I am a first-year Master student in Dr. Sara Banco's lab studying the mechanisms of zinc tolerance in the fungus Suillus luteus. I am also working on assaying metal tolerance in Colorado endemic fungi and will be helping develop methods for the genetic manipulation of lab strains. After receiving my Master's degree from CU Denver, I will continue pursuing mycological research within the context of myco-industry, helping pioneer fungal-based applications to environmental and industrial problems.