Curriculum Vitae
Matthew Connor Gaston
Department of Tropical Plant & Soil Sciences
University of Hawaii – Manoa
Honolulu, HI 96822 USA
Phone: 210-748-6651
Email: mcgaston@hawaii.edu
EDUCATION
2018-Present Ph.D. Candidate, Tropical Plant & Soil Science (TPSS), University of Hawaii, Manoa
2014-2018 B.S., Genetics & Plant Biology (GPB) University of California, Berkeley
Minor, Science & Mathematics Education (CalTeach), University of California, Berkeley
2010-2014 High School Diploma, Valedictorian, Central Catholic High School, San Antonio, TX
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2019-Present Graduate Teaching Assistant, TPSS 200- Agriculture, Environment, and Society: graded writing intensive essays providing comments for students to resubmit with corrections; TPSS 220- Organic Food Crop Production: facilitated our online class, uploaded assignments and resources, graded; TPSS 352- Landscape Architecture History: graded student essays and assignments; TPSS 364- Horticultural Practices: Assisted students in the greenhouse and field growing crops, guest lecturer on horticultural crop improvement; TPSS 420- Plant Propagation; TPSS 421- Tropical Seed Science; TPSS 470/470L- Plant Physiology/Plant Physiology Lab: lead laboratory, graded lab assignments, and sent weekly announcements; Department of Tropical Plant & Soil Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii, Manoa.
2021 Invited Instructor, TPSS 300- Tropical Crop Production, Tropical Plant & Soil Science Department, University of Hawaii, Manoa: “Microgreens: Dorm Room Snacks to Extraterrestrial Sustenance.”
2019-2021 Invited Instructor, ARCH/TPSS 634, Landscape Plants: ID & Use, Tropical Plant & Soil Science Department, University of Hawaii, Manoa: “Shoots Brah! An Introduction to Plant Morphology for Plant Identification”
2019, 2020 Invited Instructor, TPSS 300- Tropical Crop Production, Tropical Plant & Soil Science Department, University of Hawaii, Manoa: “Urban Agriculture: Living Walls in Manoa”
2018 Lead Science Instructor, 3rd-5th Grade Science at Camp Galileo, San Carlos, CA. Presented inquiry-based innovation projects, scaffolded engineering concepts, mentored campers, participated in camp games and skits, provided oversight during recess.
2018 Student Teacher, High School Biology, ASPIRE College Preparatory Academy, Richmond, CA. Mentored and tutored students. Presented lessons on genetics.
2017 Student Teacher, Middle School Algebra & Geometry, Madison Park Business & Art Academy (6-12), Oakland, CA. Mentored and tutored students. Presented lessons on geometric transformations.
2017 Student Teacher, High School Biology; High School Ecology. ARISE High School, Oakland, CA. Mentored and tutored students. Presented a lesson on estimation in science.
2016 Student Teacher, K & 3rd Grade Data & Technology. Special Biology Lesson: “Plant Adaptations for their Ecosystem.” Bridges Academy at Melrose, Oakland, CA
ONLINE CONTENT & WEBSITES
2021-Present MCKGaston: An Educational TikTok Channel focusing on Learning and Growth https://www.tiktok.com/@mckgaston?lang=en
2020-Present PlantStuff: An Introduction to Plant Taxonomy, Landscape Use, and Horticulture- A botanical mini-course with text, graphics, and accompanying videos. https://www.tropplants.com/p/what-is-plant.html
2018-Present TropPlants: A Growing Collection of Landscaping, Botanical, and Horticultural Information on Tropical Plants. https://www.tropplants.com/
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2020 Department Coordinator, Tropical Plant and Soil Science, Coordinated between university facilities, college, contractors, and department during building renovations.
2019-2021 Chair, Tropical Plant and Soil Science Graduate Student Organization Plant Sales.
2018 Co-Founder, Fiat Lux Labs, A Berkeley-Based Bioengineering Start-Up Specializing in Revolutionary Sensor Technology. Company absorbed by Gingko Bioworks.
2017-2018 Campus Ambassador, Margaritaville University, Berkeley, CA.
2016-2018 Owner/Manager, Berkeley Restoration, Renovation, & Relocation (BRRR), Berkeley, CA.
2016-2017 Garden Intern, California Native Garden, San Francisco Botanical Garden, San Francisco, CA. Maintained the California Native Garden: pruning, weeding, infrastructure repairs and maintenance, plant propagation from seed and cutting, and greenhouse growing techniques.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
2018-Present Dissertation Research, University of Hawaii, Manoa, Tropical Landscape & Human Interaction Lab, Tropical Plant & Soil Sciences Department. Research Focus: Investigating the effects of weak oscillating magnetic fields on germination rates and antioxidant synthesis in microgreens.
2018-Present Graduate Researcher, University of Hawaii, Manoa, Tropical Landscape & Human Interaction Lab, Tropical Green Roof & Living Wall Research Center: built and stabilized infrastructure (free standing walls, Live Wall systems, irrigation, data lines), selected plants and media, and installed biosensors and data collecting equipment. Arboriculture research on technologies for mitigating root induced infrastructure damage in tropical urban street trees.
2018 Undergraduate Researcher, University of California, Berkeley; United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Albany, CA, Coleman-Derr Lab, Plant-Microbe Relations: Developed media, plated seeds, extracted and quantified DNA using sterile techniques.
Project title: “Investigating the relationship between bacterial communities of root rhizosphere and endosphere in Suberin knock out Arabidopsis.”
2017 Research Assistant, University of California, Berkeley; East Bay Regional Parks, Wood Lab. Collected data on symptomatic and asymptomatic trees, organized data, presented research at a poster session.
Project Title: “Investigating Sudden Oak Death Dynamics in East Bay Regional Parks.”
2016 Undergraduate Research Apprentice, University of California, Berkeley, Wilkie Lab, Flotation and Anthracology: extracted artifacts and ecofacts from sediment samples using flotation, sorted and dried artifacts and ecofacts, determined plant species from charcoal ecofacts using light microscopy with digital imaging.
PUBLICATIONS
2019 Kaufman, Andrew; Gaston, Matthew; Wong, Justin; Burr, Noah. (2019) “Tropical Urban Tree Below Ground Mitigation Techniques” Tropical Landscape and Human Interaction Lab. Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. August 2019.
PAPER PRESENTATIONS & CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS
2019 “Keeping It Green in Paradise: Green Roof & Living Wall Research”, Andy Kaufman, PhD., Matthew Gaston, Justin Wong, and Elizabeth Song Lockard, Ph.D. Sustainable Urban Environments: Research, Design and Planning for the Next 50 Years; EDRA50 Brooklyn, NY; May 22-26, 2019
PROFESSIONAL EVENTS
2021, July 22 Invited Speaker for the Houseplants Discord Server Pride & Plants Speaker Series. Presented an “Introduction to Plant Morphology: Shapes of Plants- Part 2!”
2021, June 10 Invited Speaker for the Houseplants Discord Server Pride & Plants Speaker Series. Presented an “Introduction to Plant Morphology: Shapes of Plants”
2021, Jan 6 Invited Speaker for University of Hawaii, Manoa Teaching Assistant Training. Q&A Panelist sharing my experiences with online teaching and in-person teaching while maintaining Covid safety guidelines.
2020, Feb 5 Exhibitor for the Tropical Landscape and Human Interactions Lab at Ag Day at the Hawai’i State Capital.
2020, Jan 31 Exhibitor for the Tropical Landscape and Human Interactions Lab at the 1st Annual CTAHR (College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources) Day at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa.
2019, Sept 4 Staffed the Tropical Plant & Soil Science Department table and the TPSS Graduate Student Organization Table at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Annual Fair.
2019, Aug 26 Participated in Welina Mānoa welcome event for undergraduate students. Greeted students at the Tropical Plant and Soil Science table and discussed the program.
2019, Aug 21 Presented a poster at the 2nd Tropical Landscape and Human Interactions Lab “Sneak Peak” Field Day for Tropical Urban Street Techniques for Mitigating Root Induced Infrastructure Damage. University of Hawaii Waimanalo Research Station.
2019, July 6 Hosted a Field Day and presented a poster at the Tropical Landscape and Human Interactions Lab “Sneak Peak” Field Day for Tropical Urban Street Techniques for Mitigating Root Induced Infrastructure Damage. University of Hawaii Waimanalo Research Station.
2017, Aug 10 Presented a poster at UC Berkeley BERET +C Poster Session. Poster Title: “Investigating Sudden Oak Death Dynamics in East Bay Regional Parks.”
2017, June 2 Attended “DuPont-Pioneer Plant Genome Engineering Symposium”, University of California Berkeley.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
2021-Present National Society of Leadership and Success
2021-Present Gamma Sigma Delta: The Honor Society of Agriculture
2019-Present American Society for Horticultural Science
2018-Present American Association for the Advancement of Science
VOLUNTEER ACTIVITES
2019 Campus Arboretum Volunteer, University of Hawaii, Manoa, Honolulu, HI
2016 Herbarium Volunteer, University/Jepson Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley, CA, Ferns and Fern Allies; Supervisor Dr. Alan Smith
2012 Garden Volunteer, San Antonio Botanical Garden, San Antonio, TX
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Department of Tropical Plant & Soil Sciences
University of Hawaii – Manoa
Honolulu, HI 96822 USA
Phone: 210-748-6651
Email: mcgaston@hawaii.edu
EDUCATION
2018-Present Ph.D. Candidate, Tropical Plant & Soil Science (TPSS), University of Hawaii, Manoa
2014-2018 B.S., Genetics & Plant Biology (GPB) University of California, Berkeley
Minor, Science & Mathematics Education (CalTeach), University of California, Berkeley
2010-2014 High School Diploma, Valedictorian, Central Catholic High School, San Antonio, TX
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2019-Present Graduate Teaching Assistant, TPSS 200- Agriculture, Environment, and Society: graded writing intensive essays providing comments for students to resubmit with corrections; TPSS 220- Organic Food Crop Production: facilitated our online class, uploaded assignments and resources, graded; TPSS 352- Landscape Architecture History: graded student essays and assignments; TPSS 364- Horticultural Practices: Assisted students in the greenhouse and field growing crops, guest lecturer on horticultural crop improvement; TPSS 420- Plant Propagation; TPSS 421- Tropical Seed Science; TPSS 470/470L- Plant Physiology/Plant Physiology Lab: lead laboratory, graded lab assignments, and sent weekly announcements; Department of Tropical Plant & Soil Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii, Manoa.
2021 Invited Instructor, TPSS 300- Tropical Crop Production, Tropical Plant & Soil Science Department, University of Hawaii, Manoa: “Microgreens: Dorm Room Snacks to Extraterrestrial Sustenance.”
2019-2021 Invited Instructor, ARCH/TPSS 634, Landscape Plants: ID & Use, Tropical Plant & Soil Science Department, University of Hawaii, Manoa: “Shoots Brah! An Introduction to Plant Morphology for Plant Identification”
2019, 2020 Invited Instructor, TPSS 300- Tropical Crop Production, Tropical Plant & Soil Science Department, University of Hawaii, Manoa: “Urban Agriculture: Living Walls in Manoa”
2018 Lead Science Instructor, 3rd-5th Grade Science at Camp Galileo, San Carlos, CA. Presented inquiry-based innovation projects, scaffolded engineering concepts, mentored campers, participated in camp games and skits, provided oversight during recess.
2018 Student Teacher, High School Biology, ASPIRE College Preparatory Academy, Richmond, CA. Mentored and tutored students. Presented lessons on genetics.
2017 Student Teacher, Middle School Algebra & Geometry, Madison Park Business & Art Academy (6-12), Oakland, CA. Mentored and tutored students. Presented lessons on geometric transformations.
2017 Student Teacher, High School Biology; High School Ecology. ARISE High School, Oakland, CA. Mentored and tutored students. Presented a lesson on estimation in science.
2016 Student Teacher, K & 3rd Grade Data & Technology. Special Biology Lesson: “Plant Adaptations for their Ecosystem.” Bridges Academy at Melrose, Oakland, CA
ONLINE CONTENT & WEBSITES
2021-Present MCKGaston: An Educational TikTok Channel focusing on Learning and Growth https://www.tiktok.com/@mckgaston?lang=en
2020-Present PlantStuff: An Introduction to Plant Taxonomy, Landscape Use, and Horticulture- A botanical mini-course with text, graphics, and accompanying videos. https://www.tropplants.com/p/what-is-plant.html
2018-Present TropPlants: A Growing Collection of Landscaping, Botanical, and Horticultural Information on Tropical Plants. https://www.tropplants.com/
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2020 Department Coordinator, Tropical Plant and Soil Science, Coordinated between university facilities, college, contractors, and department during building renovations.
2019-2021 Chair, Tropical Plant and Soil Science Graduate Student Organization Plant Sales.
2018 Co-Founder, Fiat Lux Labs, A Berkeley-Based Bioengineering Start-Up Specializing in Revolutionary Sensor Technology. Company absorbed by Gingko Bioworks.
2017-2018 Campus Ambassador, Margaritaville University, Berkeley, CA.
2016-2018 Owner/Manager, Berkeley Restoration, Renovation, & Relocation (BRRR), Berkeley, CA.
2016-2017 Garden Intern, California Native Garden, San Francisco Botanical Garden, San Francisco, CA. Maintained the California Native Garden: pruning, weeding, infrastructure repairs and maintenance, plant propagation from seed and cutting, and greenhouse growing techniques.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
2018-Present Dissertation Research, University of Hawaii, Manoa, Tropical Landscape & Human Interaction Lab, Tropical Plant & Soil Sciences Department. Research Focus: Investigating the effects of weak oscillating magnetic fields on germination rates and antioxidant synthesis in microgreens.
2018-Present Graduate Researcher, University of Hawaii, Manoa, Tropical Landscape & Human Interaction Lab, Tropical Green Roof & Living Wall Research Center: built and stabilized infrastructure (free standing walls, Live Wall systems, irrigation, data lines), selected plants and media, and installed biosensors and data collecting equipment. Arboriculture research on technologies for mitigating root induced infrastructure damage in tropical urban street trees.
2018 Undergraduate Researcher, University of California, Berkeley; United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Albany, CA, Coleman-Derr Lab, Plant-Microbe Relations: Developed media, plated seeds, extracted and quantified DNA using sterile techniques.
Project title: “Investigating the relationship between bacterial communities of root rhizosphere and endosphere in Suberin knock out Arabidopsis.”
2017 Research Assistant, University of California, Berkeley; East Bay Regional Parks, Wood Lab. Collected data on symptomatic and asymptomatic trees, organized data, presented research at a poster session.
Project Title: “Investigating Sudden Oak Death Dynamics in East Bay Regional Parks.”
2016 Undergraduate Research Apprentice, University of California, Berkeley, Wilkie Lab, Flotation and Anthracology: extracted artifacts and ecofacts from sediment samples using flotation, sorted and dried artifacts and ecofacts, determined plant species from charcoal ecofacts using light microscopy with digital imaging.
PUBLICATIONS
2019 Kaufman, Andrew; Gaston, Matthew; Wong, Justin; Burr, Noah. (2019) “Tropical Urban Tree Below Ground Mitigation Techniques” Tropical Landscape and Human Interaction Lab. Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. August 2019.
PAPER PRESENTATIONS & CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS
2019 “Keeping It Green in Paradise: Green Roof & Living Wall Research”, Andy Kaufman, PhD., Matthew Gaston, Justin Wong, and Elizabeth Song Lockard, Ph.D. Sustainable Urban Environments: Research, Design and Planning for the Next 50 Years; EDRA50 Brooklyn, NY; May 22-26, 2019
PROFESSIONAL EVENTS
2021, July 22 Invited Speaker for the Houseplants Discord Server Pride & Plants Speaker Series. Presented an “Introduction to Plant Morphology: Shapes of Plants- Part 2!”
2021, June 10 Invited Speaker for the Houseplants Discord Server Pride & Plants Speaker Series. Presented an “Introduction to Plant Morphology: Shapes of Plants”
2021, Jan 6 Invited Speaker for University of Hawaii, Manoa Teaching Assistant Training. Q&A Panelist sharing my experiences with online teaching and in-person teaching while maintaining Covid safety guidelines.
2020, Feb 5 Exhibitor for the Tropical Landscape and Human Interactions Lab at Ag Day at the Hawai’i State Capital.
2020, Jan 31 Exhibitor for the Tropical Landscape and Human Interactions Lab at the 1st Annual CTAHR (College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources) Day at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa.
2019, Sept 4 Staffed the Tropical Plant & Soil Science Department table and the TPSS Graduate Student Organization Table at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Annual Fair.
2019, Aug 26 Participated in Welina Mānoa welcome event for undergraduate students. Greeted students at the Tropical Plant and Soil Science table and discussed the program.
2019, Aug 21 Presented a poster at the 2nd Tropical Landscape and Human Interactions Lab “Sneak Peak” Field Day for Tropical Urban Street Techniques for Mitigating Root Induced Infrastructure Damage. University of Hawaii Waimanalo Research Station.
2019, July 6 Hosted a Field Day and presented a poster at the Tropical Landscape and Human Interactions Lab “Sneak Peak” Field Day for Tropical Urban Street Techniques for Mitigating Root Induced Infrastructure Damage. University of Hawaii Waimanalo Research Station.
2017, Aug 10 Presented a poster at UC Berkeley BERET +C Poster Session. Poster Title: “Investigating Sudden Oak Death Dynamics in East Bay Regional Parks.”
2017, June 2 Attended “DuPont-Pioneer Plant Genome Engineering Symposium”, University of California Berkeley.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
2021-Present National Society of Leadership and Success
2021-Present Gamma Sigma Delta: The Honor Society of Agriculture
2019-Present American Society for Horticultural Science
2018-Present American Association for the Advancement of Science
VOLUNTEER ACTIVITES
2019 Campus Arboretum Volunteer, University of Hawaii, Manoa, Honolulu, HI
2016 Herbarium Volunteer, University/Jepson Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley, CA, Ferns and Fern Allies; Supervisor Dr. Alan Smith
2012 Garden Volunteer, San Antonio Botanical Garden, San Antonio, TX
