2024 Shadowing & Mentoring Opportunities
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See below for our 2024 offerings
Careers in Botany
Mentor: Alan Franck, Collections Manager
Number of students: 2
Description: Join Alan to explore the world of botany and career paths from working in the wilderness, international research, DNA research, undergraduate and graduate experiences, discovering new species, museum collections and more! Sharing my experiences and encouraging others interested in botany to engage in opportunities.
Location: Dickinson Hall
Email: francka@ufl.edu
Dept: Florida Museum Research Collections, Dickinson Hall
Museum Outreach Education
Mentor: Alberto Lopez, Youth Outreach Coordinator
Number of students: 2
Description: Join Alberto to learn about museum education and outreach! Meet the Florida Museum Youth Outreach Coordinator to hear about the work that the Florida Museum does to reach underserved communities in Alachua County. See what are possible career paths you can take to join the front lines of science communication in informal science education settings.
Location: ZOOM
Student type: Either
Email: alopez@floridamuseum.ufl.edu
Dept: Education and Public Programs
Careers in Marine Sciences
Mentor: Alexandra Bijak, PhD Candidate
Number of students: 2
Description: Join Alexandra to explore potential career paths in the marine sciences! We can discuss steps you can take to prepare for a career in marine sciences as a high school or college student. I can also share what daily life as a graduate student working in marine ecology looks like.
Location: ZOOM
Student type: Either
Email: abijak@ufl.edu
Dept: University of Florida Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences Department
Chat with a Biology Masters Student (Genetics/Evolution/Animal Behavior); Changing Fields in the Sciences (from physics undergrad to bio grad)
Mentor: Anna Mohr, Masters student
Number of students: 1
Description: Chat with Anna about being a graduate student in Biology. Students can come prepared with questions or concerns they have regarding any part of being a graduate student in biology.
Location: ZOOM
Student type: Either
Email: amohr@ufl.edu
Dept: Biology Department; Bartram Hall
Navigating Graduate School as a High School Dropout
Mentor: Annabella Lyndon, PhD student/Research Assistant
Number of students: As many as necessary
Description: Despite not having a high school diploma, I’ve obtained a successful undergraduate education and have become a Ph.D. student, along the way earning student awards, scholarships, honors, and even a graduate fellowship. During this meeting I will share the steps I took to create a successful career in academia as a nontraditional student.
Location: ZOOM
Student type: Either
Email: annabella.lyndon01@gmail.com
Explorations on Plant Ecology and Anatomy
Mentor: Claudia Garnica Diaz, Ph.D. student
Description: Join Claudia to chat about her career in plant ecology. Her career in plant ecology has been ignited by her passion for mentorship. She has already mentored 15 undergraduate students, with a focus on women in science and underrepresented backgrounds, including nine women, three from Latin America, two from Iran, and two non-binary students. She have also been involved in mentorship through the Undergraduate Research Assistantship Program (URAP) committee, organizing an undergraduate symposium, and providing research grants. She play a key role in UF's SACNAS chapter, currently serving as the president. Overall, she is committed to opening doors for the next generation and creating an inclusive and supportive environment for scientific progress. As a Latina Woman in Science and once a first-generation college student, she has overcome challenges, including starting graduate school during a pandemic and in a second language. She is committed to being a role model, especially for girls and women in science, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds.
Location: ZOOM
Student type: Either
Email: claudia.garnicad@ufl.edu
Herpetology Career Chat
Mentor: Coleman Sheehy, Collection Manager, Herpetology
Description: Come talk with Dr. Coleman Sheehy about herpetology, research, fieldwork, natural history collections, graduate school, and more! You will be able to discuss a variety of topics related to careers in herpetology, including preparation in college or graduate school and what a week in the life of a herpetologist might look like.
Location: ZOOM
Email: coleman3@ufl.edu
Family Youth and Community Sciences (FYCS) Career Chat
Mentor: Crystal Tisby, Lecturer
Description: Join Crystal to chat about a career in FYCS. I am currently an instructor for a Professional Development course in FYCS and have mentored several organizations and students from underrepresented areas in higher education in the past 10 years.
Location: ZOOM
Student type: Either
Email: ctisby@ufl.edu
Careers and Adventures in Museums and Herpetology
Mentor: David Blackburn, Curator of Herpetology
Number of students: 2
Description: Join Dr David Blackburn to discuss career paths related to natural history museums as well as research, conservation, and management of amphibians and reptiles
Location: ZOOM
Student type: Either
Email: dblackburn@ufl.edu
Conservation & Global Change Ecology
Mentor: Felicity Newell, Postdoctoral Associate
Number of students: 2
Description: Come chat with Dr. Felicity Newell about opportunities to apply a love of the natural world in conservation and field ecology. Learn about community-based conservation in the Andes. She would be happy to speak with high school or colleges students about applying to college or graduate school from first generation or low-income backgrounds. She can speak from both personal experience and also recently mentored a first-generation undergraduate thesis at UF.
Location: ZOOM
Student type: Either
Email: fnewell@ufl.edu
Archaeology and Anthropology Career Chat and Lab Tour
Mentor: Jen Green, Collections manager
Number of students: 2
Description: Come talk to Jen Green about careers in anthropology and archaeology while touring the collection spaces.
Location: ZOOM
Student type: Either
Email: jgreen@floridamuseum.ufl.edu
Department: FLMNH
Science Communication/Popular Science Writing
Mentor: Jerald Pinson, Science writer
Number of students: 2
Description: Join Jerald to learn about community science as a career or to improve the reach of your work. For anyone interested in communicating science to a broad audience, whether as a full-time career or as a way to better explain your research and distribute it as widely as possible. If you're interested in a career in science communication, we can talk about some of the opportunities and resources that are available. If you want to brush up your communication skills, we can discuss strategies to make even the most complex science broadly appealing and comprehensible.
Location: ZOOM
Student type: Either
Email: jpinson@flmnh.ufl.edu
Department: FLMNH
Animal Behavior and Evolutionary Biology Career Chat
Mentor: Juliette Rubin, Post doc
Number of students: 4
Description: You can chat with Juliette about getting into grad school, finding a field that you are interested in, and questions about working with bats, birds and bugs in the lab and field.
Location: ZOOM
Student type: Either
Email: juliettejrubin@gmail.com
Department: Florida Museum
Herpetology/Evolutionary Biology/Tropical Rainforest Biodiversity Career Chat
Mentor: Kaitlin Tapondjou, Postdoc
Number of students: 2
Description: You can come chat with Katie about herpetology or biodiversity sciences, navigating graduate school and more
Location: ZOOM
Student type: Either
Email: Ktapondjou@ufl.edu
Department: FLMNH
Data & Database Management in Biodiversity
Mentor: Katie Pearson, Project & Data Manager
Number of students: 2
Description: Come chat with Katie Pearson about getting into biodiversity data management, wrangling, cleaning, and coding, or about graduate school, publishing, conducting research, etc.
Location: ZOOM
Student type: Either
Email: kdpearso@asu.edu
Department: iDigBio
Multimedia/Visual Journalist Communicating Science/Research and Public Museums
Mentor: Kristen Grace, Museum Staff
Number of students: 2
Description: Talk with Kristen Grace about what it's like being a higher-education visual journalist, specifically in the field of a public university natural history museum.
Location: ZOOM
Student type: Either
Email: kgrace@floridamuseum.ufl.edu
Department: FLMNH
Herpetology Career Chat / Getting into Grad School
Mentor: Lameace Hussain, PhD student
Description: Join Lameace to learn from their experiences as a scientist navigating academia. I've worked in the herpetology field for years both in an academic setting as well as for a state agency. Along with this, I've learned (the hard way) some of the ins and outs of getting into graduate school and framing yourself for your future career. I'm happy to chat about field opportunities, how to get involved in research, but also how to navigate the career space as well as academic admission space. I can go over CVs/resumes as well as cover letters. We can also do mock interviews as well.
Location: ZOOM
Student type: Either
Email: lhussain1@ufl.edu
Science Communication Career Chat -- From Microscopes to Microphones: My Journey from STEM to Informal Education and Science Communication
Mentor: Lexi Bolger, MS student
Number of students: 2
Description: Join Lexi to explore science and science communication. Mentoring/conversation on how you can combine your passion for science with your passion for outreach and science communication using instructional mobile technologies (i.e. live-streaming a virtual field trip of a science center using iPads & Zoom, podcasting as a teaching tool in education/outreach).
Location: ZOOM
Student type: Either
Email: abolger@ufl.edu
Department: Agricultural Education & Communication; Bryant Space Center or Rolfs Hall
Ecology Career Chat
Mentor: Mathew Leibold, Biology Prof
Description: Ecology is the study of nature and increasingly how it interacts with human activities. It is fascinating! Talk with Mathew Leibold about it and how you can find a career involving ecology.
Location: ZOOM
Student type: Either
Email: mleibold@ufl.edu
Department: Biology
Science Communication and Outreach Chat
Mentor: Megan Ennes, Assistant Curator of Museum Education; Director, Thompson Earth Systems Institute
Description: Are you interested in how scientists share their research with the public? Come learn about science communication and outreach with Dr. Ennes.
Location: ZOOM
Student type: Either
Email: megan.ennes@ufl.edu
Department: TESI
Plant Anatomy and Physiologist, Ecology Related Chat
Mentor: Ogonna Eli, MSc student
Description: Join Ogonna, to chat about working with plants, using anatomical and physiological tool to answer ecological questions. also, about being an international graduate student in the US.
Location: ZOOM
Student type: Either
Email: Ogonna.eli@ufl.edu
Department: Biology
Biodiversity Data Science
Mentor: Robert Guralnick, PhD
Description: Are there careers for people who are interested in both data sciences and biodiversity or conservation? What about all the roadblocks and complexities in finding the right path? Join Rob who is excited to find paths with you.
Location: ZOOM
Student type: Either
Email: robgur@gmail.com
Department: FLMNH
Ornithology Career Chat
Mentor: Savannah Troy, PhD candidate
Number of students: any number
Description: Join Savannah if you are interested in being mentored on a data management project. She has taught an upper-division environmental sciences lab course with only 8 students, worked to build the curriculum around their personal interests and career goals and helped several of them through the process of applying for internships. She has previously led field research crews of 2-3 and trained students in field ornithology techniques. Her door is always open to students who find me through my advisors website, and have had meetings with undergraduate students looking to be connected with research opportunities.
Location: ZOOM
Student type: Either
Email: savannah.troy@ufl.edu
Department: WEC/Newins Ziegler
Freshwater Turtle Field Survey
Mentor: Shea Husband, MS Student/ Biological Scientist
Number of students: Up to 3
Description: Join Shea to gain advice for applying for and navigating undergraduate and graduate school as a first-generation student. She is also willing to offer information about what is available career wise in microbiology and related fields.
Location: ZOOM
Student type: Undergraduate student
Email: shusband@ufl.edu
Department: Wildlife Ecology and Conservation/Nature Coast Biological Station
Graduate school, Microbiology, and/or Tips for Undergrad
Mentor: Taylor Ladner, PhD Student
Description: Taylor can offer advice for applying for and navigating undergraduate and graduate school as a first-generation student. I can also offer more information about what is available career wise in microbiology and related fields.
Location: ZOOM
Student type: Either
Email: taylor.ladner@ufl.edu
Department: Microbiology and Cell Science
Entomology
Mentor: Tolulope Agunbiade, Instructional Assistant Professor
Number of students: 2
Description: Tolulope is interested in mentoring anyone interested in Entomology or academia broadly. She has mentored a high school student, undergraduate and graduate students, and visiting scientists.
Location: ZOOM
Student type: Either
Email: agunbiade@ufl.edu
Marine Biology and Aquatic Sciences Career Chat
Mentor: Victor Blanco, Marine Extension Agent
Description: Meet with Victor to know more about a career in marine biology and other aquatic science-related careers. I'll share my story and lessons learned during my time in college and my professional career that might help you make a decision (Hablo Español, e Falo português). Every time I say I am a marine biologist, most of the people have considered this option at any moment of their lives. Marine biology and other aquatic sciences are a great opportunity to create a long-lasting career where you can fulfill personal goals. I've studied in 6 Universities in 4 countries and two continents and with 24 years of professional experience in my field I can share some thoughts and clarify some myths about this wonderful area of expertise. Join me so I can answer your questions and help you out to build a path that fits you.
Location: ZOOM
Student type: Either
Email: victorblancomar@ufl.edu
Careers in Extension Services
Mentor: Yvette, Goodiel, Sustainability & Commercial Horticulture Extension Agent
Description: Join Yvette to learn about the ways Extension Agents serve landscapers, nursery growers, and farmers with Yvette. Chat about the work of Extension Agents, pathways to becoming an Agent, and you can see a demonstration of farm soil moisture sensor technology virtually. We can meet virtually, or you can travel to Martin County. If you travel here, I can take you out in the field to one or more local farms and show you some of the fieldwork we do with farmers here. If we meet virtually, I can share video clips and photos of the work we do in the field with farmers and others while we chat.
Location: ZOOM
Student type: Either
Email: goodiel@ufl.edu