Robbie Zhang

High School Apprentice

“I did SIFT the summer after my ninth-grade year. I was trying to explore some hands-on science because classroom science is different. The next thing I could do was TERA, spending four weeks on a legitimate research team.”

“My favorite part is definitely mixing bleach solution and spraying down the mesocosms.”

Why do you like that so much?

“It’s just fun to use the pressure sprayer.”

At this point, Robbie is trying his hand at science research. He grew up with a general interest in the outdoors and science, so Tyson serves as a great spot to keep those interests alive and thriving.

“It’s definitely a welcoming environment even though most people in my lab know like 10 times more than I do. Before, I never really understood exactly what research was. But now I sort of get it and can dip my toes into it.”

Robbie worked with Scott Mangan and Claudia Stein's Natural Enemies team during summer 2019. Learn more about their plant-microbial communities research here.