MEET The scientists
Nicole Kollars
Graduated Masters Student CofC, now Ph.D. student at U.C. Davis
Nicole Kollars has always been interested in science and has been a marine science lover from a young age. It was in college when she fell in love with seaweeds.
Nicole recently finished up her graduate research at the Sotka Lab. She spent most of her graduate research on the invasive species history of algae Gracilaria vermiculophylla. She has laid the groundwork for current research on this seaweed's invasive history. Nicole has looked at genetic traits of Gracilaria. She plans to develop a method for the best way to extract DNA from algae.
Nicole had also looked at the relationship between Gracilaria, a non-native species and decorator polychaetes (worms), a native species to our marsh to see how these two organisms affect each other.
Nicole's research has shown that the invasive seaweed and worms have a relationship called conditional mutualism, meaning that sometimes one organism benefits more from their relationship.
Advice for future scientists?
Graduated Masters Student CofC, now Ph.D. student at U.C. Davis
Nicole Kollars has always been interested in science and has been a marine science lover from a young age. It was in college when she fell in love with seaweeds.
Nicole recently finished up her graduate research at the Sotka Lab. She spent most of her graduate research on the invasive species history of algae Gracilaria vermiculophylla. She has laid the groundwork for current research on this seaweed's invasive history. Nicole has looked at genetic traits of Gracilaria. She plans to develop a method for the best way to extract DNA from algae.
Nicole had also looked at the relationship between Gracilaria, a non-native species and decorator polychaetes (worms), a native species to our marsh to see how these two organisms affect each other.
Nicole's research has shown that the invasive seaweed and worms have a relationship called conditional mutualism, meaning that sometimes one organism benefits more from their relationship.
Advice for future scientists?
- In elementary school: "Work hard" and "do not give up, the highs are worth the lows."
- In high school: "Finding what really fires you up is the most important. Discover your passion."