About Me

      Hi! My names McKayla and I am a Ph.D. student at the University of Florida studying planetary volcanism through petrology and geochemistry. My work focuses on volcanism and compositions of the moon, in preparation for the Artemis missions to the Lunar South Pole.         

Along with my research, I am very interested in helping improve the diversity and inclusion in academia and STEM. I have focused on K-12 outreach to help get science into the classroom sooner, to show that being a researcher is a career option. I want to help facilitate making STEM a more inclusive and welcoming space for all students, providing support for minority students to flourish in academia and beyond. As for this, I am also very passionate about supporting students in the graduate school process and other opportunities, so please reach out with any questions or if you want additional support in finding opportunities for you! 

Random Facts About Me:

• I grew up in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and absolutely love being outdoors. 
• I love robots, specifically rovers - I was a part of the Oregon State University Mars Rover team, as the science lead, and hope to be a part in rover space exploration. 
• My pride and joy are my two dogs, Cu (border collie) and Clover (keeshond). 
• Cars are one of my biggest passions, specifically my 2002 Honda accord coupe. 
• I love all sorts of dancing - I used to do some dance instruction and I'm always down for any dance someone throws at me!
•  My #1 stress reproducing technique is playing festive flute music. 
• I am a true crime enthusiast and absolutely listen to way too many hours of podcasts (but let me know if you need a recommendation!).