I am a second-year undergraduate student at UC San Diego studying Mechanical Engineering. I am a P2 Scholar in the Pathways to STEM Program. My research interests include clean technology, biomimetic design, and biodegradable single use items. In the Deheyn lab, I am working on the potential of color and/or melanin content of feathers, and how that affects thermoregulation ability in birds. The results will further our understanding of how feather color/chemistry can affect thermal properties, which can also be used for biomimetic design. I am very excited and grateful for the exposure I am getting to certain scientific research methods in this type of lab.