Support a young scientist in a research program

Hi! My name is Brianna O’Rourke and I’m grateful you found your way here! I am a queer, Black scientist and recently earned my Bachelor of Science in Plant Sciences at UC Santa Cruz in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) Department. I was fortunate enough to attend a university that prioritizes lab and field experience through courses, volunteer student research opportunities, a field quarter in the Mojave Desert and Mt. Hamilton, and a senior thesis- which focused on seeking polymer degrading fungal species around UCSC’s many unique ecosystems.

My passion in EEB and Marine Sciences began with an early interest in land and food justice and wanting to understand how goods get from seed to table and materials. From there, my interest in plants and fungi intensified as my passion for understanding how these organisms function on a cellular and molecular level. Today my primary interests lie deeply in understanding and contributing to the synthesization of commercially available compostable bio-based materials, deepening my understanding of how plants, fungi, and crops develop and function in alternative growing conditions (e.g. astrobotany, ocean farming, changing climatic conditions), and, of course, progressing conservation of our natural systems.

I moved from Louisiana to California by myself in hopes of receiving a more robust education and opportunities aligned with my interests. I have been in the workforce since age 15 and my young adult and college years were no different. By working as a nanny and other odd jobs (tutoring, horticulture, managing and cleaning bnbs, bartending, etc.) and earning grants, I put myself through community college and UCSC, and am now very vulnerably seeking support. :)

Much of my time at UCSC was during the pandemic. Though I am grateful for the research experience that I sought out during such a challenging time for students, I am still seeking to strengthen my skills in an effort to be a strong graduate school applicant this year.

More recently, at the Black Women in Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Sciences (BWEEMS) Conference 2023, I found out about The Diversity Project (TDP) through UCLA. I applied and after, evaluation of my application and interviews, was accepted. This program allows budding scientists of color to participate in a rigorous research-intensive summer program. During this program, I will dive deeper into the ecology, biodiversity, and conservation of tropical marine systems. I will design and conduct research in small groups with the guidance of some amazing professors and researchers. My research will likely focus on algae and its conservation. I will learn more about marine botany in a tropical system and expand my methods for scientifically evaluating algae and its environment. This program offers basic SCUBA diving and AAUS Scientific Diving certifications which I have begun training for. The program will be held partially at UCLA and mostly in the field at the Gump Research Station, Mo’orea, French Polynesia. Mo’orea hosts a very special ecosystem to study and research marine ecology as it is exceptionally biodiverse and uniquely protected. It is home to numerous sharks, coral reef systems, and algae. At the end of the summer, I will have expanded my scientific writing and communication skills and have a scientific paper that will be presented at the UCLA student research symposium with mentorship for publication and continued presenting at national and international conferences.

The program will take place for nearly three full months this summer. It offers a small stipend and on-site housing, but this is not enough to cover my preparation materials, housing, and living expenses while I am away nor when I return after not having a job for a few months due to my participation in the program. This GFM is to ask for support in covering my bills and living expenses so that I can participate and return being able to meet my needs for housing, bills, and graduate school applications.

Thank you tremendously for reading through all of this and if you cannot donate, I absolutely understand and would appreciate you sharing this via email, social media, text, carrier pigeon, etc. with whomever may be able to support my participation in this awesome and challenging program!

Helpful Links:

1. TDP Program Website: https://tdp.eeb.ucla.edu/

2. Gump Research Station Website: https://www.moorea.berkeley.edu/programs/research

3. Information summarizing the ecological state of French Polynesia published by Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP): https://www.sprep.org/members/french-polynesia

Venmo: @BriORourke

Paypal: @BriannaORourke

Zelle: [email redacted]