Katy E. Ayers
Personal Information
Born: 1992
Country of Birth: USA
Nationality: USA
Ethnicity: White
Education
Central Community College AS Biology/Mycology 2021; Washington State University Pullman BS Bioengineering & Biochemistry 2024
"“Mushrooms are here to help us — they’re a gift. There’s so much we can do with them beyond just food; it’s so limitless. They’re our biggest ally for helping the environment.”"
— Katy E. Ayers
Professional Life
Field of Study: Mycology
Institution/Corporation: Washington State University
Degrees & Memberships: Member: Tau Beta Pi; Trio SSS; MARC Scholar
Awards & Achievements
Awards: 2023 Udall Scholarship; 2023 SURCA Top Crimson Award
Achievements: advances the use of mushrooms to break down harmful pollutants & chemicals such as household insulation, furniture, packaging & replacing plastics; currently working on "bee hotels" (Bee MycHotel Project) because bees fed on mushrooms have lower incidents of viruses; Myconoe was grown to 7 feet6inches from fungus spawn, papier-mache molds, an inner wooden skeleton, & a hammock & took 14 days to grow, it floats & sprouts mushrooms when wet; she wants to produce writing journals & paper out of fungi; sees fungi as a way to cure the Earth's pollution problems
made a canoe (Myconoe) from mycelium;
currently working on "bee hotels" because bees fed on mushrooms have lower incidents of viruses
was a gas station attendant in 2013 & in 2023 was a Marshall Scholar finalist
her goal is a PhD in metabolic engineering focused on mycology & help develop myco-engineering as a subdiscipline of bioengineering
has 3 notebooks full of different ideas for mushroom builds
Myconoe was on display aat the Nebraska State Fair for 3 years & holds the Guiness World Record for worlds longest fungal boat
likes to crochet, hike, forage & read during her spare time
had a summer internship at Nebraska Mushroom LLC where she learned about creating spawn & harvesting, processing & packaging mushrooms; grew Myconoe there with the help of owner Ash Gordon