Sarah Flynn

Mentor Spotlight: October 2021

Department: Graduate student, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Kansas Biological Survey and Center for Ecological Research

Describe your research/creative scholarship in a few sentences that we can all understand:

I am interested in how climate change and increased droughts impact local water quality.

Q: What does your research look like on a day-to-day basis? What do you spend most of your time doing?

A: Much of my work involves collecting water and gas samples from local streams. I also spend a lot of time installing sensors that can send me real time water quality data. When I’m not in the field, I’m trying to determine what this data means and communicating it with others.

Q: How did you first get interested in doing research or creative work?

A: I had an opportunity to perform water quality research as an undergraduate and really enjoyed being able to ask and answer research questions.

Q: What do students in your discipline learn by doing research that they wouldn’t learn by just taking classes?

A: By performing research, students in ecology can learn how to collect and process samples in the field, how to perform laboratory tests, and how to analyze data. They can also learn how to be part of a team, overcome obstacles, and communicate complicated ideas with others

Q: What do you find to be the most exciting part of doing research or creative work? What makes this line of work meaningful and interesting to you?

A: Many Kansans rely on local streams as a source of drinking water. By studying local streams, we can ensure future access to clean drinking water for all Kansans

Q: For many students, doing research or a larger creative project is the first time they have done work that routinely involves setbacks and the need to troubleshoot problems. Can you tell us about a time that your research didn’t go as expected? Or about any tricks or habits that you’ve developed to help you stay resilient in the face of obstacles?

A: Recently, my team and I worked for two days to install sensors at one of our research sites. Upon returning for routine maintenance, we found that the sensors had been blown out by a storm. Thankfully, there was a solution to this problem, as there normally is, and we were able to re-install the sensors. I am able to stay resilient by reminding myself that mistakes can become learning experiences if you keep an open mind!

Q: How do you spend your time outside of work?

A: Outside of work, I enjoy playing ukulele and hiking with my husband and our dog.