Nearly a decade ago, I found my passion for research through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs. Beginning in 2008, I joined the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition, an international high school competition where teams of students, coaches, and mentors build game-playing robots during a six-week period. After five years of annual competitions at the University of Minnesota, my knowledge in technology, engineering, and programming solidified my dedication for a career in STEM. I pursued biological sciences at the University of Minnesota, where I earned a B.Sc. in conservation biology, alongside two minors in geographic information science and environmental science, …show more content…
I curiously discussed my questions with graduate students and professors, which usually resulted in anecdotal answers. Only when I realized that asking questions was more important than finding answers did my true passion for research begin. Inspired to pursue and answer my own scientific questions, I developed my short-term career objective to earn a Ph.D. in plant genetics, alongside a long-term focus to study plant population genetics in species of conservation importance. Now, I pursue a Ph.D. through the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology at the University of Minnesota under the direction of Dr. David Moeller. I began research with the Moeller Lab in 2016 to pursue my interests in invasive species conservation and geographic information systems. However, I quickly developed mutual research interests in modeling biological invasions, species range limits, and plant population genetics. Although my research funding expired mid-2017, I continue to volunteer my efforts in finishing a manuscript for publication. We both hope to continue and expand our research, and believe that a Ph.D. through the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology at the University of Minnesota will yield scientific discovery and academic …show more content…
Beginning in 2013, I eagerly enrolled in many introductory classes, joined student groups, and developed quite studious habits. Despite my enthusiasm, I learned these introductory courses were in fact far more rigorous and demanding than I had originally anticipated. I underestimated my ability to balance concurrent courses with social and family expectations, and so my academics suffered. Feeling overloaded, I sacrificed many family and social responsibilities to focus on my academic studies. With renewed focus, I enrolled in many technical courses to develop my scientific passions. To my dismay, I found many of these courses lacked the rigorous academic curriculum that my scientific interests demanded. I felt uninspired in the absence of thought-provoking questions and lacked the passion to excel academically. Only when I found the right balance of academic load and scientific interest did my performance improve significantly. From then on, academic successes came naturally as my courses were both intellectually challenging and scientifically stimulating. My most rewarding experiences came from graduate-level courses, as graduate students shared my passion for research and encouraged my scientific exploration. While my academic successes guided my career passions towards higher education, my research experiences solidified
By carelessly shifting around organisms, with their awesome genetic potential, we have caused major ecological disasters. Gone is the most important tree in the Northeast, the American Chestnut, our premier landscaping tree, the American Elm, and gone are huge tracts of productive fresh water marsh. Now these marshes contain only monocultures (only one species present) of purple loosestrife.
I would like to thank Salish Kootenai College for giving me the wonderful opportunity of applying for STEM academy. If somebody had told me that I would be applying for college classes as a sophomore, I would not have believed them. My parents have always told me that when an opportunity comes, you should take it, and I do not plan on letting this experience go to waste. Education has been a big part of my life, and this academy can only help me move forward. That being said, here are a few reasons why I should be considered a candidate for the STEM academy. Joining the STEM academy will allow me to further my knowledge and help me to get closer to my goals, my academic career would flourish, and I would be closer to my ambition for my future. I am determined to become the best and most educated version of myself that I can possibly be.
I feel that the Biomedical Academy would be a great addition to my education. As a current eighth grader, I am becoming more active in making decisions about my future, and after exploring all options, I have decided that the Academy would definitely be a great place for me to further my education.
All discussions regarding the phenomenon of invasive species will inherently result in the consensus that they are an unwanted or an even evil entity. Ever since the age of exploration humans have been primary dispersers of these so called “exotic” species (Mooney and Cleland 2001). Famous examples include the release of cane toads in Australia (Urban et al., 2008); the rainbow trout (Fausch 2008) and the Japanese Kudzu vine in the southern U.S. (Blaustein 2001) and zebra mussels in the great lakes of Canada (Nalepa and Schloesser 1992). However, documented marine invasions compared with
I have often wondered what it would be like to experience the freedom of choosing my own class schedule. This has to be infinitely more stimulating and enjoyable. I am also aware that college will be significantly more challenging, but I have always found it easier to study for a class that interests me. I am willing to accept the fact that as long as I am in school, there will be required courses which may not engender excitement or enthusiasm; however, success should not be as difficult to achieve due to the maturity that is developing during this last year of high school. In addition, I have gained an understanding of the benefit of being well rounded. There is value in all classes taken. It helps to know that even my least favorite subject will contribute to the ultimate goal of personal and career development.
Niskern, Diana. Invasive species. Washington, D.C. (101 Independence Ave., S.E.): Science Reference Section, Science, Technology, and Business Division, Library of Congress, 2004.
Their findings contributed to a further explanation of the definition of an invasive species. It was concluded that invasive species are detrimental to the environment that they are invading. Jackson (2015) mentioned that negative relationships among invaders are a particular concern since it is possible that both of the invasive species would need to be controlled in order for an area to rebound after invasion. Hoopes et al. (2013) concluded that native species on island refuges are more likely to be come extinct during an invasion compared to those of mainland refuges. These results also help to confirm the importance of understanding invasive species from a conservation point of view since invasive species are a major threat to native populations in their
As a young undergraduate, I attempted to prove myself as a hardworking student by attending my courses focused and well prepared, and conducting my assignments as required. Through my undergraduate studies, I was fortunate to participate in several student and voluntary activities. Furthermore, determinant to acquire relevant practical experience, I trained and worked at several establishments applying my theoretical ed...
Invasive species, (also known as invasive alien species or simply alien species) are defined as any organism (plant, animal, pathogen, or other living thing) that is alien (non-native) to an ecosystem, which can cause adverse economical, ecological, or health effects to native species and/or humans. The roots of these problems all stem from the massive negative ecological impact these organisms are having on the environment (CBD, 2009). For all animal extinctions where the cause is known since the 1600’s, invasive alien species have been a contributing factor 40% of the time (CBD, 2006); the second most contributing factor to extinctions after loss of habitat (GC, 2013). By eliminating native species through competition for resources, predation, and transmittal of disease, invasive species continue to reduce biodiversity in almost all ecosystems around the world (CBD, 2009). In the future, this problem may worsen, and if no action is taken, could lead to a cascading ecological problem so large that whole communities or even ecosystems could collapse.
My undergraduate degree at DTU has laid the groundwork for me through a well-designed curriculum that has helped me develop...
From this chapter I have learned a lot about myself and how to study. Before I never really understood the different ways I studied, I just knew what seemed to work. I now understand why those techniques were successful. Now that I am aware I am a mostly a visual learner, have an integrated brain, and have bodily-kinesthetic and logical-mathematical intelligence, I look forward to implementing the newly learned studying techniques with the old, making my college experience as successful as possible.
Zins, J. E., Weissburg, R. P., Wang, M. C., & Walberg, H. J. (2004). Building academic success
Invasive species and their dastardly effects can be controlled and stopped if we all learn more about invasive species
By the time I was starting to apply for college, this ultimately lead to my decision of going to a research university as a biological sciences major. My time here at Drexel has been truly amazing. The hustle and bustle of the city, mixed with the action-packed student life and the lives of those who live there were all that I have dreamt of in a perfect university. With Drexel’s remarkable academics, it brought many new opportunities to my front door-- one of them being the STAR program.
Introduction Alien invasive species (AIS) have been identified as one of the greatest threats to biodiversity around the globe, second only to habitat destruction (Singh, 2001). IAS was defined by The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) as a species, subspecies or lower taxon (includes any of its part that might survive and reproduce) introduced outside its natural past or present distribution (Roger, 2003). In the context of CBD, IAS is one that threatens biological diversity but in the broader context it is one that has negative impacts in any area such as agriculture, human development, human health as well as biodiversity (Roger, 2003). The introduction of AIS, either intentionally or accidentally, is a by-product of increasing