Fun Facts

I have always wanted to be a marine biologist, so at the age of 12, I became a certified SCUBA diver. I have dove as deep as 120 feet in the ocean. Something else interesting about me is that in the Fall of 2017, I was a part of a project that sent fungi from deep in the ocean all the way to the International Space Station. I also really enjoy hiking and camping along with my two chihuahuas. I hope to one day live in a place where I can be close to both the ocean and mountains.

About Me

I am a second-year masters student in the Marine Biology program at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. My research focuses on characterizing potentially new fungi from deep-sea sediments. The findings from my research have implications for understanding survival in extreme environments and the potential discovery of new antibiotic compounds. When I complete my master's degree, I plan to begin a Ph.D. program. My ultimate goal is to one day run my own research lab.

Experience

During my undergraduate education, I was a supplemental instructor for Biology and Microbiology, which means I held learning sessions outside of the classroom for students. I would tutor several students at once and would go over questions they had. As a graduate student, part of my job is to be a teaching assistant for biology and microbiology college-level labs. I have my own lab sections in which I teach students the lab methods and concepts.

Approach

My approach has always been to find ways in which the students can relate to the subject. I also have realized that a majority of students are visual learners, as so am I. Using whiteboards to draw out concepts or equations and working through the problem one step at a time really helps the students understand the whole idea. Lastly, I was taught early on to avoid answering a students question directly, but guide them in how to answer it and hear from them what they think they should do.