Hi! My name is Tawny, and I’m a first-generation immigrant. I was born and raised in Dagupan City, Philippines, and later moved to Atascadero, CA. I earned my associate degree in Liberal Arts: Sciences from Cuesta College and continued my studies at Chico State, where I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, concentrating in cellular and molecular biology.

Through multiple research projects and upper-division science courses, I explored various fields of biology, including genetics, ecology, microbiology, and more. This exploration bolstered my interest in biological research and academia. Currently, I am a graduate student conducting research in fungal ecology within the Cobián Lab at CSU Chico.