Autumn Anglin is from Colorado and Florida but currently lives in Oregon and is active with the Willamette Valley Mushroom Society (WVMS) as a member of the WVMS funga citizen science study group. Autumn is a ceramicist as well as a graphic designer, book illustrator, photographer, and web designer.

Tell us about your project!

We are vouchering specimens of fungi and having then sequenced to show the biodiversity of fungi in our area.

What is your favorite fungus and why?

My favorite fungi are the little black cup ascomycetes. I always find them when I am out and have discovered a new species! Some of my favorites are the Donidina nigrella, Urnula padeniana, and Pseudoplectania vogesiaca.

Which awards would you like to brag about?

I was recently acknowledged in my first scientific publication for the work I am doing with the University of Florida’s Pezizales study! Read about it here.

What are your career goals/plans for after you’re done with your current position?

Right now I am the Vice President of the Willamette Valley Mushroom Society and mentor in the study group. I would like to take my career further and find a place that will teach me how to do experiments with fungi and be part of more research projects.

What is your favorite fact/thing about fungi?

I love the connections fungi bring to everything. I have been studying the ectomycorrhizal fungi since I read Suzanne Simard’s Finding the Mother Tree. Looking at the forest as a whole organism is my new favorite thing.

Who is your mycology role model?

Candy Raper since I am on the same life path. I have to raise my kids before starting a career and just like her, I will be so excited to work with and discover new things about fungi.

Any great stories from field work?

I was giving a class to a bunch of middle schoolers in January. I was talking about chemical reactions and fungi and told them about the Tapinella atrotomentosa fungi and how it reacts with ammonia and stains purple. One of the kids asked me if I had ever peed on a mushroom to see if it turned purple. I thought that was hilarious and may have to try it.

Anything else you’d like to say?

I would love to connect with people who are doing fungi research and even get a job or further my career in Fungi. I am creating a DNA sequencing lab in my studio and would love to connect with people to help build the foundation in kingdom fungi.