Portrait of Mac Cutler. Mac Cutler is a Management–Restoration Aquatic Ecosystems major with minors in Math and Marine Science. Her research examines how water level fluctuations in Utah Lake may affect shoreline plant communities over time. Even in these early stages, meaningful patterns are already emerging. The project also has implications for Great Salt Lake restoration efforts, helping officials better understand how environmental factors contribute to habitat degradation and how restoration processes can be improved. Cutler shared that participating in this research has allowed her to contribute directly to the Utah Lake restoration project and collaborate with professionals who are eager for the results but often lack the time or resources to conduct such work themselves. She has also enjoyed serving as a bridge between labs, recently collecting aquatic plant samples and working with a plant-focused lab to identify species, gaining insights that carry important ecological relevance. “Research has been so good for me to do in a STEM field because it helps me understand what it really means to be a scientist,” Cutler said. “There’s no downside: you might discover you love research or a specific subject or learn it’s not the right path and pivot. Either way, it’s a valuable way to build your career while developing skills you can use anywhere.”
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