Student of the Month: Garrett Taylor
June 22, 2020
Garret has lived in Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska, for the past four years. He just completed his first year at UAF, working towards a degree in Biological Sciences with a minor in secondary education.
Outside of his classes, Garret enjoys reading, riding his Honda around town, and photography. For the past two years he has been working under a grant founded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) at Illisagvik College in Utqiagvik with a fellow Honors student, Daphne Mueller.
This grant funds the collection of tundra soil in order to extract DNA of microorganisms. This data is then used to determine the species present as well as abundance. The results will be logged as a baseline comparison to document the changes, if any, occurring as a result of Arctic warming. Garrett and Daphne are currently working on a report designed to be read by a public audience in order to share their research!