Linda Wu

During the summer after my freshman year, I had my first research experience in the Wood lab with a local adaptation study of parasitic nematodes and their various host plants. With supportive mentors and dedicating myself to research full time, I realized that this was a path that I wanted to pursue further. This past summer, I worked on a research project in Panama regarding plant-soil feedbacks, specifically the effects of fungal pathogens on the tropical tree seed bank.

Currently, I am pursuing an uncoordinated dual degree in CAS’24, majoring in Biology with a concentration in Ecology and Evolution, and Wharton’24, concentrating in Business, Energy, Environment, and Sustainability. In the future, I hope to pursue a PhD in Biology focused on environmental conservation. I am happy to answer any questions, especially those related to getting started in a new field of research, finding opportunities within and beyond Penn, and nontraditional paths.

• Intern at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute with Professor Camilo Zalamea (2023)
• Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program (PURM) and Undergraduate Research Assistant in Corlett Wood’s laboratory (2021)
• Undergraduate Research Assistant in Katie Barott’s laboratory (2022)
• Poster presentation at the CURF Fall Research Expo (2021, 2023)