Education
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Master of Science, Biological Sciences
California State University, Chico 2023-present
GPA: 3.9
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Bachelor of Science, Biological Sciences
California State University, Chico 2020-2022
Cellular and Molecular Biology Option
Dean’s Honor List, GPA: 3.8
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Associate in Arts, Liberal Arts: Science
Cuesta College 2018-2020
Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum
Honors, GPA: 3.7
Professional experience
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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2025
Chico State Student Hall of Fame Recipient
Outstanding Graduate Student Service Award
People’s Choice Award for Graduate-Faculty Research 21st Annual College of Natural Sciences Poster Session
Graduate-Faculty Research: 2nd place 21st Annual College of Natural Sciences Poster Session
Graduate Research Poster Award 29th Annual Biological Sciences Student Research Symposium
3rd place: Student Poster Contest Northern California Botanists’ 13th Symposium
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2024
Lieutenant Robert Merton Rawlins Merit Scholarship
Graduate Research Poster Award 28th Annual Biological Sciences Student Research Symposium
Charles Mims Travel Award Mycological Society of America
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2023
ARI NextGen Fellowship The United States Department of Agriculture and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Graduate Equity Fellowship
Wes Dempsey Field Research Award
Jokerst Field Botany Award
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2022
Michael Abruzzo Outstanding Scientist Award
People’s Choice Award for undergraduate research
Graduate-Faculty Research: 1st place
Scientific Presentations
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2025
Northern California Botanists’ 13th Symposium – Collaboration, Diversity, and Partnerships in Northern California Botany
CSU Chico - 39th Annual Student Research Symposium
CSU Chico - 21st Annual College of Natural Sciences Poster Session
CSU Chico - 29th Annual Biological Sciences Student Research Symposium
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2024
Expanding Network – Mycological Society of America Conference
Adelante Summer Research Program
CSU Chico - 28th Annual Biological Sciences Student Research Symposium
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
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2023
CSU Chico - Fall 2023 Biology/Omicron Friday Seminar Series
Adelante Summer Research Program
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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
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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.
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