Elsa A. Cousins

OEB PhD candidate Elsa Cousins

PhD Candidate

B.S. in Biology from the College of Charleston

B.A. in Studio Art from the College of Charleston

Advisor: Kristina Stinson
Dissertation/thesis title: Ecology and phytochemistry of the non-native plant Thlaspi arvense (Brassicaceae) in subalpine meadows of Colorado

Research Interests

Elsa's current research is focused on investigating the evolutionary trajectory of secondary defense chemical production along the edge populations of field pennycress, a ubiquitous non-native plant. Elsa is interested in science communication and outreach, and has been conducting field research at the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab in Gothic, Colorado. She is a member of the NE Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change Management Network. As a teaching fellow in the College of Natural Sciences, she is the instructor of a seminar course on the intersection of science and art. She also writes for That's Life [Science], is on the steering committee for BRiDGE, and co-facilitates the Diversity Inclusion and Pedagogy seminar cohosted in the Geosciences and Environmental Conservation departments.