Profile

• Time Zone

  Eastern

  
  
• Organization

  University of Michigan

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  I study the ways that trees change the size and shape of their leaves to better survive in their environment. I use the information that I learn from living plants to better understand the lives of fossil plants.

  
  
• Profile Question 1

  What lessons have you learned in your career about how science works?

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 1 here (300 words):

  No one is actually an expert in everything, so asking questions and working with people who can complement your strengths is important. I call it the "scientific buddy system". It's easier if you work together.

  
  
• Profile Question 2

  What is the coolest thing you have discovered or learned about plants?

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 2 here (300 words):

  You can estimate the average yearly temperature of a place based on the shape of tree leaves and the average yearly precipitation of a placed based on the average size of tree leaves. In general, colder places tend to have "toothier" leaves (like oaks and maples), and wetter places tend to have bigger leaves.

  
  
• Profile Question 3

  When and why did you decide to go into a science career?

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 3 here (300 words):

  I don't remember a time in my life when I didn't want to be a scientist, or more specifically a paleontologist. Science called to me because I always wanted to know more. I have a lot of questions.

  
  
• Capacity: How many teams at a time are you comfortable working with?

  2

  
  

Recent Posts

amsforgnonewosspring2024 project 2 Aly Baumgartner Apr 15 at 10:30am

Based on your experiments, do you think your prediction was correct? Why or why not?

amsforgnonewosspring2024 project 2 Aly Baumgartner Apr 15 at 10:29am

Mold tends to thrive in wet environments, especially if there is also a source of food. Caffeine isn't food for mold, but there are probably other ingredients in the pills that the mold may use are food.

amsforgnonewosspring2024 project 2 Aly Baumgartner Apr 11 at 09:22am

How much and how often are you watering the plants?