Experience

Under Dr. Kim Yi Dionne's mentorship, I have worked as a Research Assistant for the Dionne Publicly Engaged Research Laboratory (DPERL) since January 2022. During my time in the lab, I have assisted Dr. Dionne in conducting political science research in developing countries like Malawi and Ghana. My duties have included transcribing audio and video, conducting literature reviews, archiving newspaper articles, creating social media flyers, and developing data visualizations. I have collaborated with my lab partners collecting and managing data while enhancing my research skills. Our topics include addressing vaccine hesitancy, COVID-19 vaccine promotion, and disease exposure in Ghana.

In Fall 2022, I began an Independent Research Project with Dr. Dionne focused on the Imperial Valley and the Salton Sea, particularly in light of recent lithium discoveries and the "Lithium Valley" initiative aimed at economic development through resource extraction. As a resident of the Imperial Valley, I aim to raise awareness of the region's environmental issues and their impact on local health, economic outcomes, and political participation.

Thanks to UCR's R'Courses student-led learning program with the Office of Student Engagement, I taught this topic as a class, titled "Lithium Valley Politics", to approximately 20 undergraduate students at the University of California Riverside in the Spring 2023 quarter.