Turin Hill - Class of 2009

My involvement in the Kennedy Lab has provided me yet another opportunity to explore the broad field of biology and to discover which part of it I want to focus my research in. I will be graduating in May, 2009 with degrees in biology and chemistry, and the research experiences afforded me at Lewis & Clark have put me well on my way to a career in science.

As a junior, I conducted an independent study in the Binford lab focused on the isolation and expression of novel toxins from the venom of Loxosceles (brown recluse spiders). In carrying out this project I gained familiarity with basic skills in molecular biology and biochemistry, including PCR, HPLC, and gene expression.

Though I am fascinated with biochemistry and molecular biology, my love of the outdoors has drawn me towards ecological research. After spending the summer evaluating plant herbivore interactions in the context of succession at Mount Saint Helens, I began my senior honors thesis with Dr. Peter Kennedy in the fall 2008.

My current research is focused on studying the community structure of ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with Alnus rubra (red alder) in NW Oregon. This project has allowed me to fulfill my desire to get outside for sampling trips, while using techniques of molecular biology to answer ecological questions. Through exploring research in a number of areas, I’ve discovered the field of integrative biology and found that molecular biology and ecology are not mutually exclusive…you can do it all!