Roger Faust '19 works in the lab of Biology Professor Daniel Hernandez (Winter FOCUS 2020 cohort faculty mentor). Find out about Roger's experience in the lab and in the field!
What does Dan's lab investigate and how do you help the research?
In Dan's lab, we look for factors that play into grassland ecology. Some of the larger projects look at the effects of herbivory and dominant grass species within the arboretum. I help with the maintenance of the grass plots, investigating small mammal behavior through motion cameras, collecting and sampling of soils, and many more miscellaneous tasks as needed with side projects. Most days I spend my time enjoying the Arb!
How did you get involved in Dan Hernandez's lab?
I owe a big thank-you to FOCUS and more specifically, Trish Ferret for helping me connect with Dan and his lab. During FOCUS my freshman year, Trish had Dan share his "Compost Tea" research project. Soon after, we got out to the farm where the project took place and I was left with many more questions to ask Dan. I noticed that Dan had advertised an opening for the Compost Tea project in the summer of 2016 and Trish Ferret encouraged me to apply even though I was greatly unqualified (I had yet had a Biology class at Carleton at that point). During the interview, I made sure to ask all of the remaining questions I had for Dan and he appreciated my interest in the project. I did not get the position as I expected, but Dan was kind enough to give me the chance to learn more and grow my skills in his lab. I cannot thank Trish and Dan enough for that.
Has working in Dan's lab impacted the classes you take and your career goals? If so, how?
Dan's lab shifted me towards ecology, conservation, and environmental science. The lab made me realize that I did not want to spend every day inside at a desk but rather in the wilderness getting my hands dirty. This lead me to go on to apply for the Australian Ecology program in the Winter of 2017 where I had the time of my life. The next step from here is the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars program at the University of Santa Cruz in California. I believe that I want to be able to continue on to even higher education so that I can make a positive environmental impact, whether that is through research or through a professional environmental agency.
What is something unexpected you've gained out of working in Dan's Lab?
I never expected to gain a mentor in Dan. Through him I have become much more comfortable in speaking with professors and professionals. He has given me so many opportunities to meet people who are involved in similar work as him that I can meet and learn from. In addition to this, I have improved my time management skills tremendously. As fun as Dan's lab has been, 10 hours during the week can really cut out a lot of leisure time. In order to have productive days, I now have to force myself to sleep well and cut out any wasted time. As a result, I am seeing a lot of personal growth.
What advice would you give for students looking to get involved in lab work at Carleton or beyond?
- Do not hesitate to talk to a professor, even if you are afraid to. A few questions and a spark of interest could be all it takes to find a position in a lab, a mentor, or at minimum, some guidance.
- Working in an area that may not be exactly what you think is ideal may be able to change your perspective on your academic, career, and life goals.
- Sacrificing time at Carleton is difficult, but in the end it can be done and pushing yourself a little harder can bring you to new opportunities.
Looking back on what I just wrote, I am so thankful that I took a risk to reach out of my comfort zone and be interviewed by Dan. I doubt that many of my best experiences during my time so far at Carleton would have happened without him. Carleton professors are very kind and care for our best interests. I think that students need to try and make the most of these people that we have been given the chance to interact with.
