Name: Brianne Palmer
Hometown: Littleton, Colorado
Lab: Lipson Lab, San Diego State University
Lab website: http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/lipsonlab/author/dlipson/
Hobbies: Hiking, camping, ukulele, baking
What do you study? I study how soil microbes that live on the upper layers of the soil survive fire, particularly cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria are super cool microbes that act like both plants and microbes and are some of the first things to return after a disturbance. I want to know if they are tolerating the fire or if they are traveling to the open habitat from nearby undisturbed locations.
Why is it important? Soil microbes are very important in ecosystems because they keep the soil healthy and allow other things to grow. We are seeing more and more fires, so understanding how the ecosystem recovers on its own will give us more information about how to restore the ecosystem to a healthy state after a fire. My main goal is to learn how to use cyanobacteria and all the cool things they do in local restoration projects.
What piqued your interest in science? Growing up in Colorado, my family trips were always camping in local national and state parks where I learned about all the cool things happening in the natural world and wanted to learn more. Once I found out I could get a job studying things outside, I knew that’s what I wanted to do.
What do you like about being a scientist? I love learning new things every day, whether it is a new technique in the lab or starting a new experiment. The best thing is also the most frustrating, with every new answer comes even more questions. It is the constant journey of discovery and questioning that keeps me engaged.
What are 5 general vocabulary terms someone should know going into your field of science?
Microorganism, Restoration Ecology, Metagenomics, Community, Ecological Function
What are 5 specific vocabulary terms someone should know about your research?
Biological soil crusts, Cyanobacteria, Exopolysaccharides, Nitrogen Fixation, Carbon Fixation
Here’s a sneak peek!
This is an example of a biological soil crust. There is a lichen layer on the top then all the things dangling down are pieces of soil held together by cyanobacteria.