Meet Joyradyn James-Rollins, an undergraduate majoring in Ecology and minoring in Chemistry at the University of North Texas! As a McNair Scholar, Joyradyn is currently conducting research in the lab of Dr. Zacchaeus Compson. His project is called "Assessing the controls of C and N transfer from leaves to aquatic insects in streams of the National Ecological Observatory Network," and is part of a larger stream ecosystem research project.

"From a young age, I have been fascinated by the environment," said Joyradyn, who chose UNT for his undergraduate studies because of the highly-ranked environmental science program here. "Consequently, I became intrigued by Dr. Compson's projects the moment I heard about them. It seemed that research in this area could be my first step into the world of environmental sustainability."

Working alongside his lab partners in Dr. Compson's Foodweb Ecology of Rivers and Lakes (FERAL) Lab, Joyradyn says their research can be used to not only understand trophic systems in stream environments, but also to develop a comprehensive understanding that can help accurately predict how climate change or other factors may affect these ecosystems.

"Being surrounded by such an amazing lab group allows me to learn more about the environment while exploring completely new concepts at the same time," he said. "It feels great to know that we are doing something unprecedented that could lead to saving the environment."

Under the mentorship of Dr. Compson, Joyradyn has presented his research at several conferences, including the 30th McNair Research Conference in Baltimore and the UT Austin Undergraduate Research Symposium in Austin.

"Having Dr. Zaccheaus Compson as a mentor has been an amazing experience for me, he has helped me in so many ways and has been a great role model for me," said Joyradyn. "His advice is not only highly valuable, but he also takes time out of his day to work one-on-one with me, making sure that I had everything I needed for my success."

When he completes his undergraduate degree, Joyradyn plans to go straight into a master's degree program. At UNT, he has learned a lot about pursuing research in a field that he is passionate about and managing self-doubt.

"Since I've been at UNT, I've learned a lot but one of the most important things is that every person experiences imposter syndrome," he said. "Sometimes you feel like you're not good enough, but you are. By attending UNT, I was able to rid myself of doubts and open up a new perspective to my life."

To learn more about the research in Dr. Compson's Foodweb Ecology of Rivers and Lakes Lab, visit: https://compsonlab.org/