Graduate Student Email: summer.blanco@uga.edu Lab Website: https://www.jlmlab.com https://www.theaccesslab.net Lab: Leebens-Mack Lab & Russo-Tait Lab | Miller Plant Sciences Biography Summer is currently a PhD candidate in the Department of Plant Biology. They are co-advised by Dr. Jim Leebens-Mack and Dr. Tati Russo-Tait. Summer is from Covina, CA, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. During undergrad, Summer was mentored through numerous pipeline programs that aim to increase the representation of underrepresented minorities in STEM (Cal Poly's SEES program, NIH-RISE, CSU-LSAMP, the Leadership Alliance). After undergraduate, Summer was a research technician in the Grotewold Lab at Michigan State University as a part of the Success in Graduate Education (SiGuE) post-baccalaureate research program. You can find Summer around Athens grabbing a morning roll at the local bakery, throwing pottery at the community ceramics studio, or working remotely at one of the many coffee shops in town. Research Research Areas: Biology Education Genomics & Bioinformatics Research Interests: My research interests are in plant evolutionary biology and biology education research. Specifically, I use genome-scale data to answer questions about genome evolution and polyploidy in Geranium. I am also passionate about equity in STEM, and research the experiences of people of color in various STEM fields -- including Plant Science and Engineering. Grants: 2026 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award (UGA)2025 K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award (AAC&U)2023 American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education Graduate Fellow2021 NSF GRFP Recipient2021 UGA Presidential Fellowship Selected Publications Selected Publications: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=-MmLFKIAAAAJ&hl=en Education Education: Admission to the University of Georgia Graduate School through the Integrated Plant Sciences Doctoral Program, Fall 2021. B.S. Biology, Botany Option, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, 2020. Teaching, Outreach, and Professional Interests Teaching, Outreach, and Professional Interests: Throughout my undergraduate and graduate education, I have led and been involved with several organizations and efforts that center students of color in STEM. These include affinity spaces for queer students & students of color in STEM, targeted recruitment efforts, and bioinformatics training! Other Information Other Affiliations: Summer Blanco | Website
