Bios

Hello! My name is Derek, and I love plants! No, seriously! I think that plants are some of the coolest and most important organisms around. I fell in love with biotechnology, and the opportunity to make a difference and conduct research was too good to pass up. Our clover plants actually have the power to make a difference for farmers, so I am excited to see what our group can find. When I’m not nurturing our little plant babies, I’m either running for the high school’s cross country team, playing my viola, or reading.

Hey there! I’m Hope, one of the passionate members of the Clover Crew. I have always enjoyed being immersed in nature and surrounded by life, a love nurtured by summers outdoors in the mountains. Due to my fondness for all things green, deciding to work with plants wasn’t a difficult choice for me. I also am extremely concerned with the state of our global climate, and it is my biggest aspiration to make a difference in helping struggling environments. This research will allow me to make a small contribution to solving issues surrounding climate change, like desertification, as a senior in high school. There are not enough words for me to use to describe how gratifying that is for me. My passions, outside of changing the world one clover plant at a time, include running cross country and spending time with my family and close friends.

Howdy! I’m Sage, the most avid flower fan this side of the Mississippi—if that claim sounds farfetched, note that I’m literally named after a plant. Beyond just looking nice, flora is the root (forgive the pun) of a healthy ecosystem, so my Grandma and I have made sure to take care of our garden since I was a little kid. As I’ve learned more and more about biology and chemistry in school, I’ve gained a new perspective with which to observe the world around me, notably an appreciation of the intricacies of the organic relationships surrounding our lives. I’m especially excited that our project has the potential to benefit subsistence farmers across the world in such an important way; being able to combine passions for science and gardening is a treat, but being able to help others is the nitrogen-rich cherry on top! Outside of the lab, I’m an active member of Theatre, RCTV, and Track & Field here at Rock Canyon.