging, and to offer constructive criticism as an opportunity for growth.

[I completed PSU's Mentoring Academy curriculum in Fall 2024 and since then have been incorporating what I have learned into my practices]