Beyond Research
Communication.
As scientists, we must be able to convey our research plans to funding agencies and our findings to colleagues, politicians, stakeholders, resource managers, and the general public. I have worked to foster students’ writing skills by coordinating grant writing groups where I review the fundamentals of scientific writing and guide students through writing their first research grant (often the NSF GRFP). Additionally, my love of comedy writing and involvement in the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science has led me to integrate techniques from improv and stand-up comedy into my communication strategies.
Education.
One of the most fulfilling aspects of my work is sharing scientific knowledge with the public. As a doctoral student, I took students from San Diego schools into the field to learn about their local ecosystems. I also coordinated the Coastal and Marine Institutes’s Marine Science Day, where we taught the San Diego community about local marine resources. While in Israel, I have continued to share my experiences in science with students across the US through the Skype a Scientist program.
Representation.
I identify as trans-masculine and my pronouns are they/them or he/him. My transgender identity has shaped my approach to science, as well as my perspective on diversity in STEM fields. For example, I have had the rare opportunity to experience academia as both a man and a women. This opportunity has made me acutely aware of how differently society, and academia, treat men and women as well as the challenges that women face pursuing higher education. My experiences have encouraged me to find ways to foster diversity (in all forms) in science. One way that I am working to provide more resources and opportunities for diverse scientists is through the Ecological Society of America’s Early Career Mentorship Program. Here, I match early career ecologists with established ecologists to foster long-term mentor-mentee relationships. This program has been particularly helpful for early career ecologists seeking mentors that have non-traditional pathways such as managing graduate school as a single parent, navigating the US academic system as an immigrant, and transitioning to non-academic careers. For more information about the Early Career Mentorship Program click HERE.
Marine Science Day.
Marine Science Day (formerly the CMIL Open House) is an annual event at San Diego State University’s Coastal and Marine Institute Laboratory. I coordinated this event in collaboration with SDSU's Marine Ecology and Biology Student Association from 2013-2016. This event attracts 600-1000 visitors each year and aims to teach the San Diego community about local marine habitats and research efforts. Here is a fantastic video of the 2014 Marine Science Day that was made by the wonderful, amazing, and talented Alex Warneke.
