Stella Frank

Experience

• 

  University of California, Berkeley

  Aug 2021 - Aug 2022

  Investigated salmonid populations and their role within freshwater ecosystems through snorkel surveys and remote video sensingContinued research as a paid field assistant during the summer at a remote field site in Mendocino county Studied gene expression in the jellyfish Cassiopea andromeda using in situ hybridization protocols, gene knockdown and RNA extraction procedures

  • Field Research Technician - Power Lab

    May 2022 - Aug 2022

  • Undergraduate Researcher - Power Lab

    Jan 2022 - May 2022

  • Undergraduate Researcher - Harland Lab

    Aug 2021 - Dec 2021
• 

  University of California, Berkeley

  Jan 2023 - now

  With support from the Rose Hills Foundation, I will be continuing my research project comparing intracellular vs extracellular in Black Cottonwood. My research explores symbiotic relationships between trees and root-associated fungi, which provide up to 80% of plant nitrogen and phosphorus. These symbioses primarily fall into two categories: ectomycorrhizal fungi, which envelop root cells, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which penetrate root cell walls. Despite their prevalence, comparative studies of the two systems are lacking. I will quantify nutrient sharing and assess gene expression in Populus trichocarpa (black cottonwood) associated with each type of mutualistic partner. By elucidating nutrient transfer mechanisms, I seek to pinpoint genes facilitating this exchange and illuminate functional differences between symbiotic partners. I hypothesize that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi will exhibit more efficient nutrient transfer to P. trichocarpa due to their intracellular structures. Additionally, I expect to find a correlation between specific gene expression and rates of nutrient transfer. Show less

  • Rose Hills Fellow

    May 2024 - now

  • Undergraduate Researcher - Dawson Lab

    Jan 2023 - now