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Anna Vold

Echinacea Project 2018

Environmental Science, Wellesley College 2022

Research Interests

Growing up on a dairy farm, I am passionate about creating a sustainable planet and, of course, my cows! I would like to learn more about Minnesota prairie and plants like Echinacea angustifolia to better understand how to create more sustainable agricultural practices and make agriculture beneficial to all consumers and the environment.

So, this summer I am open to studying anything from pollinators to phenology to help me understand more about conserving the resources and land we have now.

Statement

I am from Glenwood, MN about half an hour south-east of the project base. As I mentioned above, my family owns and operates Dorrich Dairy. Even though I do not plan on majoring in agriculture at this point, I hope to maybe work with it in some aspect in the future. In my free time, I enjoy gardening, baking, traveling, eating pie, and playing tennis.

Mia Stevens

Echinacea Project 2018

Biology, College of Wooster 2020

Research Interests

I spent the last year working in the Ison lab at Wooster exploring pollinator efficiency of the American Bellflower and finishing lab work on interspecific pollen diversity of Echinacea which is carried by different solitary bees. This work and a population & community ecology class I took showed me how delicate mutualisms are. Also how the species involved control said mutualism. Another area of interest of mine is how plants respond to their environment.

Statement

I am a junior biology major and environmental studies minor at the College of Wooster. I grew up in Buffalo, NY, (and no it doesn’t always snow there). I spend the majority of my free time knitting and enjoying the great outdoors. I do this outdoor exploring with my trusty sidekick, my dog Ellie.

Brigid Mark

Echinacea Project 2018

Biology and Environmental Studies, College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, 2020

Research Interests

Last summer, I participated in a project which monitored flower phenology and I absolutely loved it. This fascination with flowers and the impact of humans on ecosystems drew me to the Echinacea Project. My research interests fall within the realms of environmental science and conservation ecology. I’m interested in the impact of climate change, habitat loss, and invasive species on ecosystems as well as plant-pollinator relationships and any research applicable to conservation and restoration efforts.

Statement

I’m originally from Olathe, Kansas and am currently attending college in Minnesota. Recently, I’ve become interested in climate justice activism because I feel it is unjust that environmental degradation tends to impact the least privileged populations first and worst. In my spare time I like to hike, play violin, try new foods, and play soccer.

Andy Hoyt

Echinacea Project 2018

History, Carleton College 2019

Research Interests

As a history major, I am interested in researching historical relationships with and understandings of the landscape. In addition to history, I am interested in ecology and conservation. I have taken several courses on ecology, evolution, and environmental studies at Carleton College. Last summer, with the Carleton Ecology Lab, I researched plant community composition in the Carleton Arboretum tallgrass prairie restorations in south Minnesota. This experience helped me hone my research interests and sparked my interests in tallgrass prairie ecology, plant population and community ecology, and habitat restoration. At the Echinacea project, I am excited to research continue learning about tallgrass prairie ecology, and I am specifically interested in prairie fragmentation and its effects on prairie plant communities and plant-pollinator interactions.

Statement

I was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky and I have been attending Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota for the last three years. Upon graduation from Carleton, I plan on pursuing a graduate degree in a conservation-related field. In my free time, I enjoy playing guitar and tennis, birding, hiking, and baking. I am excited to be a part of Team Echinacea this Summer!

Morgan Kirwin

Echinacea Project 2018

Pre-Medical, Concordia College 2022

Research Interests

I am interested in studying and learning more about plant identification, pollination, and behavior of bees.  For my current job as an environmental technician, part of what I do is classify wetland plants.  I am definitely an amateur and would like to learn more about scientific names and different plant distinctions that lead you to figuring out what species it is.  Pollination is another interest of mine because quite honestly I don’t know much about it.  Finally, bees are also an interest.  Bees are so important to the ecosystem and learning more about them would be very interesting.  I love learning about new things, so I am open to studying anything this summer.

Statement

I grew up out in the country north of Morris, Minnesota and have been here my entire life.  Morris is an agricultural community about 30 miles from where the Echinacea Project is.  I enjoy various outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, hiking, and spending days at the lake.  I also enjoy traveling across the United States and Canada.  I currently work as an environmental technician for an environmental consulting company.  I am planning on going for Pre-Med at Concordia College (a recent change of my major), but my fall back plan is Biology/Earth Science to eventually become an environmental scientist.

Riley Thoen

Echinacea Project 2018

Biology, Gustavus Adolphus College 2019

Research Interests

I am interested in a wide variety of ecological disciplines, but I have found that population ecology and population genetics have come to the forefront of my interests. Additionally, I am interested in physiological adaptations and how these can vary within populations. I am excited to work with Team Echinacea because it will give me the chance to perform intensive field research with a group of individuals who have similar goals and interests as myself! More specifically, I hope to study within and between remnant mating of Echinacea and how this can affect fitness or physiology of individuals within the populations.

Statement

I grew up and lived my whole life in Bloomington, Minnesota, less than a mile from the Minnesota River. In my free time I enjoy hiking, outdoor leisure activities (softball, hammocking, etc…), and enjoying time with friends and family. I have a special spot in my heart for statistics and last summer applied my training to helping out with medical research at the University of Minnesota’s Schulze Diabetes Institute, where my father was previously cured of his Type I Diabetes.

Evan Jackson

Echinacea Project 2018

Biology, College of Wooster 2020

Research Interests

Ever since I was a kid I’ve always had an interest in forensics. It wasn’t until my second year in college that I started developing a passion for studying ecology. I decided to take a gateway to ecology, evolution, and organismal course as well as an agricultural entomology course and have enjoyed the subject matter. I’m not fully committed to the subject yet, but I am looking forward to working in the field this summer!

Statement

I’m from Chicago, Illinois and I am currently working in the Chicago Botanic Garden’s lab. I’m currently working in the Plant Science Center where I’m cleaning Echinacea heads, identifying pollen, and becoming familiar with the types of bees that visit Echinaceas. When I’m not working in the lab, I’m at home spending time with my family or making music.

Kristen Manion

Echinacea Project 2017

B.S. Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, 2017

Research Interests

Broadly speaking, my interests are in plant-pollinator conservation and restoration in native tallgrass prairie. I am interested in the interplay between landscape dynamics such as habitat fragmentation, and its effects on community composition, diversity, and success of both plants and pollinators. How can we utilize this information to help inform land management decisions, and continue to protect and conserve this natural resource?

Statement

I originally grew up all over the country, but eventually found my way back to the heartland through Kansas by way of Missouri. I have a number of interests in science other than plant biology including entomology, herpetology, and mycology.  I am also very passionate about the human impact of science on the public, and enjoy participating in scientific outreach and science diversity educational programming. In my free time I like to travel, study Spanish, drink tea, and enjoy a good book. I am looking forward to joining the Master’s Program in Plant Biology & Conservation this fall at Northwestern.

 

Hilary Noble

Me randomizing seeds!

I am excited to work with all the amazing people on the Echinacea Project summer 2017!

Since January I started as the herbarium curatorial assistant as well as the lab assistant in the Molecular Ecology lab here at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Born and raised in Chicago, it is amazing to be at the Chicago Botanic Garden working in plant conservation research! When not in the labs you can find me outside especially with family and friends or on the couch binge watching Netflix 🙂

Tracie Hayes

Echinacea Project 2017

Biology B.S. & Studio Art B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 2017

Research Interests

My general ecological interests involve macroecology and biogeography. I am fascinated by patterns that can be discovered across large geographic scales or over long time periods. With the changing climate I have become interested in how temperature can affect the phenologies of plant and animal species. In my time with Team Echinacea I hope to study prairie plant phenology, plant-pollinator interactions, and the effect of prairie fragment size on community characteristics.

Statement

I am from Charlotte, North Carolina, a day trip away from either the beach or the mountains. I am constantly making art, whether it is weaving, painting, or woodworking. I also love hiking, birding, collecting rocks, and eating sushi. I am excited to join Team Echinacea and experience a new ecosystem!