Morgen Clark

Morgen Clark is a doctoral student working in the Reguera Lab. Here are her answers to the Micro Biography questions:

How and when did you become interested in the field(s) of microbiology, genetics, and/or immunology?

I have been curious about science and the way the world works for as long as I can remember, but I became interested in genetics during high school. I took a course called “Techniques in DNA-based Biotechnology” at a Brown University summer program for high school students, and I was immediately hooked (despite being very clumsy in the lab and ruining all my agarose gel wells. Thankfully I’ve found my research hands since then!). I studied molecular genetics in undergrad but ended up doing undergrad research in a microbiology lab, and my love of microbiology grew from there.

Were there any particular people or events who were influential in your journey?

The people most influential in my journey to becoming a scientist are probably my parents. I got into science because I always desperately wanted to know “why?” and my parents never discouraged that (even though I’m sure they got sick of that question at some point). My mom encouraged me to develop my curiosity through reading and learning from a young age, and some of my earliest memories are learning from my dad as he tinkered with different engines in the garage. They created opportunities for me to develop an inquisitive mind and continued to support me throughout my journey, so I really owe my career in science to them.

The various science mentors I have had throughout my journey have also been very influential. I am very lucky that they all have been very supportive of my development as a scientist, which encouraged me to persevere and pursue research. Thank you to Graham, my graduate student mentor for my undergraduate research, who always took the time to answer questions and made me feel like I belonged as a scientist and researcher. Thank you to Bijaya, my postdoc mentor during my time as a technician, who not only taught me a lot about organization and keeping track of many simultaneous research projects, but who also became a wonderful friend. Finally, thank you to my graduate advisor, Gemma, who has guided me on how to be an effective writer, shown me how to be a good mentor, and always encouraged me to prioritize my mental health and well-being as I navigate graduate school.

How did you come to be a part of this department?

I grew up and did my undergraduate degree in Vermont, where my undergraduate research focused on genetic regulation of metabolism in the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. After graduating, I moved to Boston to work at Tufts University where I worked in a lab that studied the human immune response to Borrelia burgdorferi and worked on vaccine development. While pathogen research is important and fascinating, I found that moving out of Vermont showed me how passionate I am about environmental stewardship and sustainability. I decided I wanted to move into the realm of environmental microbiology, and MSU and the microbiology department had a great reputation for strong environmental research.

What is your main role / research area right now and why is it important?

I work in the Reguera lab, and my current research focus is on metal interaction with the conductive pili (also called nanowires) produced by the thermophile Geothermobacter ehrlichii. Our lab has previously worked with nanowires from the related species Geobacter sulfurreducens, but G. ehrlichii is unique in that it is isolated from sediment near a hydrothermal vent. This environment is characterized by high temperatures and high concentrations of metals, including rare earth elements that are not as highly concentrated in areas where Geobacter are found. The goal of my research is to determine the range and specificity of metals that are bound by Geothermobacter and Geobacter nanowires in order to inform the future development of nanowire-inspired biomimetic materials that can be used in metal waste clean-up and metal reclamation.

How do you see your role / research evolving?

I will soon be defending my dissertation, so my role in this work is winding down. But I think this research has many exciting paths it may take. As mentioned above, this work will inform development of biomimetic materials, and these materials have numerous applications they could be optimized for. To give an example, nanowire-derived materials could be used to help during metal refining processes, making them more environmentally friendly. Nanowire-derived materials could also be used to extract commercially valuable metals from electronic waste. I’m excited to see how nanowires are used on the path to greener technologies.

What types of activities are you involved in outside of work / research?

A lot of the time I enjoy relaxing at home, doing things like reading and crafting (I recently got into crochet although I’m at the stage where everything is lopsided; still a lot of fun though!). When I’m feeling adventurous, I like to explore Michigan and even travel to National Parks on occasion. My favorite place to go on walks near East Lansing is Sleepy Hollow State Park.

What is next for you?

First up, defending my dissertation and graduation! After that I will hopefully be visiting my family in Vermont before starting a new job. I am not tied to any one location, so I am excited to see where I end up next in the United States.

What do you see as your current career trajectory?

After graduation, I am hoping to begin a job in industry or government. I have a dual major in environmental toxicology, and I would love to be an environmental toxicologist at the state government level one day. I want to help inform regulations and create effective paths of communication with the people, such as farmers, that these regulations impact.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

For any students pursuing a graduate degree, remember to take time for yourself! As much as you want to give your all to research and grad school, burnout is real and can be difficult to find your way out of. So don’t forget to take time to reset and recharge when you need to!