The recipient of a Fulbright Research Grant to South Africa, Tanisha Williams (Ph.D Candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology), focuses her research on the relationship between plant functional traits and their environments to assess how variation in phenotype will determine adaptability to changing climates in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR). In addition, Williams will volunteer with the non-profit organization SEED, which promotes outdoor biology learning for primary school children and involvement of the community through a food garden project within the Mitchell’s Plain area of the Cape Flats. Upon completion of her doctoral program, Williams aims to integrate research with science policymaking and to mentor underrepresented students in the STEM fields.