Kendra Walters is a microbial ecologist studying for her Ph.D. at the University of California – Irvine. She investigates drivers of diversity in the microscopic world of soil bacteria. Her research helps advance our predictions for how microbes will respond in future climate and land use change. Kendra also works to improve science education in Orange County. She has partnered with a local non-profit to improve data quality and learning outcomes in community science research projects. Before she moved to Irvine, Kendra received a B.S. in Biology and Geology from the University of Oregon.