Leadership, Service, and Science Communication

Leadership and Service:

  • Citation Needed (Community Events; 2017 – 2018)
    • Organized screening of film Food Evolution (300+ attendees), hosted Dr. Allison Van Eenennaam, and led discussion with audience and Dr. Van Eenennaam
    • Coordinated monthly coffee hours and film screenings where students discussed controversial topics in science and how to communicate them with the public
  • Citation Needed (President 2016 – 2017)
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    Michael showing middle school students how high-wire greenhouse tomatoes are grown (West Lafayette, IN).

    • Presided over an executive board of 9 student members and 2 faculty members
    • Completed training and regulatory steps to make Citation Needed an official student organization with The Ohio State University
    • Coordinated monthly “coffee hours”
    • Coordinated visits of Dr. Cami Ryan, Dr. Paige Jarreau, and Dr. David Hughes
    • Planned visits of Dr. David Hughes (partnering with the Ohio Agricultural Council) and Dr. Wamwari Waichungo
    • Partially coordinated collaboration between the Columbus March for Science and Citation Needed
  • CFAES Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Education Search Committee Member, 2018
    • Received implicit bias training
    • Actively participated in candidate selection
    • Coordinated lunches with students and candidates
  • HCS-FST Discovery Themes Search Committee (January – August 2017)
    • Student member of a search committee seeking a plant biochemist with experience in metabolomics.
  • HCS Graduate Research Retreat Funding Chair (January– October 2017)
    • Coordinating meetings and funding efforts for the 2017 graduate research retreat. Working with the office of advancement to more effectively raise money for this event.
  • HCS Graduate Research Retreat Co-Chair (April – October, 2016)
    • Coordinated a student board of 8 members to plan and execute a department-wide retreat featuring a poster competition, oral presentation competition, guest speaker, and multiple meals.
  • Head of Horticulture Research Retreat Planning Committee, 2015
    • Presided over a student board of 4 members to plan and execute a department-wide retreat featuring a poster competition, oral presentation competition, and activities aimed at increasing departmental cohesiveness
  • Disability Resource Center Peer Mentor (2014-2015)
    • Advised two freshman students with learning disabilities during their first year.
  • President of Horticulture Graduate Student Committee, 2014-2015
    • Coordinated outings (e.g. hiking) to increase cohesiveness among graduate students within the Horticulture and Landscaping Department
    • Created a five-year strategic plan for future leaders to allow for continued graduate student cohesiveness and wellbeing within the department
  • Vice-President of Horticulture Graduate Student Committee, 2013-2014
  • Mitchell Lab Outreach Coordinator (2013-2015)
    • Coordinated public talks, social media outreach, and produce donation to St. John’s Food Pantry (> 150 lbs. /semester)
  • Tippecanoe County Master Gardener Association (2014-2015)
    • Completed Master Gardner training and participated in local outreach projects
  • Student Farm Manager Search Committee, Fall 2013
  • Co-founded Purdue University’s first Student Farm (2010-2015)
    • Charter member of the Purdue Student Farm. Helped clear a 5-acre space, constructed infrastructure, and established contracts with local chefs, student dining facilities, and a community-supported agriculture program.

Blog Posts:

 

Invited Lectures to the Public:

  • Dzakovich, M.P., Cooperstone, J.L., Riedl, K.M., Schwartz, S.J., Francis, D.M. Purée to Peaks in 15 Minutes: A Rapid Carotenoid Extraction and UHPLC-PDA Analysis Workflow for Tomato. Kowlett Seminar Series. April 17th, 2018. Columbus, OH (Oral)
  • Dzakovich, M.P., What’s Light Got to Do with It? Skype a Scientist (Class of 19, 2nd grade students) April 11th, 2018
    • Talk about how light influences plant growth and development and the scientific
  • Dzakovich, M.P. National Association of Plant Breeders Science Communication Panelist
  • Dzakovich, M.P. Beyond the P-Value: Making the Most of an Analysis of Variance Using R. The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
    • Live demonstration using R and R Markdown to run fixed and random effects linear models
  • Dzakovich, M.P. Increasing the Value of Horticultural Crops Using LEDs. LED Symposium. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
    • LED Symposium, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
  • Dzakovich, M.P. The Future of Agriculture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
    • Next Generation Scholars (NGS)-related tour of local eight graders through our greenhouse facilities (~70 students)
  • Dzakovich, M.P. From Fundamental Photobiology to a More Wholesome Tomato, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
    • Connecting basic photobiology principles to environmental manipulation of tomatoes
  • Dzakovich, M.P. Greenhouse Practices for High-Wire Tomato Production, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
    • Current practices in greenhouse tomato production
  • Dzakovich, M.P. Sustainable Herb Production in Indiana. Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
    • Uses, marketing, chemical ecology, and integration into sustainable cropping systems
  • Dzakovich, M.P. Lavender Production in France. University of Wyoming, 2013 (Virtual lecture)
    • Cultivation and distillation of lavender in south-central France