Education

Master of Science, Biological Sciences

California State University, Chico

2023-present

Bachelor of Science, Biological Sciences

California State University, Chico

Dean’s Honor List

2022

Associate in Arts, Liberal Arts: Science

Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)

Honors

2020

Professional experience

  • MS Thesis Researcher

    June 2023-present

    Investigating the priority effects of foliar endophytic fungi in leaf litter decomposition by employing manipulative experiments, high-throughput sequencing, and R analysis.

    Chico State Today: National Honor Awarded to Chico State Program That Advances the Number of Latinx Students Earning Graduate Degrees

    California State University News: Setting an Excellent Example

  • Participant - California’s Emerging Scientist Workshop 2023

    July-Aug. 2023

    Workshop hosted by the Advanced Imaging Center at HHMI (Janelia Research), emphasis on fundamental microscopy techniques and analysis methods.

  • Adelante Summer Researcher

    Summer 2023 and Summer 2024

    Determined the optimal time and temperature to sterilize foliar endophytic fungi for my master’s thesis research. 

  • Gastrointestinal Technician - Endoscopy Center of Central Coast

    July 2022 - June 2023

    Worked collaboratively with the healthcare team to assist and prepare the endoscopy suite of the patient, physician, and procedure. Under direct supervision, provides functional guidance to assigned staff, and assists physicians in the operating room.

  • Clinical Trial Intern - FACTORFIVE Skincare

    January-May 2022

    Assisted in a double-blind clinical trial evaluating various hair treatments, specifically focused on discerning their impact on murine hair growth to address androgenic alopecia.

  • Research Assistant - SARS-CoV-2 Wastewater Surveillance Project

    August 2021 - April 2022

    Assisted and collected wastewater samples from an autosampler and performed RNA extractions and qPCR to detect levels of viral RNA, mitigating the effects of the pandemic on campus. 

    Action News Now: Students working to stop spread of COVID-19 with new project

    Chico State Today: Poop Sleuths: Student Researchers Track COVID-19 in Residence Halls

  • Undergraduate Researcher - CSU Chico

    November 2020 - May 2022

    Performed fungal culturing, DNA extractions, PCR, gel electrophoresis, and R data analysis to identify the patterns and processes that facilitate the assembly and function of microbial communities and fungal diversity to improve our understanding of how these microbes mediate ecological interactions in nature.

Community Engagement and Outreach

College of Natural Sciences, Student Academic Senator

S.Y. 2024-2025

Associated Students, Government Affairs

Student representative in Student Academic Senate, Student Learning Fee, and University Diversity committees.

Community Volunteer, SLO Noor Foundation.

Volunteered at the medical and eye clinic by assisting with computer data entry, office organization, occasional bulk mailings, patient paperwork preparation, and various other projects. 

Volunteer, American Cancer Society

Volunteered and advocated for ACS by implementing activities for Relay for Life events and sharing information about the American Cancer Society by spreading awareness about the organization.

STEM Peer Mentor, Chico State Enterprises

Fall 2023, Spring 2024

Weekly coaching by connecting with mentees by providing resources and support for student learning, character development, and academic success during the academic year.

Community Volunteer Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo

Packed and sorted food in the warehouse and assisted with distributing food to individuals at Neighborhood Food Distributions.

Biology Peer Mentor, CSU Chico

Spring 2023, Principles of Physiology and Development (BIOL 163)

Involved in laboratory instruction, including explaining procedures, providing demonstrations, answering questions, and student evaluation.

Food Server, Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County.

Volunteered at the Homeless Services Center as a breakfast server, preparing, serving, and replenishing meals while ensuring cleanliness and order.

Awards

Lieutenant Robert Merton Rawlins Merit Scholarship (2024-2025)

Chico State's largest and most prestigious honors, recognizing students for their scholarship, extracurricular activities, and exceptional academic and professional accomplishments.

Graduate Research Poster Award

CSU Chico - 28th Annual Biological Sciences Student Research Symposium

Project: Priority effects of foliar fungal endophytes in leaf litter decomposition

Charles Mims Travel Award

Mycological Society of America

Project: Priority effects of foliar fungal endophytes in leaf litter decomposition

ARI-HSI Fellowship

California State University, Agricultural Research Institute

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)

Award number: 2023-70440-40177

Graduate Equity Fellowship Program

CSU Chico - Office of Graduate Studies

Fall 2023-present

Wes Dempsey Field Research Award

CSU Chico - 27th Annual Biological Sciences Student Research Symposium

Jokerst Field Botany Award

CSU Chico - 27th Annual Biological Sciences Student Research Symposium

“People’s Choice Award” for undergraduate research

CSU Chico - 18th Annual College of Natural Sciences Poster Session

Project: Community overlap between foliar fungal endophytes and leaf decay fungi associated with Quercus chrysolepis leaves

Graduate-Faculty Research: 1st place

CSU Chico - 18th Annual College of Natural Sciences Poster Session

Project: Wastewater Surveillance of Trends in SARS-CoV-2 Prevalence on Campus 

Michael Abruzzo Outstanding Scientist Award

CSU Chico - 26th Annual Biological Sciences Student Research Symposium

Project: Wastewater Surveillance of Trends in SARS-CoV-2 Prevalence on Campus 

Scientific Presentations

  • 2024

    Expanding Network – Mycological Society of America Conference

    Markham, Ontario, CA

    CSU Chico - 28th Annual Biological Sciences Student Research Symposium

    • Priority effects of foliar fungal endophytes in leaf litter decomposition

    • From Cells to Ecosystems: The pervasive web of evolutionary change

    CSU Chico - 20th Annual College of Natural Sciences Poster Session

    CSU Chico - 26th Annual Biological Sciences Student Research Symposium

    CSU Chico - 38th Annual Student Research Competition

    Northern California Botanists, 12th Symposium

  • 2023

    CSU Chico - Fall 2023 Biology/Omicron Friday Seminar Series

    • Priority effects of foliar fungal endophytes in leaf litter decomposition

    Adelante Summer Research Program

    • Pilot study: Time and temperature to eliminate foliar fungal endophytes in Quercus lobata leaves

  • 2022

    CSU Chico - 18th Annual College of Natural Sciences Poster Session

    CSU Chico - 26th Annual Biological Sciences Student Research Symposium

    Projects:

    • Community overlap between foliar fungal endophytes and leaf decay fungi associated with Quercus chrysolepis leaves

    • Wastewater Surveillance of Trends in SARS-CoV-2 Prevalence on Campus

    • Stem cell conditioned media aids the successful treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA)

Publications

  • Pilot Study: Time and Temperature to Eliminate Foliar Fungal Endophytes

    Adelante: A Journal of Student Research and Creative Work, Vol. 3, Issue 1

    California State University, Chico.

    PDF

Affiliations

UAW 4123

Sept. 2023-present

Society for the Study of Evolution

Jan. 2024-present 

Mycological Society of America

Jan. 2024-present 

Ecological Society of America

Jan. 2024-present