Charlotte Francoeur was a STEM Public Service Fellow in 2019 while pursuing a PhD in microbiology. As part of her collaboration with the UW Arboretum during her practicum, she published a digital zine called The Wonderful World of Microbes, which details the widespread influence of tiny organisms we can’t usually see. Today, she is a postdoc/molecular biologist at the USDA Agricultural Research Service. When she’s not working, she enjoys reading scifi and fantasy, biking, and walking.
What was your favorite part of this program?
I really enjoyed working on my outreach project with the UW Arboretum. Every aspect of the project was exciting, from getting to apply concepts we learned in PSF classes, to working with an artist and UW Arboretum employees, to presenting the product to the community!
What was one of the most valuable things you learned as a Fellow?
Detailed agendas are extremely helpful for leading meetings and keeping a project on track.
What is something surprising or unexpected you experienced as a Fellow?
I was really overwhelmed, in a good way, by the community response to my project. I had unsolicited emails coming in about the zine I created and my outreach presentation. I even had a person reach out to let me know that they sewed a binding for the zine after printing it!
How have you applied the skills and knowledge from this program in your career?
I have talked about my experience in this program a lot in interviews, as it continues to shape how I communicate my science to all audiences, as well as demonstrating that I can complete an impactful project on a timeline.
Learn more about Scientific Teaching Fellows.