Vlada Gladun

High School Apprentice

Have you always been interested in ecology or the environment?

“Actually, no. When I started taking biology in high school, my teacher suggested that I do this program. I was kind of skeptical about it. I wasn't sure if it would be something that I would enjoy because I'm a premed, but I actually like it a lot.”

So you're still premed. This hasn't really swayed your opinion on that?

“Not necessarily, but I care more about the topics so I can talk about them more proficiently.”

Your title is a ‘research fellow’ this summer. How does it feel to wear that title, researching here in this environment?

“It gives you a higher standard for what you should be doing, what's expected of you. When you're a SIFTer you know you're learning. It gives you a lot of room to make mistakes and be okay with that. As a TERA teen it's actually time to try to do everything as best as possible.”

What do you think will be challenging this summer?

“It is the summer and it's hot and sometimes you're in the hoop house and you just want to go in the [air-conditioned] lab. It's really difficult sometimes. You just have to persevere. But it's really about the people. The people make even monotony and hot weather absolutely worth it.”

Vlada worked with Rachel Penczykowski's Plant Disease team during summer 2019. Learn more about their host-pathogen coevolution research here.