Undergraduate Research Assistant

I am an undergraduate majoring in Biological Pre-Medical Illustration. I am the “director of the image department” of the Hofmockel Lab. I render images representing conceptual models and methods that are used in presentations and posters by members of the lab group. I am also involved in other activities including playing the clarinet in the ISU Cyclone Football ‘Varsity’ Marching Band and rowing with the ISU Crew Club. I am hoping to continue my studies in Medical Illustration in graduate school after leaving ISU.

I'm an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Hofmockel Lab. I'm currently a senior kinesiology pre-med major with a biology minor at Iowa State University. During my past two years with the lab, I have been involved with many different experiments. Specifically, I have helped with many aspects of the Landscape Biomass Project. I have measured extracellular enzyme activity, greenhouse gas flux, net mineralization, and denitrification enzyme activity.

I am an undergraduate majoring in Animal Science. I hope to go on to Graduate school and study Animal Breeding and Genetics. In the Hofmockel Lab I work on both the Landscape Biomass and COBS projects. For these projects I have done a lot of fieldwork, sieving, grinding, and nutrient and mineralization assays, and I am known as the “king of the microbalance”. When I first started I didn’t think I would enjoy working with soil, but after a few weeks here I realized how important the study of soil is to everything. I have enjoyed working here with great graduate students and other undergrads.

I am currently and undergraduate research assistant majoring in Biology and Environmental Studies. I have been part of the Hofmockel lab since the fall of 2010. I started by doing DNA extractions to measure changes in the diversity of microbial communities in response to native and exotic plant communities. Since then I have been working on the Landscape Biomass Project as well as the Comparison of Biofuel Systems Project. For these projects I help with gas sampling, extracellular enzyme assays, and biogeochemical measurements such net mineralization.

I have been working in Dr. Kirsten Hofmockel's lab as part of the 2011 Biogeosciences Research Experiences for Undergrads program through Iowa State University. I have had an amazing summer learning so many new things about soil and getting to know some wonderful people. I recently moved to Ames, Iowa from Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa following graduating with an Associate of Science in Pre-Engineering. I will continue my education at Iowa State University this fall pursuing a Bachelors degree in Industrial Engineering along with a Master of Business Administration.

I am working at the Hofmockel lab as part of the 2011 Biogeosciences Research Experience for Undergraduates Program at Iowa State University. This fall I will be a junior at St. Olaf College, a private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota. I am currently pursuing degrees in biology and environmental science. This fall I will be studying abroad in Tanzania (you should check out the link to my blog!) and will be conducting independent research in the Tarangire National Park. Ultimately, I hope to work with implementing sustainable agricultural practices in developing countries.

Currently I assist Alescia and Sarah with their projects by either adventuring out into the field or conducting routine lab work. I am a senior in Microbiology with interests in microbial ecology and mirobes in general. My other interests include cycling, being eco-friendly, reading horror novels, Bears football, wood-working, beer brewing and baking.