Mao Kobayashi is a junior from Kawasaki, Japan majoring in Biology. Having grown up on a farm, she is passionate about advancing sustainable agriculture in the face of climate change. At Duke, she works in Plant Molecular Biology labs, studying molecular mechanisms of plant growth and immunity. In the future, she hopes to continue examining ways to make plants more resilient to environmental stress. Alongside research, she is also passionate about making scientific findings and technologies accessible through education and outreach. Mao currently serves as an Undergraduate Learning Assistant for a Biology course and a Cohort Executive Officer for the Penny Pilgram George Women’s Leadership Initiative. In her free time, she likes to play ping pong, read, and go hiking.