NextGen: Lucy Schroeder
Q) When did you know that you wanted to become a scientist?
A) As an undergrad at Michigan State University, I had the opportunity to study abroad doing field biology in Ecuador. From there, I was hooked on the idea of studying science in the natural world, in particular, focusing on plants. I did undergraduate research studying the latitudinal variation in Phytolacca in Dr. Marjorie Weber’s lab, which fostered my interest in evolutionary ecology. After I graduated I worked for a season with the Bureau of Land Management collecting locally adapted native seed for restoration efforts. Together, these experiences lead me to my current research topic, which is studying the adaptations and responses of bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) to different climates across a latitudinal gradient.
Q) Tell us about your research projects in ASCEND
A) I am a PhD student in the ASCEND Biology Integration Institute. Within ASCEND, I am primarily interested in Genotype by Environment interactions, and understanding how phenotypes of individuals of the same genotype differ when growing in different environments. I am also interested in how species traits and spectra respond to global change. I am working on these questions in the Forest and Biodiversity—Adaptation to Climate (FAB-ACE) experiment—a reciprocal transplant experiment using populations of bur oak half-siblings planted in three gardens across a climatic gradient. Within FAB-ACE, I am able to ask questions about how populations of bur oak from different climates respond when grown in warmer or colder climates. I am measuring the oak physiology related to drought tolerance as well as growth. I am also collecting leaf hyperspectral reflectance data, which allows me to understand more about bur oak physiology and how it differs in different gardens. I will be using this data to understand how different physiological traits may contribute to differences in fitness in different climates.
Lucy Schroeder in the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve bur oak garden on a beautiful June day. This garden is one of three that Lucy is using to study how bur oaks respond to different climates.
Lucy is a doctoral student in the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology at the University of Minnesota
Q) What are your hobbies and preferred activities when you are not doing science?
A) Being located in the Twin Cities, my favorite thing to do when not doing science is to take advantage of our local urban parks and green spaces, which are great in all seasons. In the rare warmer months here, I enjoy paddleboarding on the many lakes in the Twin Cities area. In the seasons we have snow, I like to still get outside and spend time cross-country or downhill skiing. When not being active, I also enjoy sampling the local craft beer scene in the Twin Cities with friends.
Q) How would you explain your research to someone who is not a scientist?
A) I am interested in understanding the way in which long-lived trees will respond to climate change, and using this information to help us make conservation decisions. My current research focuses on how bur oaks respond to warmer or colder climates. The results from my experiment could be used to help people determine how to ensure bur oaks and other trees like them can be managed in the face of climate change.