Major at UT: Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior track with a certificate in Applied Statistical Modeling
Current Job: Postdoctoral Researcher at Colorado State University
1. Did you ever change majors or careers?
I was always a Biology major, but I wasn't sure what track I was going to take until my first summer in undergrad I took an internship assisting a graduate student catalog understory species to assess fire recovery at the Stengl Lost Pines Research Station. At the end of that summer, my mind was pretty set on what I wanted to do; overtime the specifics morphed into what they are today.
2. What do you like most about your job?
I have the opportunity and ability to help understand our natural world as it is, and as it is changing. More specifically, I get to work in grasslands systems in the U.S. to learn how our own Great Plains are shifting and responding to stressors like drought and invasive species. It's very rewarding getting to work in a place so close to home, in an ecosystem that many people don't find interesting, and where we rely so much for our basic needs. I love working with great minds and great people to understand natural systems and seek solutions to many of the issues we face today.
3. Is there anything you wish you’d done differently as an undergraduate?
I wish I had stopped comparing myself to other students sooner. I felt like I was always behind, never doing enough extracurriculars, not making enough time studying, and not making the grades my peers were. In reality, I was on a very different path than other students, as each student is, and I drove myself crazy comparing myself to people who were, in the end, doing the same thing I was. It wasn't until I let go of this comparative attitude that I really felt I was enjoying my classes, doing better academically, and exploring my own passions that brought me to where I am today.
4. What advice would you give to current TIP Scholars?
Take advantage of even the "out-there" opportunities. Many students are coming in with an idea of what they want to do, and only take opportunities to further that single goal. My advice is to expand the field of view and maybe try something unexpected; something that seems interesting, but isn't quite what you would normally try. Who knows, a summer internship in the Lost Pines might just change your whole life. :)
5. Do you have a favorite memory from your time in TIP?
The collaborative study sessions! I struggled a lot my first year, for many reasons, but one of the major reasons is I didn't really know how to study effectively. The collaborative study sessions allowed me to explore different study methods from other students and of course work together. Without a dedicated space to share and study together, I imagine it would have been much more difficult for me to adjust to the demands of college.