Fungal hyphae emerging from a sorghum plant root on a Petri dish.

Teaching, Mentorship & Community

I am committed to the "Teacher-Scholar" model, whether that means training peers in data science, mentoring undergraduates in the lab, or baking sourdough bread to build department community.

Democratizing Data Science

I believe that coding and data management shouldn't be gatekept skills. I am passionate about empowering researchers to wrangle their own data.

Certified Instructor: I recently completed my Carpentries Instructor Training (Feb 2026) to officially teach their content.
Workshops: I have led and supported trainings for diverse audiences, from librarians at the Smithsonian to faculty and students at NAU.
Future Goals: I am currently working to establish a formal Carpentries program at NAU to institutionalize this training.

Screenshot of paper written by Beatrice Bock, Lexie Curry, and Catherine Gehring on the nitrogen utilization of a plant-associated fungus, Alternaria alternata, a DSE.

Mentoring the Next Generation

Mentorship is the most rewarding part of my PhD. I strive to give undergraduates real ownership over their science.

The Impact: I have mentored 4 undergraduate students from experimental design all the way to co-authorship on peer-reviewed publications (like the one screenshotted above).
The Success Stories: One of my mentees has already gone on to start their own PhD program!
In the Classroom: I also designed funded CUREs (Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences) to bring authentic research into the Mycology curriculum, which culminated in peer-reviewed publications for the students.

Screenshot of blog article written by Beatrice Bock for Functional Ecology, after winning an award for her presentations at ICOM in Manchester, UK, during Summer 2024.

Writing & Advocacy

Communication doesn't stop at the podium. After winning the Functional Ecology Prize at ICOM 2024, I was invited to write a blog post about my non-linear path into science ('Bob Ross style').

Article linked here.

Science on Tap

I love translating complex ecology for the public. I was honored to be the first graduate student in years to speak at the 'Science on Tap' series at Mother Road Brewery.

The Talk: Mysterious Mushrooms and Fungal Friends.
Visuals: I create my own illustrations (like the poster shown here!) to help visualize concepts like the 'Wood Wide Web.'

Building Community

Science is better when we show up for each other (and when there are snacks).