Jackie Shay

Jackie Shay is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her work bridges ecological research and education, focusing on joy-centered pedagogy, teacher development, and microbial symbiosis. She holds a Master's from San Francisco State University and a Ph.D. from UC Merced, where she studied fungal evolution and plant microbiomes.

Education:

• Ph.D., Quantitative and Systems Biology, UC Merced (advisor: Sexton & Frank)
• M.S., Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, San Francisco State (advisor: Desjardin)

Research Interests:
Dr. Shay explores symbiotic relationships between plants and microbes, particularly in response to climate change, alongside innovative teaching strategies. She emphasizes accessible course-based research experiences and fostering inclusive STEM environments.

Labs/Teams:
She collaborates with the Center for Engaged Teaching and Learning (UC Merced) and maintains her blog ShayShrooms, documenting fungal biodiversity in Madagascar.