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I am passionate about increasing, empowering, and retaining those of all backgrounds within marine science. I do this by grounding my work in inclusive research, impactful teaching, and meaningful service to my community. Creating complete, actionable steps in conservation requires diverse perspectives. I leverage both my personal and research backgrounds to advance initiatives that expand pathways into science.
Group selfie of the Bay, Brown, and Stachowicz labs after helping Katie Erickson start their first chapter's experiment
Increasing transparency within marine science
Increasing transparency within marine science
Throughout my years at Bodega Marine Lab, I connected with early career researchers who shared or complemented my identities (first-gen American, bilingual, economic, cultural). Together, we recognized that knowledge transfer across generations at BML was lacking. In collaboration with BML director and reserve directors, Drs. Kristin Aquilino, Suzanne Olyarnik, and Jacqueline Sones, I wrote “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to BML.” This document, updated yearly, centralizes resources, easing transition of new BML members into the lab.
Studying seagrass-microbiome interactions requires learning a suite of skills. For each chapter, I upload the protocols, digital lab notebooks, and code I write onto open-access Google Drives (UCD) and GitHub repositories (public after publishing). These platforms help researchers of varying experience levels gain familiarity with the tools I use to answer seagrass-microbiome questions.
Expanding pathways into science
Expanding pathways into science
In addition to organizing Davis Picnic Day and Bodega Farmer’s Market outreach booths, as a 2022-2023 Bilinski Fellow, I created tour itineraries for biology, AP environmental, and AP marine science classes to bring local high school students (50) out to the various biomes along our coast. Through my role as CMSI Lead Mentor, I held two workshops in collaboration with state and federal agencies for undergraduate and graduate students (75) that covered career roles, the application process, and upward mobility in government resource management (CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Dept. of Water Resources, Dept. of Fish and Wildlife). Finally, I was treasurer of Ecology & Evolution Grad Preview, a UCD program supporting traditionally underrepresented students in STEM and those without sufficient mentorship apply to graduate school from 2022-2025. I secured $6,000 in funding to compensate graduate student mentors and waive application fees for two program cycles. All the materials I created throughout my dissertation will be used for future iterations of events.
Donning our crab crowns with Dr. Ellie Fairbairn during the 2024 UC Davis Picnic Day
Sunny Ahuja teaching us about the pathways into the California Department of Fish and Wildlife during the "How to get state jobs in resource management" workshop
Tomales High School student discovering an abalone is more than just a shell
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