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Diversity in scholarship and diversity in scholars
My parents, who only have an elementary school education, are the most well-educated people I know. Through school, I embodied their learning process–their curiosity, critical thinking, and tenacity. Eventually, I learned that the key to their knowledge was also their lived experiences. Now, as an educator and scientist, I believe that key to improving equity in the science is to advocate for diversity in scholarship and diversity in scholars.
To improve diversity in the sciences, as scientists we must advocate and work, with an intersectional lens, to diminish the barriers to entering. In particular, it is important to mentor, train, and support students, regardless of their academic background and experience, in field and lab research. Therefore, as a graduate student I have invested time and resources to recruit research assistants, both high school and undergraduate students, in field and lab settings. Specifically, since I work in agricultural systems, I bring students from the local, rural community into my research.
So it is my pleasure to highlight some of the amazing undergraduate and high school student research assistants I have worked with and continue work with in my research.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Martin Banuelos
2017 – 2018, 2020 – Present
Major: Conservation & Resource Studies, UC Berkeley '20
Career goals: Develop skills in GIS systems and data analysis software to communicate food system issues.
Gisel DeLaCerda
2018 – Present
Major: Environmental Science and minors in Forestry and Food Systems, UC Berkeley '21
Career goals: Attending graduate school to pursue research in agroecology.
Nada Lamie
2019 - Present
Major: Genetics and Plant Biology and Ancient Egyptian Archeology,
UC Berkeley '22
Career goals: Attend graduate school and participate in paleoethnobotanical research to learn about people's interactions with plants and their relationship to the land in the past.
Grace Pratt
2018 – 2020
Major: Conservation & Resource Studies and Spanish Language and Literature, UC Berkeley '20
Career goals: Use data science to address environmental problems.
Michelle Tampa Flores
2020 - Present
Major: Microbial Biology,
UC Berkeley '21
Career goals: Interested in working in the public health field with a focus on environmental health science.
Paula Yang
2018 – 2020
Major: Biology, CSU – Fresno '20
Career goals: Obtain an M.D. and become a physician who serves the Hmong community.
Marissa Chase
2017 – 2018
Major: Molecular Environmental Biology and minor in Forestry,
UC Berkeley '18
Career goals: Pursue research in pollination biology/ecology and climate change.
Currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign
Leke Hutchins
2017 – 2018
Major: Conservation & Resource Studies and minor in Food Systems, UC Berkeley '18
Career goals: Attend graduate school and engage in socio-ecological research.
Currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of California, Berkeley
Marisol Montes
2017 – 2019
Major: Conservation & Resource Studies and minor in Science and Math Education, UC Berkeley '19
Career goals: Continue conducting ecological research.
Conny Rios Escobar
2019-2020
Major: Molecular and Cell Biology and minors in Chicana/o Studies and Global Public Health, UC Berkeley '20
Career goals: Work towards food justice and equitable access to the outdoors.
Emily Wagner
2018 – 2019
Major: Conservation & Resource Studies, UC Berkeley '19
Career goals: Work at a environmental NGO or non-profit that also addresses poverty.
And many more, including Christina Fuentes, Aaron McDowell-Sanchez, Neena Mohan, Josh Karalis, Monica Lee Wilkinson...
High School Student Research Assistants
Jennifer Becerra
2017
Sunnyside High School '17
Fresno, CA
Major: (UCLA) pre-med, Chicanx Studies with a minor in public health
Career goals: Obtain my M.D. and become a physician in my community and pursue healthcare research
Paulina Hernandez
2016, 2017
Alisal High School '17
Salinas, CA
Major: (UC Davis) Environmental Science and Management and minor in Spanish
Career goals: Establish a career in the soil sciences in order to begin implementing sustainable soil practices in the Salinas Valley
Lilliana Sandoval
2018
Antioch High School '19
Antioch, CA
Intended major: Environmental Studies
Career goals: Become a wildlife conservation biologist
Adela Contreras
2016
Everett Alvarez High School '16
Salinas, CA
Major: (UC Davis)
Career goals:
Julian Samano
2018
Antioch High School '19
Antioch, CA
Intended major:
Career goals:
Play our field car's theme song!