“I will continue to be involved in assisting to draft the final report for the General Assembly.” 

Summer Responsibilities: Elena wrote briefing documents for members of the regulatory advisory panel (RAP) called for by HB 206, which safeguards Virginia’s natural resources from the adverse impacts of small, renewable energy projects. They also provided minutes for RAP stakeholder meetings and interfaced with partner organizations.

Background: Based in the Eckert Lab at Virginia Commonwealth University, Elena focuses on plant evolutionary genetics. Currently, their research focuses on the reproductive systems of angiosperms, and how reproductive strategies impact evolutionary trajectories. Broadly, they are also interested in conservation genetics, the impacts of global change, and science policy and outreach. While their research is largely computational, they maintain an active interest in field botany and plant identification, especially the flora native to Virginia.