tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24351919465459166192024-03-19T02:59:46.280-07:00THE WILD MICROBEAdventures of untamed microbes & the scientists who chase themLizzy Wilbankshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182832049079780697noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435191946545916619.post-31215734977991569992014-04-17T14:57:00.000-07:002018-06-29T11:37:15.320-07:00On mentors & paying it forward<br />
<br />
After reading Marcelo Gleiser's excellent article "<a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2014/04/16/303765522/find-a-mentor-be-a-mentor?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20140417">Find a mentor, be a mentor</a>" at NPR this morning, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the importance of one of my mentors, <a href="http://www.swarthmore.edu/academics/biology/faculty-and-staff/amy-cheng-vollmer.xml" target="_blank">Dr. Amy Cheng Vollmer</a>. I met Amy as an undergraduate at <a href="http://www.swarthmore.edu/" target="_blank">Swarthmore College</a>,
and she has remained someone I have always turned to throughout grad
school in my most frazzled "oh-my-god-what-do-I-do-now" moments.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGT99LATcvzYs6tluis_WzWLxzoDtXHF25RljDSwfHf_Hv1yG1Piaep43l4eLRcbLNPDqcc8ZR_YHovCBwCY0uBTSWpObQaxeksMCiv3f-NuI0neiz-kztaQFH9y0A4pBQ72XOUczq7Bhx/s1600/download.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="428" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGT99LATcvzYs6tluis_WzWLxzoDtXHF25RljDSwfHf_Hv1yG1Piaep43l4eLRcbLNPDqcc8ZR_YHovCBwCY0uBTSWpObQaxeksMCiv3f-NuI0neiz-kztaQFH9y0A4pBQ72XOUczq7Bhx/s320/download.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">"Hello Amy? It's me Lizzy- what do I doooooooo?!"<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> (<a href="http://cheezburger.com/8074046464" target="_blank">image source</a>)</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I count myself beyond lucky to
have been Amy's student. Her passion for undergraduate education has
been an inspiration. The skill with which she teaches, her innovation
and dedication are astounding -- something which I certainly appreciated
then, but which leaves me even more awestruck after my own stumbling
forays into teaching as a graduate student. Amy is a force to be
reckoned with in the classroom, a true master of her craft. I have a
million things I could write about in how Amy has inspired and guided
me, but what I most wanted to reflect on this morning was Amy's role in
my life <i>outside</i> the classroom.<br />
<br />
My summer this year is going to be packed with <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">BIG</span> LIFE <span style="font-size: x-large;">EVENTS</span></span>: I'll be finishing my PhD and marrying my partner of ten years. Without Amy's guidance <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(and by guidance I mean many hours of her listening to me agonize over what I was going to do with my life)</span>, I'm not sure either of those would have happened. <br />
<br />
Approaching
the end of undergrad, I wasn't sure what was next. None of my research
experiences, though they'd sparked my interested, had really lit a
fire. I was interested in microbiology and I'd gotten it into my head
that maybe I'd like some kind of microbes and minerals research, maybe
this biogeochemistry thing <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(I read about it on the internet, it looked like they got to go outside)</span>. But.... I'd never actually <i>done</i> anything like that. I'd never even taken an earth science class or actually done microbiology research. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vVKFPn2jWO9RHwi5pyfaaneu4S-810988EBcJlxVqDa6rbx-jbadlM1CiGAUXj1HFVB7JpTVcq13pZS4ULg5AvwQShxrhi6ZpEuPXHfGZaPlohtgNJXZ_22kHm5x88hno6qJbWdtS89e/s1600/fa5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vVKFPn2jWO9RHwi5pyfaaneu4S-810988EBcJlxVqDa6rbx-jbadlM1CiGAUXj1HFVB7JpTVcq13pZS4ULg5AvwQShxrhi6ZpEuPXHfGZaPlohtgNJXZ_22kHm5x88hno6qJbWdtS89e/s1600/fa5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/234/739/fa5.jpg">Image source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
What if the problem was that I just
didn't like research at all? What if I hated it? What was I going to
really do with a PhD anyway?<br />
<br />
Simple, direct and suffering-no-fools, Amy
pushed me - Did I want seat at the table making decisions about
science? Well, yeah, I did. Then go to grad school, follow your gut
feeling, fill out those applications.<br />
<br />
At that time, I'd been dating <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(<i><b><u>dating</u></b></i> who are we kidding? we moved in together after about a week) </span>Nell
for three years. She was one of Amy's research students and was
applying to vet school and also to combined DVM/ PhD programs - all of
which are a) super competitive and b) there are approximately 2 of them
with funding <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(those facts are probably related somehow)</span>.
We sent applications to schools in all the same cities and, totally
committed to making it work, just waited to see how things would shake
out. <br />
<br />
Fortunately, in the end, we had choices; but with choices comes the burden of having to <i><b>choose</b></i> things. To <u>prioritize</u> things... things like your career, your relationship and the possibility of loads of student-debt. Scary grown-up things. <br />
<br />
For
Nell, the choice was, career-wise, a no-brainer: full support for her
combined degree at UC Davis vs. paying full tuition and forgoing the
PhD-experience elsewhere. For me, the choice was not at all obvious.
Davis wasn't my top choice, and I wasn't sure there were folks there
who's research focus clicked with my interests.<br />
<br />
When
others asked where I thought I might go, I mentioned I was leaning
towards Davis- "Who would you work with? People aren't doing what you
say you're interested in there?" When I explained, I got the
disappointed, women-haven't-worked-this-hard-to-just-do-that <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">look</span> (or maybe I just imagined it?)</span>.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXKzxHdC6g2N21K_yZcF-UEk2-tvpzncNi8R2aCv9PjM2htaedToWzTPw0d3z9TVbfCPYdqCekmxcMwAdTuWh3SVW-yDoWJd3TM4QhSA7uaFpSr3BSJmH0BeOJGsMN7v9IdszkD3Ebg/s1600/disapproving+rabbit.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXKzxHdC6g2N21K_yZcF-UEk2-tvpzncNi8R2aCv9PjM2htaedToWzTPw0d3z9TVbfCPYdqCekmxcMwAdTuWh3SVW-yDoWJd3TM4QhSA7uaFpSr3BSJmH0BeOJGsMN7v9IdszkD3Ebg/s1600/disapproving+rabbit.jpg" width="175" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://disapprovingrabbits.com/">disapprovingrabbits.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Following my partner would be what was wrong with women in science and leadership, right<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">? </span>(even if I <i>was</i> following another woman...)</span>
I wanted to just stay together, but maybe we could make long-distance
work. Right? I needed to prioritize my career. I should:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://flavorwire.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/leanin.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://flavorwire.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/leanin.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lean-Women-Work-Will-Lead/dp/0385349947/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1397766945&sr=1-1&keywords=lean+in" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When I brought my quandary to Amy, she
told me to value all the parts of my life; and she didn't just say it,
she meant it. I could make an excellent research life for myself pretty
much anywhere I was considering, but missing six years with your person in your twenties -
that I couldn't make up. If that mattered to me, I had to <i>make that matter</i> in my decision and figure the rest out. There was nothing shameful, no backing off, involved in letting the rest of my life weigh in on my career decision. <br />
<br />
Amy
was right. I've carved out a niche for my particular research
interests, learned a ton, and found amazing new mentors and friends
along the way. It has surely not all been smooth sailing. There have
been times with both my partner and my PhD where it wasn't clear what
would happen to us, but Amy's confidence that my choice was a valid one
has buoyed me throughout.<br />
<br />
I realize now how relatively rare her advice was, and how vulnerable I
was at that point in my career to whatever it was that my mentor would
have told me to do. It is a weird feminist line to navigate, and one
Amy did with confident wisdom for which I am so incredibly grateful.<br />
<br />
I hope I can be half the mentor to others that Amy has been for me. I certainly have a lot to pay forward. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Lizzy Wilbankshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182832049079780697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435191946545916619.post-51942747501256201322014-03-07T12:27:00.001-08:002014-03-07T12:31:46.222-08:00Don't hesitate, nominate!Did you know today was International Women's Day? <span style="font-size: x-small;">(I didn't, thanks <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okFKnjfA_uE" target="_blank">Google</a>!).</span><br />
<br />
Celebrate by checking out a <a href="http://blogs.agu.org/magmacumlaude/2014/01/24/weve-got-to-nominate/" target="_blank">great post about gender inequities</a> in nominations and awards for American Geophysical Union (AGU) Honors by Jessica Ball who writes at Magma Cum Laude at AGU blogs. <span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;">(you gotta love a good academics/volcano/latin pun :)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Make a difference</span> and nominate someone for an AGU honor before <span style="font-size: large;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">March 15!</u> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #272b33; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Read through the </span><a href="http://honors.agu.org/awards-medals-prizes/" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #0065a4; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">award list</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #272b33; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">, </span><a href="http://honors.agu.org/union-awards-medals-and-prize-nomination-requirements/" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #0065a4; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">requirements</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #272b33; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> and the </span><a href="http://honors.agu.org/frequently-asked-questions/" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #0065a4; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">FAQ</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #272b33; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> and see what <b>YOU</b> can</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #272b33; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> do to recognize people.</span></span>Lizzy Wilbankshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182832049079780697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435191946545916619.post-27477819845684845202014-03-07T10:43:00.000-08:002014-03-07T10:43:28.626-08:00Story behind the paperMy first paper on my dissertation work studying the pink berry microbial consortia was recently published - YAY! To give folks some insight as to why I'm so excited about this project, I wrote a "Story behind the paper" article as a guest post on my adviser Jonathan Eisen's blog. Check it out!<br />
<br />
<h4>
Story behind the paper:</h4>
<a href="http://phylogenomics.blogspot.com/2014/03/guest-post-by-lizzy-wilbanks-story.html">http://phylogenomics.blogspot.com/2014/03/guest-post-by-lizzy-wilbanks-story.html</a><br />
<br />
<h4>
Actual publication:</h4>
<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Wilbanks EG</span>,
Jaekel U, Salman V, Humphrey PT, Eisen JA, Facciotti MT, Zinder SH,
Buckley DH, Druschel GK, Fike DA, Orphan VJ. (Accepted, 2014). <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1462-2920.12388/abstract">Microscale sulfur cycling in the phototrophic pink berry consortia of the Sippewissett Salt Marsh.</a> <i>Environmental Microbiology</i>. doi:10.1111/1462-2920.12388<br />
<br />
Aren't they just darling?<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-3-6Qm_gbM7rb88QTH6-5EDtV_UMLIG6g4IrLe1Bexf9vlgdPJwBFqWtzk6Cil-gsmMVapQ2ecHG6cAIcHXh5PBQ6qRw_qizN8njMc2_1Zqc6CoRkIr0yhoUBFDJWrAkxbm_G_ASCzDN/s1600/handful.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-3-6Qm_gbM7rb88QTH6-5EDtV_UMLIG6g4IrLe1Bexf9vlgdPJwBFqWtzk6Cil-gsmMVapQ2ecHG6cAIcHXh5PBQ6qRw_qizN8njMc2_1Zqc6CoRkIr0yhoUBFDJWrAkxbm_G_ASCzDN/s1600/handful.png" height="240" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pink berries, bright little balls of bacteria, in a handful of marsh sediment</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span id="goog_1652001234"></span><span id="goog_1652001235"></span>Lizzy Wilbankshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182832049079780697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435191946545916619.post-13417645251598233162014-03-07T10:28:00.001-08:002014-03-07T10:28:38.588-08:00Getting started!Below is one of my very favorite quotes. It beautifully captures the reason I love my job as a microbial ecologist. Studying more-or-less invisible creatures may sound boring or frustrating, but with a just little bit of vision, it's one of the most exciting expeditions imaginable. <br />
<br />
This is my vision for the Wild Microbe blog: to share little pieces of this world with you through stories about my own experiences, musing about amazing microbes, and overviews of recent publications. Stay tuned!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">"If I
could do it all over again, and relive my vision in the twenty-first century, I
would be a microbial ecologist. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Ten
billion bacteria live in a gram of ordinary soil, a mere pinch held between
thumb and forefinger. They represent thousands of species, almost none of which
are known to science. Into that
world I would go with the aid of modern microscopy and molecular analysis. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I
would cut my way through clonal forests sprawled across grains of sand, travel
in an imagined submarine through drops of water proportionately the size of
lakes, and track predators and prey in order to discover new life ways and
alien food webs. All this, and I
need venture no farther than ten paces outside my laboratory building. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The
jaguars, ants and the orchids would still occupy distant forests in all
their splendor, but now they would be joined by an even stranger and vastly
more complex living world virtually without end. "</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">–E.O.
Wilson, The Naturalist</span></span></div>
</blockquote>
</div>
Lizzy Wilbankshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18182832049079780697noreply@blogger.com0