Interview with Lainey Kirshberger, Our Outstanding Plant Biology, Ecology and Evolution Senior.

Each year, the Department of Plant Biology, Ecology and Evolution at Oklahoma State University recognizes one senior undergraduate student for exceptional academic performance, leadership, and commitment to the field. This year, we're proud to share that Lainey Kirshberger, a member of the Castilla Lab, has received the Outstanding Plant Biology, Ecology and Evolution Senior Award. We asked Lainey to reflect on her journey and what this recognition means to her.
 
What drew you to study Plant Biology?
In high school, I had taken a couple of plant science classes and participated in FFA competitions in Nursery and Landscape events, so I wanted to continue learning about and working with plants in college, even though Plant Biology is a bit of a different take on it than my previous agricultural experience.

How did you first get involved in research at OSU, and what led you to join the Castilla Lab?
During my second semester at OSU, I started working on a project in Dr. Shawn Wilder’s nutritional ecology lab focusing on the ability of caterpillars to digest inorganic substances in relation to meeting their limiting nutrient requirements. He had talked about his research throughout the Honors course I took with him the previous semester, and it sounded like a good way to get some lab experience and make professional connections. After working in an animal-focused lab for two years, I wanted to have a similar experience in a Plant Biology lab, so I reached out to the department head to discuss my interests and get suggestions about which labs they would align most closely with. Dr. Castilla was very enthusiastic to meet with me to talk about possible lines of research for me to work on, and that interaction is what ultimately led me to choose this lab.

Can you tell us about the project you worked on in the lab?
My project has been focused on assessing the hybridization patterns and resulting morphological variation in Quercus welshii, a species of desert-adapted oak. This has involved analyzing genetic data to determine the degree of hybridization between our focal species and its close relatives as well as leaf trait measurements to see how much of the within-species variation is due to hybridization.

What does the Outstanding PBEE senior award mean to you?
It feels really good to be recognized for my hard work, and I am honored to be our department’s awardee considering there were so many other deserving candidates this year. The ceremony also provided me the perspective that although I might not have had prestigious internships or have lofty career plans like some of the other awardees, my effort and contribution is not insignificant, and my professors were able to see that and remind me of it with this award.

Do you have any long-term goals in plant biology, conservation, or beyond?
After I graduate, I plan to attend grad school to further prepare for a career in the conservation field. I don’t know exactly what direction I want to go in from there, whether it’s towards research for a university or botanic garden or into education and outreach for a state or private organization, but I want to continue doing meaningful scientific research and working to communicate the importance of those findings to a broader audience.
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What do you enjoy doing outside of science?
I love spending time outside, from hiking to gardening to rowing! The lake really is my happy place and is where I end up spending most of my free time.
 
We're grateful to have had Lainey as part of the Castilla Lab, and we look forward to seeing where her journey leads next. Congratulations again on this well-deserved recognition!