David Parrott, Ph.D.

Ph.D. Utah State University
M.A. Humboldt State University
B.S. Humboldt State University

A little bit about Dr. Parrott...
Dr. Parrott is interested in the interactions between plants and the microbes they share the soil with. He is specifically interested in those interactions which might help in better understanding how plants tolerate drought or high soil salinity. He has a profound curiosity for the halophilic bacteria and fungi found in and around Great Salt Lake, and is also interested in the practical applications those microbes might lend themselves to. He teaches a variety of biology classes including cell biology, plant biology and microbiology. He is committed to training students to not only communicate with other scientists, but to engage the public in ways that promote science learning, foster excitement and curiosity, and to inspire future scientists in the community.

Dr. David Parrott is currently the Assistant Director of the Great Salt Lake Institute at Westminster University in Salt Lake City. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in botany and plant physiology at Humboldt State University in Northern California, and his Ph.D. in plant biology at Utah State University in Logan. He studies soil microbes growing around the roots of salt loving plants on the shore of Great Salt Lake. He is curious to see if the microbes help the plants survive in this extremely salty and dry environment. Dr. Parrott works with a variety of environment interest groups, including Friends of Great Salt Lake, HEAL Utah and Save our Great Salt Lake, to raise awareness of the impacts that population growth and climate change are having on the lake.

Annie Isabel Fukushima, Ph.D.

keynote address:

Equitable Futures and High Impact: Undergraduate Research

April 18, 2023, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Tech Building, Room #104

Dr. Annie Isabel Fukushima is the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Director for the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) at the University of Utah. OUR is committed to fostering equity in access to research opportunities through funding, educational opportunities, and recognition.  Dr. Fukushima is committed to access in research as a professor of ethnic studies in the School for Cultural & Social Transformation mentoring undergraduate researchers in mixed methods, community-based research, and transdisciplinary research.

2022 UPRC Keynote Speakers

Marjorie A. Chan

Gabriel Bowen

Susan Manley

Evelyn Lamb, PhD

Sanlyn Buxner

Dr. Buxner has worked in space science education and public outreach since 1996. Over the last fifteen years she has worked in formal and informal education in science museums, outdoor schools and universities.

Between 2005 and 2009 she has worked as the Education and Public Outreach Specialist for the Mars Odyssey Gamma Ray Spectrometer and NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander. In these positions she conducted classroom outreach, curriculum development and teacher workshops, public tours, summer camps and public and research presentations in the US and abroad. In addition to her work at PSI, she teaches science and research methodology courses at the University of Arizona.

Her current research interests include examining issues related to scientific literacy; how to measure it and investigating how it is changed by education, outreach and online media. She also investigates how science research experiences can be used to improve both science understanding and empowerment of teachers and students.

Justin Furey

Justin Furey is the Director of Marketing Engineering at IM Flash, a joint venture between Intel and Micron. Based in Lehi, IM Flash makes the memory technology used in cellphones, laptops and the Data centers that power cloud computing. IM Flash is now embarking on an emerging memory technology that will revolutionize the way we store data and enable the next step forward in the “Internet of Things.”

Justin’s career in the semiconductor industry has spanned 20 years and he is proud to be part of a fast-moving, highly complex industry where change is a way of life. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Production and Operations Management from Boise State University. Justin began his career with Micron overseeing production amp product lines before coming to IM Flash in 2006.

In his current role, Justin oversees a 24/7/365 manufacturing environment. He is especially focused on equipment maintenance and efficiency, product quality, and increasing labor efficiency through automation and remote operations. He also works to establish outreach relationships and programs with local universities to support the technical skillsets required for manufacturing operations.Justin and his wife Kelcy have 4 children. In his spare time he coaches basketball and enjoys skiing and golfing.

Kent Rominger

Kent Rominger is vice president of Strategy and Business Development for Orbital ATK’s Propulsion Systems Division. In this capacity he is responsible for supporting commercial, defense, and civil space customers with innovative and affordable propulsion solutions.

Rominger has also served as vice president of Orbital ATK Test and Research Operations. His responsibilities included the overall testing of rocket motors, warheads and components, and support for research and development operations that enable advances in aerospace and military capabilities. He joined Orbital ATK in October 2006 as vice president, Advanced Programs, following distinguished careers with NASA and the U.S. Navy.

Rominger was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1992. A veteran of five space shuttle flights, including two as the mission commander, he has logged over 1,600 hours and traveled almost 27 million miles in space. He culminated his NASA career as the chief of the Astronaut Office.

A native of Del Norte, Colorado, Rominger received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Colorado State University and a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School.

Dr. Tara Luke

Tara Harmer Luke is an Associate Professor of Biology at Stockton University, a public liberal arts college in New Jersey. She earned a B.A. in Biology with Specialization in Marine Science at Boston University, and a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology at Johns Hopkins University. She then studied deep-sea hydrothermal vents as a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard University. Currently her research focusses on invertebrate and microbial diversity at artificial reefs and shipwrecks off the coast of New Jersey.