I have been very fortunate to have such great support during my time in Corvallis. Many thanks to:
My funding sources NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, NSF Graduate Opportunities Worldwide, Swedish Research Council, Flyfishers Club of Oregon, Oregon Lottery Graduate Scholarship, Zoology Research Fund, ASLO Multicultural Program, Carl Storm Underrepresented Minority Fellowship
Integrative Biology staff
Misc Training Dave Leer & Doug Bateman - for taking this freshwater newb under your fins and teaching me how to sample in streams, even upside down! Maybe I taught myself that last part. I wouldn't have been able to do my dissertation or help set up my lab without you two. I am fortunate to have seen such beautiful places working with you. Extra thanks for Dave for helping me land my first steelhead!
Bill Gerth - for sharing your love of aquatic invertebrates and your Asian pears.
Brian Bangs - for taking me out in the field and connecting me to other ODFW opportunities. I had a great first summer learning about freshwater systems in so many different ways.
Matt Kaylor - for taking me up to the H.J. Andrews and teaching me how to sample and for reading embarrassing chapters during our Drafts with Draughts. We started grad school together and we're gonna finish strong!
Other supervisors Deb Merchant, formerly with Marys River Watershed Council - for walking me through my first experience in non-profit management and letting me bumble through your paperwork. The knowledge I picked up during my short time with MRWC has been influential in how I approach teamwork.
Sarah Kolesar, OR Sea Grant -
My committee Felipe Barreto - for joining the party during the last stretch Vrushali Bokil - for serving as my GCR but also all the other stuff shes doing for the university Jason Dunham - for connecting me with Dave and Doug and ultimately a fantastic introduction to freshwater systems Dana Warren - thank you for the chats, the letters of recommendation, getting me to write my first chapter, the positivity in your self-depreciation, and for being there during the emotional rollercoaster that is grad school.
Though not officially part of my committee in the end, thanks Dave Lytle for being part of my proposal meeting and Ben Dalziel for being part of my qualifying exams and for chatting about microbiomes before I applied to the GROW.
My advisor Mark Novak - you have shown me such patience and putting up with my ugly code. You have given me so much of your time trying to figure things out and I can't thank you enough. Thank you for giving me the freedom and support to become the scientist I want to be. You have definitely shaped the way I think about ecology. Thanks for supporting my life outside of grad school, for the space to have broader conversations about science, and the space to cry in your office. I've learned a lot about mentoring etc. I hope you're proud of what I've done during my time here. Sorry crayfish turned out to be such a pain!
NovakLab
Kyle - you are the best lab mate to start so brilliant Dan Preston and Alison Iles - I'm fortunate to have shared an office with both NovakLab post-docs. When I was feeling panicked and lost you kept your cool and reminded me that I will figure things out and it'll be ok. So wise, so experienced. Alison - I appreciated having an office mate who sheds as much hair as I do. Dan - Thank you both for helping me refine my ideas and for not disturbing me during my daily nap.
Jeremy - the lab would be in shambles without you. Thanks for knowing where everything is, providing extra guidance with my interns, reminding us not to mix halogenated and non-halogenated waste
Shannon- for making shit happen
Zach - thanks for the crash course in community ecology!
Steph - you didn't like crayfish but you helped me in the field anyway. Remember that giant sculpin we found?!
Tamara - thanks for the convos we've had about our place in science and in the outdoors. It's been a delight watching your growth as a scientist and activist. I have no doubt that you have a successful career ahead of you.
Landon - thanks for all the help in the field!! Kyle, Shannon, Zach, Landon
Kurt - calm, articulate, invasive species
Meyer Lab Katie and Andrea - thanks for answering all my random questions about CGRB. I had no idea what I was doing!
Bug Brigade I wouldn't have a 3rd chapter without you. Thanks for jumping into the unknown and your enthusiasm to learn something new. I wish you all the best!
Other technical help
Ruth Milston-Clements - thanks for keeping my critters alive!
CEOAS People
Ryan McMinds - for walking me through the PCR process for the first time and for that one time you let me drag you around town to make our uniforms for the Olympics.
Science Twitter Thanks for the support, whether it was providing workflows, fun photos, or words of encouragement. Grad school can be a lonely experience and I'm grateful for the connections I've made. Extra thanks to Sabah for reaching out via Twitter and then helping me out via Skype.
Uppsala University Javi Edo Varg - Jaelle Brealy - I don't think I got that code to work, or maybe my data isn't right for it. Anyway, thanks for the help with data processing and the words of encouragement in the lab, especially during those final hours! Marcos Moro -os caxiões não tem gavetas!
My adventure buddies aka my soccer moms Amanda Hyman - grade A lady friend. Our climbing sessions were always such a stress reliever. Thanks for getting me to climb hard and helping me process life. *bicep-kiss-bicep* Shane Hetzler - for pushing me when I didn't believe in myself and introducing me to comfy slippers at the gym. Travis Neal - for showing me how beautiful the PNW is, all the foraging adventures, teaching me how to bag peaks, and importing parts from Japan. It doesn't matter if you win by an inch or a mile, winning's winning.
TItle here Javi Tabima - for being my grad school big bro. Pat DiBello - Felipe Albornoz - for all your patience teaching me how to process my microbiome data on the command line and use the CGRB, especially because I had never done any of it before. I'm sorry I broke your mug. Remember that time I helped you with field work and you didn't feed us lunch? Let's call it even. #Bluey #GumboShack
Media empire business partner Alex Wong - for making me efficient and keeping me sane during the last few months of grad school, indulging my love of spreadsheets and martial arts, and for reminding me to dream big.
My pound biscuits AKA chocolate fantasies. Thank you both for providing an escape from grad school.
Amy Jauron - my dazzling, effervescent lioness. Who knew we would be bffs after meeting at Hatfield all those years ago. You made the start of my new life here so easy. Thanks for all the berries, chanterelles, adventures around Oregon, lady dates, and making me part of your family. You're my number 1 boo thang, my ride or die, and I can't thank you enough for how much you've given me. #DriftForWhatMatters
De'Shan Perry - we hit it off immediately. I will miss our dinners where we would go through business ideas, philosophies, etc. Then go to Market of Choice for dessert and hate on Guy Fieri (ugh). I'm glad Brad joined our routine. Thanks for the design tips and tricks!
El Heffe Elise Heffernan -Your friendship lasagnas, feeding me when I couldn't feed myself, food trades, editor, and a true ally.
Other people who have fed me Bharat Rastogi- for the goat, fika, and sharing my excitement for being outside when the sun is out. Emmanuel Greenberg and Julia Skrovan- the best neighbors (post-Allie). Thanks for the food, laughs, and the most ridiculous IUD cake that has ever existed.
EBC As Dominic Torreto once said - I don't have friends, I have family. And my family happens to be the best cohort that has and ever will graduate from Zoology. Our collective love of ABBA, semantics, beans, movie marathons, porch beers, lawn games, Brian Day, Mom's bingo. I can write books about how much I love you all and our real acknowledgements cryfest is still to come. But for now, I'll write these quick notes. Thanks for letting me feed you :)
Jenna - thank you for welcoming me into your home and your family. Kyle (again, different context) - Brian - Trevor - Aurora - Danielle - Asian-American activism and Miss Universe. intro to DD Syl - your technical support has been integral to Bond-a-thon and our other movie gatherings. Thank you, and thanks for the vespers and sazeracs. Ian - I really enjoyed our road trips to SF together. Thanks for all the support for my microbiome chapter, even if the relevance of the techniques I used are fleeting. Extra thanks for literally pushing me up Mt. St. Helens. Katie - you are the embodiment of an exclamation point. You bring such energy and enthusiasm in what you do and it's inspiring. Natalie - thanks for the Ethiopian food and the watercolors. You brought brightness to my life when I really needed it. Your art is still proudly displayed in my apartment. J.R.Byson -
Pups Luna Sullivan-Stack, Koda Heffernan, Darwin Rohringer, and May DiBello - thanks for the cuddles <3
My swolemates AKA my academic big sisters Allie Barner Alex Davis
EMUS Anne - you are one of the most resilient people I know. Badass scientist Megan Shumpei - you have a talent for turning my ramblings into coherent notes. I'll miss having people mistake you for me. Antonio Mateo & Kendra
My SDSU support Kevin Hovel + the Hovel Lab Max Castorani Colin Jones Levi Lewis