MSA Student and Postdoc Section

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Limerick Maine

Where are you currently doing your research?

Clark University

Who is your advisor?

David Hibbett and Javier Tabima

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

I’m not sure yet! I’m passionate about research, agriculture, and environmental education, so we will see where I end up!

What is something inspiring or useful that you learned from your experiences in mycology?

Resilience (whether its biological, societal, emotional) can come in many different forms

Which awards would you like to brag about?

I received the LEEP fellowship in spring of 2022

What is your favorite fungus and why?

Ophiocordyceps sinensis! I think the history is cool, and I like the idea of a parasitic fungus having potential health benefits!

What is your favorite fact/thing about fungi?

I love how diverse their morphology and reproductive methods can be

Tell us about your project!

My research project focuses on the species Lentinus tigrinus, a white-rot wood decaying fungus. Interestingly, this species occurs along riverbeds and on partially submerged logs within the rivers themselves. This fungus has two different phenotypic forms, one secotioid (veiled gilled) and one agaricoid (gilled). The secotioid form has only been described in North America, where the two forms can be found within the same population. I am currently looking to see if there is structuring within the population that can be found along the Ipswich River in MA, as well as using the ratio of heterozygous to homozygous individuals to determine if assortative mating is occurring within the same population.

What do you like to do in your free time? What are your hobbies?

I enjoy hiking, photography, and cooking! I also love my part time job coaching kids at a local rock climbing gym.

Any great stories from field work?

Most of my fieldwork happens while canoeing on the Ipswich river, leading to lots of little adventures! My favorite routine happens consistently in early summer, when the Canada geese and swans begin to bring their babies out and about into the world! Whenever they swim past us (and after we fully appreciate their adorableness, of course) there is always a battle among lab members as some of us furiously row towards the babies to get a better view, and the rest of us furiously row away, trying to steer clear of angry parents!

Where did you grow up?

Utah

Current research location

University of Utah

Current adviser

Dr. Eddy Cadet

Current project description

Bioaccumulation of trace metals in the fungal genus Morchella. The purpose of this research is to contrast trace metal composition of morel mushrooms to the trace metal composition of the surrounding soil substrate in the canyonlands of Utah where soil geochemical composition can vary based on altitude and geophysical location. We hypothesize that by analyzing the trace metal composition of morel mushrooms and their surrounding soil substrate we can determine if morel mushrooms absorb and concentrate trace metals from their habitat. This is important because these data will determine if there is a health risk for humans and animals who consume morel mushrooms from different locations.

Awards you’d like to brag about

So many! I guess URSCA grant Primary Investigator: Water Variable Effects on Plant Biomass.

What is your favorite fungus?

Morchella, because they are both delicious and mysterious.

What is your favorite fungus fact?

I admire their capacity for adaptation and biosynthesis.

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

I am currently applying to PhD mycology programs at universities in the United states.

Any great stories from field work (funny/interesting/something that stuck out to you)?

I could not find morels for years, then a professor of mine gave me a tip and since then I have found thousands and shared that experience with over 100 people by hosting morel mushroom hunt events.

What do you like to do in your free time? What are your hobbies?

I create educational content focused on fungi. Mentor college students in how to use fungi in composting. Host events for organizations like the mushroom society of Utah, the boy scouts of America and teach classes for the UVU community education department. On weekends, I bring professors, students and citizen scientists to the mountains for mycological research.

Who is your mycology role model?

Alan Rockafellar

What is something inspiring or useful that you learned from your experiences in mycology?

I was working on my botany degree when I started to realize how fundamentally critical fungi are to vascular plants. The more I learned the more fascinated I became. Now fungi are my favorite taxa, I focus now on how plants, fungi and their environmental chemistry interact.

Anything else you’d like to talk about?

I am a scientist, a chef and a photographer. I enjoy documenting my scientific research and culinary creations. To me botany, mycology and environmental chemistry are the same topic. These sciences can be combined to improve the quality of life on earth by transforming soil quality in agricultural and natural habitats.

Cedar Sekorski (it/its or they/them)

Where did you grow up?

I grew up near Elkland, Missouri

Current research location

University of Wisconsin – La Crosse

Current adviser

Anita Davelos

Current project description

I am currently looking at microbial sediment community structure and composition in an urban freshwater marsh.

Any good stories from field work?

As far as I know, my cat, Gratch, is the only cat to ever go in a foray with Tom Volk.

Who is your mycology role model?

Tom Volk

What have you learned from studying fungi?

Don’t lose sight of the larger ecosystem

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

I am going to save the Earth

Awards you’d like to brag about

So many! I guess my REU in mathematical ecology and my Summer Graduate Fellowship are the two most prestigious so far.

What is your favorite fungus?

Ganoderma applanatum because it’s a very handsome fungus and I have a thing for shelf mushrooms.

What is your favorite fungus fact?

I fond their dikaryon phase quite fascinating. And also how they can be such good buddies to plants.