Martina Koniger
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences
Links
Plant physiologist investigating various processes that allow plants to optimize photosynthesis.
My research focuses on the physiological and cellular mechanisms that allow plants to deal with light intensities that may change a thousand-fold within a few minutes eg when a cloud obstructs the sun. I am particularly interested in the mechanism that plants employ to rapidly change the positioning of their chloroplasts, and the ability of chloroplasts to dissipate excess light energy in the form of heat by changing their pigment composition. We are working with a range of species including ferns, palms and weedy plants like dandelion, as well as the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana and its mutants. It is our goal to understand the workings and the relative importance of these mechanisms for the stress tolerance and fitness of species from different environments.
I am teaching two courses which expose students to the most diverse ecosystems on Earth, namely coral reefs and tropical forests. After a series of lectures at Wellesley College, students get to work at research stations in the Caribbean and Costa Rica pursuing independent research projects on questions relevant to understanding these ecosystems. I am also greatly enjoying teaching classes for non-science majors which allow me to get my excitement about the intricacies and beauty of biology across to a wider audience.
In a few of my classes Wellesley College students have the opportunity to teach lessons with plenty of hands on activities to middle school students at Mission Grammar in Boston. I greatly enjoy helping student translate what they learned in my class into meaningful activities for younger students.
I love attending cultural events especially concerts, dance performances and museum exhibitions just as much as being outdoors.
Education
- Diploma, University of Würzburg (Germany)
- Ph.D., University of Würzburg (Germany)
Currently teaching
Scientists have made great progress revealing intricate details of many biological processes. They understand the importance of their work like the back of their hands. The scientific literacy of the general public, however, has not kept pace. This seminar aims to equip students with the writing skills necessary to communicate important ideas from a breadth of biological disciplines in an exciting, clear and relevant manner to a range of audiences. The body of work created in this class will include short pieces on articles from the primary literature, reviews of presentations and magazine articles by experts, as well as op-eds on scientific issues of interest and a profile of a scientist of choice. Peer editing and writing workshops play a large part, aiding students as they write multiple drafts of each assignment.
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Seminar: Tropical Ecology
BISC309
Tropical forests and coral reefs are among the most fascinating and diverse ecosystems, but unfortunately face multiple threats. In this seminar, brief lectures will provide a baseline understanding of these ecosystems and the key processes that shape them. However, the main focus will be the discussion of important papers in the field. Students will present papers from the primary literature that illustrate how these ecosystems function, why they are struggling and what can be done to preserve and restore them. We will pay particular attention to the observational, experimental and analytical approaches that are used in this field of study, and how the science informs conservation decisions. The final project involves writing a research proposal. (BISC 309 and ES 309 are cross-listed courses.)