Have you read any good books lately?
I’m way behind on my reading, but I did just finish “Bring up the Bodies” by Hilary Mantel. It’s a historical fiction novel about Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII when things started to get messy. It is very well written and has a great modern feel to it. I highly recommend.
Any little known hobbies?
My not so secret hobby is that I love to brew beer. Brewing is a lot like cooking (which I also love to do). Since moving to Portland a year ago, I’ve really become a much better brewer and learned an incredible amount about fermentation. On weekends you can find me working at a local homebrew shop.
What do you find to be one of the most interesting parts of Biology?
I’ve had a hard time narrowing down my interests in Biology. I’ve studied and am fascinated by everything from ecology to synaptic transmission. If I had to pick a favorite technique, I’d likely choose immunohistochemistry (which I’ve used to examine neuroanatomy). There’s something about the process and the potential to end with a highly re solved image that appeals to both my methodical and creative tendencies.
What is a good piece of advice you would give to a Biology student?
I think the best advice I can think of is to remain positive and confident in yourself and your abilities and to know that you are more capable than you think you are…
What drew you to pursue a career in Biology?
I think that I’ve always been an observer and have spent a lot of my lifetime watching and pondering “why” things are the way they are (particularly when it comes to human and animal behavior). Biology has provided a framework for me to explore this in a more organized and formal manner. The other motivating force was that I have had the extraordinary privilege of being mentored by numerous wonderful biologists along the way, and I really like being around these people (and others like them).