Jackie Shay

She/Her

I am queer and I am a fungal ecologist.//

 

I love understanding how species interact to collaborate in nature. I study plant-fungal symbiotic interactions and how they work together to alleviate environmental stress, like drought. I have transferred these questions to the classroom where I design, implement, and study equitable pedagogical strategies.

I began my journey in biology as an inaugural undergraduate at UC Merced. After graduating, I joined Peace Corps Morocco and served as a youth development volunteer, teaching students in rural communities about health care, advocacy, and leadership. I was enamored by the Mediterranean plants and fungi in the Atlas Mountains and pursued a Master’s in Mycology at San Francisco State University. I raised my own money to conduct fieldwork in Madagascar, discovering 5 new species of mushrooms along the way. I earned my Ph.D. in Quantitative and Systems Biology back at UC Merced where I studied fungal and bacterial endophytes in native Monkeyflowers of the Sierra Nevada. All along, I engaged in learning evidenced-based pedagogy to create inclusive spaces for all people to learn. Outside of academia, I am a mother of two and love spending quality time outdoors, and cuddling up to watch movies.

Dr. Shay is currently an Assistant Teaching Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-shay-9438054b/

@jackie.shay

https://www.jackieshay.com/