Graduate Student Highlight: Leanne Mocniak
Each week, the Department of Chemistry highlights a graduate student who is doing great work in our department. In this installment of our highlight series, we are featuring Leanne Mocniak, who is a fifth year student jointly advised by the Bollinger-Krebs group of the Department of Chemistry and the Bryant group, which is affiliated with the USDA Agricultural Research Service.
Leanne’s project is focused on the study of an innate biochemical defense pathway against herbivory that is specific to brassica plants, called the glucosinolate-myrosinase system. This pathway is also responsible for adverse health effects observed in livestock grazed on a brassica diet. She is currently working to characterize the proteins involved in this mechanism with the overarching goal to prevent or minimize the negative effects on livestock.
Outside of the lab, Leanne is an active member of the Penn State chapter of Graduate Women in Science.
Today, we sat down virtually with Leanne to discuss her life in and outside of the lab. Please enjoy our interview with Leanne Mocniak!
Question: How did you get interested in chemistry?
Answer: When I was a senior in high school, I was injured during a soccer game not long after the start of the school year. I ended up missing a lot of my afternoon classes for doctors' appointments, including AP Chemistry, and I struggled with the material because of it. I had to work hard to catch up to the rest of the class, and the extra time and effort made me realize that the subject was interesting to me. However, if I didn't have a teacher who was as supportive and encouraging as my AP chemistry teacher, I don't think I would have been successful in the class, and I wouldn't be here at Penn State today!
Q: What inspires you as a scientist?
A: I'm constantly impressed with the progress/advancements of modern science, and I find it inspiring as a young scientist to imagine what I might one day accomplish as my contribution to modern science.
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: I grew up in Endicott, NY.
Q: Do you have any pets?
A: I have a coonhound named Elvis.
Q: What’s your favorite way to spend a day off?
A: I really enjoy getting outdoors to go on hikes and go biking, but sometimes it's just as fun to relax with a cup of tea (or wine) and watch a movie!
Bonus Question: Do you have any fun science trivia to share?
A: I recently discovered that clouds could weigh over one million pounds (for something I had never thought about before, this was pretty mind blowing!).
Thanks to Leanne for sitting down with us this week! We enjoyed her thoughtful answers. Keep an eye out for more graduate student highlights in the weeks to come!