Lexi Schank
she/her
M.S. Environment & Resources – Gratton and Jackson Labs
Co-advised by Dr. Claudio Gratton (Entomology) and Dr. Randy Jackson (Agronomy)
Education
- B.S. in Biology (Plant emphasis) and Life Sciences Communication; certificate in Food Systems from UW-Madison, 2022
Research Interests
Broadly, I am interested in how agricultural landscapes affect ecosystem services and what can be done to improve the resilience of agricultural systems for the benefit of the surrounding community. More specifically, my master’s research is focused on helping several communities in Wisconsin reach their water quality goals by mapping out the land management solutions that are most likely to reach phosphorus reduction goals with the smallest land transformations. I aim to keep my work community-centered, with their goals and potential solutions leading the way. Yet, I am also interested in modeling other ecosystem services such as bird friendliness and bee toxicity so that the community can make the most informed decisions regarding what solutions are best for their overall wellness.
Personal Interests
I love all things food, from trying new restaurants and cuisines to growing my own vegetables and cheffing it up in the kitchen! I like to stay active and try to choose a different activity for each season; right now I’m into running and kickboxing. I also enjoy creating things, and my current fixation is a paint-by-number Lepidoptera canvas.