Eva Ottum

Wheeldon lab: Hi, I’m Eva. I’m a Boston College graduate pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemical and Environmental Engineering in Dr. Wheeldon’s Lab at the University of California Riverside. In my last experience, I researched how fungi can better produce renewable biofuels with the Department of Energy. Before this, I investigated host-microbiome relationships at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. I leverage both experiences to discover new ways to harness microbes, such as fungi and yeast, to address systemic challenges. These small organisms accomplish creative and impressive feats, such as sensing microscopic environmental changes, producing valuable chemicals, and degrading tough material. Through them, we can deploy innovative tools to solve global issues relating to sustainability and agriculture. We can fulfill this goal by collaborating with scientists in different fields and learning how to translate lab research into industry.