Research Team

Team work makes the dream work! My vibrant undergraduate research team is passionate about making social change through scientific research, art, and activism. I believe that the most important aspect of my career as a scientist is to train the next generation of leaders, educators, and organizers. As such, all team members are involved in every aspect of the scientific process: experimental design, lab work, computational analysis, and presentation of the results. After getting comfortable in the lab, I encourage every undergraduate to lead or co-lead their own research project. I also include opportunities to present their research through posters and talks at conferences. Many lab members are also involved in community-centered activities that integrate science and society.

You can read about our sister project, Biology for Everyone (BIO4E) here: https://bio4e.stanford.edu/team

Current and past team members

Team values

As a team and as individuals, we will act according to these principles by: 

  • Allowing for personal growth

  • Recognizing that we are all human and come from different backgrounds

  • Develop a growth mindset

  • Showing our authentic selves 

  • Being accepting of our mistakes and normalizing them as opportunities to learn

  • Making space for self-care 

As individuals, we will hold ourselves accountable by: 

  • Setting out personal goals but always thinking about how we’re part of a team

  • Living in sincerity and trusting in one’s own self

  • Create a ‘Could do list’ of things to accomplish for the week, reassess throughout week

  • Create a culture of responsibility to give and receive feedback

As a team, we will hold ourselves accountable by: 

  • Make a commitment to mutual respect 

  • Having a positive mindset, coming to meetings and work ready to learn

  • Continuing to be vulnerable and having the courage to speak out in a respectful manner when we feel we need to

  • Being supportive to each other & staying in touch

  • Be intentional about creating structures that maintain accountability 

As a team, our core values are: 

  • Foster a culture of inclusivity

  • Promote equity to ensure access to opportunities

  • Create a non-judgmental, supportive learning environment 

  • Take space, make space

  • Compassion and kindness

  • Courage and determination, honesty

As a team, we want to accomplish: 

  • Creating an inclusive community

  • Increased equity in STEM for underrepresented communities

  • Improving how we communicate with each other

  • Creating a collaborative and shared-learning environment 

  • Connect the public with the science community

  • Conduct ourselves with integrity to be a positive impact in communities (including outside work)

  • Sharing ideas openly & willingly, helping our team when needed

  • Contribute knowledge to body of research knowledge 


This statement was written collaboratively by Jonathan Barros, Briana Martin-Villa, Lexi Golden, Sawye Raygani, Jonathan Hernandez, and Callie Chappell

Undergraduate team accomplishments

Poster presentations:

  • K. Eritano, V. Hsu, et al., Priority effects with nectar bacteria, B-SURP Summer Symposium (2018)

  • C. Kieschnick, et al., Eco-evolutionary dynamics in nectar-inhabiting microbes, B-SURP Summer Symposium (2019)

  • L. Golden, et al., Nectar yeast evolve to resist priority effects, B-SURP Summer Symposium (2020)

  • B. Martin-Villa, J. Barros, et al., Simulating the effects of evolution on nectar microbe metacommunities, Virtual REU Symposium (2020)

  • F. Binta Barrie, et al., Nectar Analysis on Monkey Flower Plant, B-SURP Summer Symposium (2022)

  • Y. Calderón, et al, Bacterial Abundance as a Proxy of Nectar pH, B-SURP Summer Symposium (2022)

Talks:

  • B. Martin-Villa, J. Barros, et al., Simulating the effects of evolution on nectar microbe metacommunities, Virtual REU Symposium (2020)

  • L. Golden, et al., Nectar microbes: Genetic variation and its consequences on priority effects, Virtual REU Symposium (2020)

  • M. Hossine, D. Ortiz, et al., Uncovering the mechanisms of priority effects in nectar microbes: a multi-omics approach, Stanford Summer Research Symposium (2021)

  • C.O. Takara, C.R. Chappell, J. Hernandez, R.C. Perez, 2021 April. BioJam camp for teen engagement in biomaking: a pilot co-design case (talk). American Educational Research Association Virtual Annual Meeting.

  • C.R. Chappell, A. Quiroz, K. Cordero, A. Millard-Bruzos, D. Kong, D. Endy, 2024 May, Growing a future of, by, and for the people: Envisioning an American LABrary System, Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC), (2024)

Papers:

We have fun!

In 2024, summer undergraduates made this cute Phineas and Ferb-themed video (video directing credit: Esteban Cervantes)

Our group also does fun stuff (I promise)! From screen printing swag, picnics and dinners together, field trips, and more, we try to stay connected with each other and our broader communities.

In line with our team values, we also often pursue outreach activities that ensure that our work has an impact outside the lab. These activities have included workshops for high school students, science communication videos, art projects, and many other things!

In 2020, we wrote a guide about mentorship together which was published on the popular ecology blog, Dynamic Ecology.

 

Join us!

If you are interested in joining us, please send me an email at calliech{at}stanford{dot}edu. Please include a few sentences about yourself and why you are interested in joining the team. It doesn't have to be overly formal, something like this would be great:

Hi Callie,

My name is _____. I am a "X" year student at [insert school here]. I am interested in joining TNM because….

Some ideas might include:

  • I haven't have the opportunity to do research before and I would love to learn about it

  • I am interested in learning more about ecology and evolution but don't know where to start

  • I heard that I can learn a lot about research from working with you, but would like to talk to you to learn if I would be a good fit.

I am able to join your team though _____ (see notes below)______ and would be interested in starting ___ {insert date}___.

Please let me know if this would be possible!

Best,

[Your name]

If I receive an email like this from you, I'll write back as soon as I can.

Some important notes:

If you are at Stanford, I only accept students who are (1) Federal Work Study-eligible, (2) take course credit, (3) pursuing an honors thesis, or (3) are part of a summer program such as B-SURP or BIO-X. I do not accept volunteers. If you are interested in joining the lab during the regular academic year, you need to be coming through options 1-3. If you are interested in joining the lab during the summer, I would encourage you to be paid through (1) Summer Federal Work-Study or (2) a summer research program.

You can find whether you are FWS-eligible by looking in the "View my Financial Aid” tab in AXESS.

If you are not at Stanford, you can work in the lab through a Stanford summer research program such as the SSRP-Amgen Scholars Program through the MESA Community College program, or others. If you have an opportunity in mind or want to brainstorm ideas with me, please feel free to email me.