Stories of STEM: Jenny Schlauch

Jen is an Ecology major at the University of Texas (Austin),  "I started college as a premed but found refuge in the field lab close to campus. The beautiful intricacies of plants and animals alike were overwhelming and exciting, and I began studying insects. I started doing research on paper wasp gut microbiota, and fell in love with ecological research. I am currently continuing my wasp research, as well as studying Pompilids (spider wasps), and categorizing habitat preference of Pheidole ants. I mentor for my insect lab group and am a teaching assistant for the bird field course on campus, and outreach is incredibly important to me as a scientist. I hope to become an effective science communicator and continue my research into grad school."