Stephany is a second year PhD student from PEEC working in Kevin Johnson’s lab. Her work focuses on the evolutionary patterns of avian ectoparasites (lice), using whole genomes of lice, and phylogenomics. She also works on seal lice.
What have you been listening to recently?
Lately I have been doing a lot of computer work, for the programming class that I am taking as well as writing, so I have been listening to a lot of Foster the People recently. I play their newer album on repeat while working because I feel like it doesn’t distract me as much as some of my other favorites like Kendrick Lamar.
What have you been reading recently?
I started reading Michael Crichton when I read both Jurassic Park books, this summer I finished another Crichton book, MICRO, which I recommend to anyone it’s a very interesting story of grad students visiting a Micro-technology company Nanigen in Hawaii. I recently bought another Crichton book, Dragon Teeth, which I haven’t started yet, so stay tuned.
Do you have any pets?
Yes! My sister and I adopted a russian tortoise, [Narcissa] Narci. She loves to go for walks and monitor the apartment from the top of the log in her habitat. Currently she lives with my sister in Chicago, but I visit and facetime her often.
Do you have any interesting office decorations?
I really like to personalize my desk because I spend a good chunk of my days working in the office, you can play a quick game of I Spy with my desk.
I Spy 2 crows, a dog, 6 [maybe 8] lice, 3 hard drives, a pink bird, a dinosaur, a ladybug, a cardinal, and a pig.
What was your biggest struggle this past week?
My biggest struggle this week was getting things wrapped up on the drafts of my GRFP application, I have never written a grant application and it has been tough to get that done, and ready for revisions.
Do you like to spend time outside (hiking/camping), and where?
I love spending time outdoors, I do not spend as much time as I would like to outdoors because I don’t do fieldwork. I went camping at least once a year growing up, and I enjoy hiking especially when there are birds to see along the way.
What did you do over the past weekend?
Since I am from Chicago, I went home after almost a month of not going home, which is a long time for me. It was really nice to hang out with my family; my sister and I slept over my tia’s [aunt] house one night, I watched a little football with my dad, and my mom and I found three lice on some pigeon feathers she collected for me. Mainly I worked on my programming homework throughout the weekend, but it is relaxing to have a change of scenery even if it is just for doing homework.