The STEM Ambassador Program began in 2016 as a training program for a small cohort of University of Utah scientists. Since then, we have grown to work with over 50 faculty, graduate students, and post-docs. Scroll down to learn about the scientists who have participated. Contact us if you would like to reach out to a STEM Ambassador.
Note that many Ambassador bios were uploaded when the Ambassador joined the program and may not be current.
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Lace Padilla works in an interdisciplinary Visual Perception and Spatial Cognition perception research group run by Dr. Sarah Creem-Regehr, Dr. Jeanine Stefanucci, and Dr. William B. Thompson at the University of Utah. She works on two NSF funded projects; Uncertainty Visualization Project, and Spatial Cognition and Navigation (SCAN) Project. |
Lace is a strong advocate for minorities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). She is the founder and president of the Diversity Graduate School Application Advisory, which helps underrepresented undergraduate students—specifically female, minority, LGBTQ, non-US citizens, and differently-abled students— apply for graduate school. For her diversity in STEM work, she has received the Martin Harris Hiatt Memorial Graduate Fellowship, For Underrepresented Populations and the Clayton Fellowship, For Excellence In Research with Underrepresented Populations.
To learn more about her work, please visit LacePadilla.com.
David Parrott studies a tiny mutant of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (Thale Cress; discovered in Leslie Sieburth’s laboratory at the University of Utah). Using a combination of genetics, genomics, and plant physiology, David is investigating how an as-of-yet unknown signaling molecule made in the root of the mutant plant (but present in all plants) might alert the shoot and slow growth when there is too much salt or not enough water in the soil. This research could be important in understanding how plants cope with drought.
David loves to telemark ski, mountain bike, and work in his garden.
Ariadne Penalva works at the University of Utah where she studies neural development, as well as the origins of neurodevelopmental disorders. She has a background in biochemistry and psychology.
Shrinivasan (Cheenu) works with Dr. Toto Olivera at the University of Utah where he investigates different types of brain cells found in rodent nervous system and tracks how these cells change their properties under chronic pain conditions. Cheenu uses microscopy and fluorescence imaging techniques to study these brain cells and to search for novel pharmacological interventions that could alleviate chronic pain.
Cheenu likes to experiment with different cuisines that he shares with his hiking and trail running friends.
Kathleen Ritterbush is a paleontologist at the University of Utah. She studies what ocean life was like during and before the time of the dinosaurs. Recent projects include modeling sea shells of extinct squid-like ammonite fossils to test if the animals could swim, and hunting for fossil sea sponges in ancient rocks. Because these ancient rocks are pushed into mountains by the Earth’s shifting surface, fossil hunting takes her across deserts of the American West and up into the Peruvian Andes. She is most interested in what animals flourish after global mass extinction events, and how this is related to world-wide environmental changes.
Victoria Russell works at the University of Utah where she studies biological fuel cells, which use catalysts derived from biological components to convert chemical energy into electrical energy. These catalysts include components from living cells (enzymatic fuel cells), or even entire cells (microbial fuel cells). Her research involves using genetic engineering to develop and improve upon biological catalysts used in enzymatic fuel cells.
A native of New York City, Victoria dove enthusiastically into all that Utah’s outdoors have to offer. She can often be found hiking, snowshoeing, backpacking, or canyoneering. She also enjoys reading and traveling, and is always up for planning her next adventure.
Emily works in Dr. Strayer’s Applied Cognition Laboratory studying how neural biomarkers of attention and physiological stress are modulated by exposure to natural environments. Using multiple methodologies in her research has also sparked her interest in the coupling between neurophysiological measures (e.g., EEG) and peripheral physiological measures (e.g., ECG) during restorative interventions.
Emily enjoys putting her research into practice by venturing outdoors as much as possible!
Abrianna, or “Abbey”, works with Dr. Phyllis Coley in the Biology Department at the University of Utah. She is a chemical ecologist broadly interested in plant-herbivore interactions, plant chemical defenses, botany, entomology, and defense sequestration. In the Coley lab, she helps investigate and identify defensive compounds found in the leaves of the tropical tree genus Inga.
Abbey also worked with Dr. Mark Hunter at the University of Michigan to study how dietary plant chemistry and environmental change affect flight ability in the monarch butterfly. She currently works as a lab tech for Dr. Coley, but hopes to move on to a PhD program in the near future and pursue a career in research and academia.
Abbey loves backpacking, camping, hiking, and generally appreciating in the natural world with her friends and dog, Korra. She also enjoys reading, writing, singing, live music, and good food.
Pratiti Tagore holds a bachelor’s degree in Architecture and a master’s degree in Urban Planning, both from India. Her work at the University of Utah focuses on human behavior and perceptions on western water conservation and conservation habits in general. She is interested in research on outdoor landscape and water use in single family homes. Pratiti is also interested in the built environment and human perceptions, and how the built environment influences conservation behavior. She is an active member in the Metro Water Lab. Her research is interdisciplinary, connecting planning, sociology, policy, and landscape architecture. Pratiti is enthusiastic about continuing to work on resource management and human perceptions with a multipronged approach.
Anna Vickrey works in Dr. Michael Shapiro’s lab at the University of Utah. She is interested in understanding the genetic, developmental, and evolutionary basis of variation. Birds in particular display an enormous amount of variation that has evolved under natural, sexual, and artificial selection. Relatively little is known about the molecular mechanisms that produce this variation. In order to identify genes, mutations, and developmental pathways that produce particular traits in birds, her lab studies the rock pigeon. Rock pigeons are an ideal species in which to study variation because of the tremendous phenotypic diversity present among over 350 breeds.
The lab is currently investigating a variety of traits in rock pigeons, including colors and color patterns, feather ornaments, and flying behaviors. Similar traits are present in wild species of birds, and learning about the molecular and evolutionary basis of these traits in pigeons helps her learn about the same traits in wild species.
Anna has about 40 pet pigeons, and loves birding, bird banding, road biking, trail running, and cooking in her free time.
Morgan Wambaugh works in the lab of Dr. Jessica Brown at the University of Utah. She is using a screening method to identify drugs that work synergistically (having a greater effect together) with the common antifungal fluconazole. She then investigates the mechanism of why these two drugs work better together to identify the potential new fungal target and more treatment options for invasive fungal infections.
Morgan enjoys craft breweries, hiking, and traveling with friends.
David Wheatley works with Dr. Marjorie Chan in the STAR (Sedimentary and Terrestrial Analog Research) group at the University of Utah. He studies sedimentology and planetary geology focused specifically on soft-sediment deformation within the Carmel Formation of southern Utah. Clastic pipes (a type of soft-sediment deformation) reveal ancient water table conditions and provide clues about past environments.
David uses these terrestrial analogs to inform interpretations of Martian environments and soft-sediment deformation to understand past groundwater conditions on Mars. David’s other research interests include geoarchaeology, GIS applications, and engineering applications to geology.
David enjoys exploring the outdoors through snowboarding, hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, and canyoneering.
Lauren Williams works in Dr. Trafton Drew’s Applied Visual Attention Laboratory at the University of Utah. She studies medical image perception, attention, working memory, and individual differences in cognition. She enjoys the opportunity to utilize many different techniques in her research, including eye-tracking and EEG. Recent projects include quantifying the cost of interruptions in diagnostic radiology and exploring novel interventions to help mitigate these effects.
Lauren enjoys traveling to new places, hiking around Utah, playing board games, and vegan cooking.
Under the direction of Dr. Leslie Knapp at the University of Utah, Michael Zaccheo is exploring the connection between genes, variation in the structure of neurons in the brains of primates and differences in the individual analytical and behavioral propensities of both humans and non-human primates. His work is focused on a small, hyper-variable segment of a gene called DRD4.
He also enjoys being with his family, making music and exploring the natural world.
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