As a member of the Robinson lab, my studies are centered around fungal decay and wood discoloration, processes which give rise to a phenomenon known as spalting. My thesis project is centered around fungal melanin, a biopolymer pigment with diverse uses and fascinating properties. I am culturing three different fungal species in various nutrient media mixtures in order to determine the optimal set of conditions for melanin production. Once the melanin is produced, I extract it from my fungal cultures and clean it up for use as the main pigment in the ink I am developing. There are many facets of this project which require a variety of laboratory skills, from sterile fungal culturing technique to melanin purification using chemistry equipment and techniques to color analysis of melanin-stained wood. The ink that is produced will ultimately be sold to woodworkers and artists who want to spalt wooden objects themselves rather than work with decayed wood. This project represents an exciting opportunity to delve into my many specialized areas of focus, including wood science and anatomy, polymer chemistry, fungal biodeterioration, pigment analysis, and more.