In my community

I would not be where I am today without guidance from mentors and scientists who inspired me. I hope to be one person who can show young students the wide variety of people, paths, and possibilities in science. Through programs like SciREN and SciMatch, I get to faciliate and create hands-on learning experiences for students to engage with research and see what their future could look like as a scientist.

SciREN

The SciREN organizing team: connecting scientists and educators across North Carolina

Sharing my lesson plan with teachers at the SciREN event

SciREN (Scientific Research and Education Network) brings together scientists across North Carolina to share curriculum-aligned lesson plans rooted in real research happening across the state with NC K-12 educators. I have been involved both as an organizer, helping plan and run the annual event, and as a participating scientist, sharing a lesson plan inspired by my own work.

Being part of the organizing team gives me a full view of how science reaches students: recruiting scientists and teachers, designing engaging activities, and bringing real research into classrooms. It is rewarding work that reminds me why I became a researcher in the first place.

SciMatch

SciMatch is part of NC SciFest, a statewide science festival presented by RTI International. It pairs scientists with students for mentorship and hands-on exploration of the research process. Through SciMatch, I presented my work to four middle school classes, showing students what a career in science can look like.