About the department:

UMass Boston is the third most diverse four-year college in the United States and the only public research university in the Boston area. It's a challenge and a delight to mentor and teach students from many backgrounds, with varied experiences and perspectives.

About the research:

The Moyers lab studies how and why traits vary within plant species to address real world problems, including food production and environmental contamination. We integrate approaches from the fields of ecology, physiology, genetics, and evolutionary biology. We work in the field, the greenhouse, the lab, and on high-performing computer clusters. Current systems include rice, cranberry, and Salicornia!

What has been the biggest challenge as a new PI so far?

Feeling the burden of responsibility for my lab members' livelihoods and careers. Up until this point my productivity etc. only really impacted my own trajectory, but now I spend lots of time worrying about supporting and sustaining others.

What has been the biggest surprise so far about being a new PI?

It can be lonely!

Do you have a funny story to share from an Evolution Meeting?

My first Evolution Meeting was in 2009 in Moscow, Idaho. A bunch of us drove down from Vancouver, Canada: four Americans and one Canadian piled into one car. At the border, the officer looked at our passports and carefully singled out the Canadian. "Do you want to go with these people?" he asked, "Are you leaving the country of your own free will?" He thought we were kidnapping her!

Do you teach evolution? What concept blows students’ minds?

I teach a 200-level population evolution & ecology course, and I love how much phenotypic plasticity surprises and excites students! I think until that point they've exclusively been taught Mendelian genetics, and it's fun being the guide on their first foray into quantitative genetics.

What is your favorite app?

Do you hate emailing back and forth to schedule a one-on-one meeting? Me too! I am so glad I discovered Calendly, which can integrate with your calendar and video conferencing system and make scheduling SO EASY.

What one piece of advice would you give to a postdoc?

Apply broadly, especially to academic jobs! The rates of success are low, you're never entirely sure of what the hiring committee wants, and you might be surprised at how well an institution you've never heard of fits you and your goals.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I read way too much genre fiction. The pandemic hasn't helped: in 2020 I read 163 novels and novellas. My favorites of 2020 were Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir and all of the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells.