Mentoring & Shadowing Options
* Both means collegiate and pre-collegiate
1. Title: Clinical Pharmacogenomics Chat
Mentor: Benish Alam
# of individuals: 2-3
Mentoring description: As a clinical pharmacogenomics resident, I see pharmacogenetic tests from all over the health system. We take these test results and make medication recommendations based on the patient's full picture. Willing to meet virtually every few weeks to discuss paths in medicine, pharmacy and healthcare - including clinical and research.
Age group: College
2. Title: Invertebrate Biology - Entomology Careers and Education Opportunities
Mentor: Rebecca Baldwin
# of individuals: up to 300
Mentoring description: Come join us as we explore careers, scholarships, and opportunities in biology/entomology. With a foundation in entomology, you can go to medical or veterinary school, be prepared for graduate school, and will have skills to enter governmental or industry positions in biology, public health, conservation, pest management, etc. Have you ever wondered how biology, engineering technology, and public health intersect. One way is through entomology. An estimated 75% of all animals on the planet are insects, so we will explore their world and how research can lead us to healthier and more efficient lives. If you have interest in biology, health, conservation, invasive species, plant and insect interactions, etc., please join us as we discuss careers, research, STEM education, available scholarships, volunteer positions in teaching, research, and education, study abroad programs, and more. You don't want to miss our Arthropod Petting Zoo during our discussion time! We look forward to meeting you!
Age group: Both
3. Title: Terrestrial ecology career chat
Mentor: Carolina Baruzzi
# of individuals: 4
Mentoring description: I'll be happy to discuss my research or broadly discuss possible career paths and how to prepare for graduate school in the ecology/forestry field. I can discuss any aspect of my present research as a postdoc, or my past research as a graduate student or field technician. I'm currently studying plant responses to fire in pine savannas, but I also have experience with animals (mainly mammals, e.g., using camera traps to investigate animal activity). I'll be also happy to have a conversation about good practices to prepare for and during grad school in my field. I am flexible
Age group: Both
4. Title: Career Chat in Evolution and Herpetology
Mentor: David Blackburn
# of individuals: 5–10
Mentoring description: Discuss trajectories and process for a career in ecology & evolution, museums, and/or herpetology. I'll probably also talk about frogs and fieldwork in Africa! I am flexible.
Age group: Both
5. Title: Marine Science Chat
Mentor: Victor Blanco
# of individuals:~6
Mentoring description: If you feel attraction for Marine Science careers but are not sure which way to go, join the mentor experience to discuss your questions, interests and plans and explore all the opportunities available for you that might help you take a decision. Se habla Español. I'll introduce you to a broad field of opportunities among marine science careers, which include from high academic (professional) level to others more to the skilled (nonprofessional) level. Also, we will explore how other careers relate to marine or aquatic sciences, your interests and how they align with future opportunities. The idea is to introduce you into a general context and then discuss in a one-on-one setting about the specifics and details of your interests.
Age group: Both
6. Title: Archaeology
Mentor: Lindsay Bloch
# of individuals: 3
Mentoring description: Learn about the different aspects of a career in archaeology: field research, lab analysis and curation, publishing, etc. I'm happy to talk with students about different career paths in archaeology, intersections of archaeology with biology, geology, chemistry, and other STEM fields.
Age group: Both
7. Title: Sharks and marine bio career chat
Mentor: Tyler Bowling
# of individuals: AMAI (As many as are interested in meeting with me virtually)
Mentoring description: Sharks and marine bio career chat ichthyology. As this is virtual I can take as many that are interested. "A personal journal through academia. Tips for getting into the marine bio field, CV advise. Overview of the Florida program for shark research and the International shark attack file, Q&A"
Age group: College
8. Title: Informatics
Mentor: Chandra Earl
# of individuals: 2-3
Mentoring description: My path has taken me through various areas of biology (genetics, microbiology, biodiversity) where I explored different ways that computers and coding are being used to do research. Currently I do Biodiversity Informatics across various databases and taxa. My undergraduate research started out in microbiology where I was introduced to using computers to perform ancestral state reconstruction of 3D proteins to see how their interaction with DNA changed over time. This lead to a PhD in Genetics and Genomics, where much of what I learned was related to bioinformatics and manipulating DNA for use in an evolutionary context. My dissertation focused on large-scale analyses of various taxa using multiple tools such as machine learning and databasing.
Age group: Both
9. Title: Oyster aquaculture farm experience
Mentor: Vincent Encomio
# of individuals: 1-2
Mentoring description: A student will learn about life on the (oyster) farm, helping grade, measure and harvest oysters. The student will work with the extension agent, farm owner, and other interns. Part of the work will be part of ongoing research to assess performance of oyster strains selectively bred for the aquaculture industry. The student should know how to swim and should be comfortable on a small boat, working in the water handling heavy oyster cages. Masks are required gear. The student should also provide some of his/her personal gear (mainly footwear; wetsuit possible) for working in wet conditions. Other gear (gloves, waders, foul weather gear) will be provided.
Age group: Both
10. Title: Infectious Diseases & Immunology
Mentor: Aria Eshraghi Ph.D.
# of individuals: 4
Mentoring description: My lab studies how bacteria secrete toxins to cause a deadly disease. I'm excited to discuss how I got to my position and virtually show you around the infectious diseases and immunology laboratory.
Age group: Both
11. Title: Collecting NEON Data
Mentor: Guy Fausnaught
# of individuals: 2-3
Mentoring description: The Neon project is funded by the NSF. We collect ecological data throughout the United States. We would look at our sampling schedule and try to find some sample at OSBS they can observe collection.
Age group: Both
12. Title: Insect infectious disease dynamics
Mentor: Andrea Gonzalez
# of individuals: 1
Mentoring description: I am passionate about understanding the ecology and evolution of host-parasite interactions. I combine experimental and theoretical approaches to decipher how infectious diseases emerge, transmit, establish, and persist in insects. Doing research is one of the most important things in my life and I will be honored to share my experience with you. I have navigated different circumstances such as adapting to live to a new country ((I am Mexican, did my PhD in Mexico and moved to the US for my post-doctoral training) and to insert in a new society. I can´t say I have found all the answers but what I know is that doing scientific research changed my life forever and I don´t regret having chosen this path.
Age group: College
13. Title: Alexandra Hernandez
Mentor: evolutionary/computational biologist career chat
# of individuals: 3
Mentoring description: Happy to discuss my journey to evolutionary/computational biology from community college, including applying to graduate school and current experience in graduate school. I'm also very passionate about diversity, inclusion, and education in STEM. I'd love to answer questions students have and be a resource to students from any background.
Age group: Both
14. Title: Forest ecosystems
Mentor: Daniel (Dan) Johnson
# of individuals: 2
Mentoring description: I study forests. I am a first generation college graduate from a working class family. I have worked in state and federal government positions, as well as running my own consulting business. I will be happy to talk about what I do and how I got here.
Age group: Both
15. Title: Herpetology
Mentor: Greg Jongsma
# of individuals: 5
Mentoring description: I am passionate about museum science and fieldwork. I am a PhD student in Biology, based in the Herpetology range the FLMNH. As a frog biologist and my research is focused on the origins of diversity in Central Africa. I have experience mentoring many undergraduate students. I've helped them design original research programs, pursue funding, and even collecting in Gabon, Africa.
Age group: Both
16. Title: Collecting and preserving arachnids and their parasites
Mentor: Nick Keiser
# of individuals: 2
Mentoring description: We will explore various habitats around the University of Florida campus to search for parasite-infected spiders. Afterwards, we will practice preserving and labeling specimens in the lab. Mentees may participate in both the collection and preserving/labeling experiences, or only one if that better suits their needs. Carr Hall, University of Florida campus
Age group: Both
17. Title: Taliesin Kinser
Mentor: Extract DNA from pressed plants!
# of individuals: ~2
Mentoring description: I will produce a video of me demonstrating and explaining the different steps and aspects of a DNA extraction, from tissue collection, to DNA purification. I will also set up a time for a Q&A regarding the video and lab work in general. In the video, we will extract DNA from leaf tissue of pressed plants used as museum specimens in the Florida Museum herbarium. We will go through the full process of DNA extraction and produce purified DNA from these different plant species. During this process we will talk about the science of DNA extractions and some of the many possibilities when using genetic codes!
Age group: College
18. Title: Pharmaceutical Career Chat
Mentor: Eman Kirolos
# of individuals: 3
Mentoring description: Eman Kirolos obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy from Howard University and has been a pharmacist for over ten years. She mentored pharmacy students who rotated in her practice setting. She provided insight into choosing a career to some students. She interviewed pharmacy candidates and evaluated their potential for a success pharmacy career. She is a member of the legislative and continuing education committees of Arizona Pharmacy Association. She is currently enrolled in Master if Sciences in Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy with dual graduate certifications in Pharmaceutical Regulations and Patient Safety. Dr. Kirolos has a special interest in health policy as it relates to medication use. She strives to support legislations that enhance patient access to equitable quality pharmacy care. She is very personable and has passion to help others.
Age group: Both
19. Title: Lake ecology
Mentor: Mathew Leibold
# of individuals: possibly 5
Mentoring description: we will discuss why we need to learn more about how pond and lake ecosystems work and what's involved in doing research on that. I'm also happy to discuss opportunities in this area and more general work in ecology as well.
Age group: Both
20. Title: Sustainable Agriculture Field Work
Mentor: Dina Liebowitz
# of individuals: 5
Mentoring description: Just us to explore sustainable agriculture on a small urban farm! We'll chat about all the careers and fields of study that connect to food systems, and get some hands-on experience working on the farm. Students need to wear closed-toed shoes (sneakers or boots), clothes they can get dirty, and dress appropriately for the weather
Age group: Both
21. Title: Virtual Amphibian disease ecology and conservation
Mentor: Ana Longo
# of individuals: AMAI
Mentoring description: We will give a tour of our lab and discuss how we employ molecular techniques to study amphibian diseases in wild populations.
Shadowing experience: We will show how we use skin swabs to analyze the infection intensity of a fungus and a virus that affect amphibians globally. We will explain the concepts of DNA extraction and quantitative polymerase chain reaction in pathogen detection
Age group:
22. Title: Museum/Mammalogy career chat/Mammalogy collections
Mentor: Verity Mathis
# of individuals: AMAI
Mentoring description: I will be happy to talk to students about my path, mammalogy research, and opportunities available to them in museum collections.
Age group: Both
23. Title: Marine biology career chat
Mentor: Melissa Meadows
# of individuals: 10
Mentoring description: I'm Dr. Melissa Meadows, and I'd love to tell you how I became a marine biologist, my past experiences in research, and what I do at UF as a lecturer teaching marine biology and other courses.
Age group: Both
24. Title: Biology career chat
Mentor: Nicholas Newell
# of individuals: AMAI
Mentoring description: Our lab studies evolution, behavior, (epi)genetics, as well as aging in social insects. We can discuss anything from the process of applying to graduate school, to our process of providing care to the ant colonies we raise in our lab.
Age group: Both
25. Title: Discussion of fisheries/aquaculture careers
Mentor: Joshua Patterson
# of individuals: 5-10
Mentoring description: A discussion about careers and career paths in fisheries and aquaculture. Virtual aspect makes this less relevant, but I am remote faculty based in the Tampa Bay area.
Age group: Both
26. Title: Jimmy Peniston
Mentor: Graduate Student Mentor Chat
# of individuals: AMAI (As many as are interested in meeting with me virtually)
Mentoring description: Advice on applying to graduate school in ecology, evolutionary biology, or behavioral ecology. (2) Explanation of the process of building ecological and evolutionary models and what skills are required to do so. Discussion about teaching science if anyone is interested.
Age group: Both
27. Title: Conversation about botany and grad school
Mentor: Kasey Pham
# of individuals: 1
Mentoring description: A casual chat with a PhD student (and other scientists, depending on mentee's interests) in botany about graduate school, biology careers, and botanical illustration. NOTE: While I framed this as a mentorship opportunity, I am flexible to shadowing as well, if a mentee would like to see what computational work or botanical illustration is like.
Age group: Both
28. Title: Botanical career chat
Mentor: Lindsey Riibe
# of individuals: 1-2
Mentoring description: There are many career pathways in botany, and sometimes a winding trail is the most rewarding. Valuable botanical experience and a network of mentors are available outside the classroom. I can share the twists and turns my botanical path followed and resources I acquired along the way to graduate school. "I am a first-generation college student who entered school having few peers and no mentors with college experience. The winding path I chose was heavily influenced by my desire for mentorship and work experience in plant conservation. My PhD research uses phylogenetic, cytological, and taxonomic methods to ask questions about fern diversity and evolution. There's an opportunity to shadow in the herbarium, working on fern and lycophyte species identifications for annotating herbarium specimens. *** the shadowee will need to have a ufl CLEARED status (COVID) to enter the herbarium.
Age group: Both
29. Title: Ichthyology (Fishes)
Mentor: Rob Robins
# of individuals: 3 or less
Mentoring description: There is a virtual tour of the Florida Museum fish collection now online as an interactive video (kudos Ed Stanley for producing it). My expectation is that I would narrate a virtual tour through the space and follow it up/supplement it with one or more interesting specimens over ZOOM
Age group: Both
30. Title: Biology graduate/career chat Biology
Mentor: Juliette Rubin
# of individuals: 4
Mentoring description: I have previously mentored ~10 undergraduate students in data collection, captive animal care, and data analysis. Two of these students were interested in subsequently pursuing a graduate degree and I mentored them through the process of contacting faculty of interest, writing their application, and applying for grants.
Age group: College
31. Title: Computational evolutionary biology career chat
Mentor: Joseph Ryan
# of individuals: 2
Mentoring description: I was a first-generation college student and my path to a bachelors of science degree involved working in restaurants, taking semesters off, community college, and night school. With this background, I am able to offer mentoring and career advice that may be less obvious to faculty with more traditional paths to becoming a scientist.
Age group: Both
32. Title: Zoology/Entomology career chat
Mentor: Maya Saar
# of individuals: 3
Mentoring description: I am a postdoc researcher. I currently study genetic engineering of pest ants, and I had a lot of experience in Ecology as well during my PhD. I am from Israel, and I am in the USA based on a scholar's visa. I am first generation in graduate school and also a mother for 2. I can speak on any of these topics.
Age group: College
33. Title: Careers in Zoos
Mentor: Jade Salamone
# of individuals: AMAI (As many as are interested in meeting with me virtually)
Mentoring description: Zoos are centers for conservation, education and animal welfare. There are many exciting careers within zoos and aquariums, from zookeepers to educators and even researchers to nutritionists. Learn more about how you can make a difference for wildlife and wild places!
Age group: Both
35. Title: Graduate School Prep Chat
Mentor: Sam Smidt
# of individuals: up to 10
Mentoring description: We will discuss what makes a competitive applicant and how to secure a graduate school position. Virtual chat, open Q&A. This is tailored for students more focused on the environmental science side
Age group: Both
36. Title: plant diversity career chat
Mentor: Pam Soltis
# of individuals: 5 at a time
Mentoring description: : I will meet with students either individually or in a small group to discuss the exciting field of plant diversity. We will explore career options for studying, sustainably using, and conserving the nearly half million species of green plants.
Age group: Both
37. Title: Ichthyology career chat/collecting trip
Mentor: Gabriel Somarriba
# of individuals: mentoring 12, shadowing 6
Mentoring description: Mentoring: Zoom chat where I can give students a bit of my own background and advice on making it into academia. Shadowing: a field trip to a river or beach within easy access of the student group where we can pull a seine and I can teach them about the typical work of an Ichthyologist" Not really needed St. Augustine Beach or the Santa Fe River
Age group: Both
38. Title: Forest Science
Mentor: Jason Vogel
# of individuals: as many as interested
Mentoring description: Learn about forests and the many benefits that they provide humanity, how we estimate these benefits, and how we manage forests to provide for our society. Topics in forest science will be covered from research in Alaska to Florida. I will provide an overview of the type of research that an applied forest ecologist might engage in.
Age group: Both
39. Title: Earth system science career chat
Mentor: Elizabeth Webb
# of individuals: 25 since virtual
Mentoring description: Learn about academic paths in earth system science - how to get a position working in the field or how to use your computer skills to your advantage
Age group: Both
40. Title: Museum curator of butterflies McGuire Center for Lepidoptera
Mentor: Keith Willmott
# of individuals: 2
Mentoring description: Explore daily curatorial and research practices, potentially including specimen identification, specimen preparation and photography, digitization, dissection under stereomicroscope, analysis of DNA sequence data, plotting distribution maps. A butterfly curator involves numerous activities, including physical preparation and organization of specimens in the collection, extracting and using data from those specimens, studying their morphology and DNA, and using that information to answer questions about biodiversity and evolution. Students will be introduced to a variety of activities and have the opportunity to ask questions about a career as an entomologist.
Age group: Both
41. Title: Virtual Shadowing leaf-footed bug evolution experiment
Mentor: Sara Zlotnik
# of individuals: AMAI (As many as are interested in meeting with me virtually)
Mentoring description: Entomology and Nematology I could accommodate as many students as possible as it will be a virtual event via Zoom. Learn about and virtually interact with an evolution experiment on leaf-footed cactus bugs! You will also get to ask questions about applying to and navigating grad school in the fields of ecology and evolutionary biology.
Age group: Both