Who we are. |
Meet our 2022 Cohort
This year 14 Community college student research interns representing 8 different community colleges across the greater Los Angeles area joined us in collecting ecological data for the National Ecological Observation Network in the Sierra Nevada National Forest!
Bushra Hannan, Carolina Canez, Naydelin Chimil, Sarah Dolan, Sidney Esparza, Marlon Harrington, Brittnae Junior, Sophia Meza, Nabeeha Muhammad, Joseph Sanchez, Samantha Sirri, Angela Soe, Logan Truong, Edgar Zepeda
Our Team
Dr. Amanda N. Robin
Founder & Director
HI! I am a biology instructor at Los Angeles Trade Technical College and California State University Dominguez Hills. I just finished my PhD in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UCLA. I studied how wild squirrels decide which nuts to eat and which to save for for the future. My academic journey has been a curvy road that started with five years at Santa Monica Community College. It takes a team to make it through every level of academia and I would not have made it this far without the support system of mentors I found while in community college and the opportunity to participate in research. It is my goal to give back to those rising up through academia after me by helping facilitate research opportunities and meaningful relationships between mentors and mentees.
Eva Horna Lowell
Associate Director
Hello, my name is Eva! I am a graduate student who is really interested in how microbes and animals interact with each other. I want to learn more about the relationship between microbes and social organisms that live in collective societies. Hence, I use harvester ants as my study system! I never thought that I would end up in academia doing scientific research. Yet here I am, due to the support of some amazing mentors I had during my education. It is my goal to provide opportunities to all those who wish to explore and study the wonders science has to offer us. I want to help break down the vision that research and academia is a tall white ivory tower. Basically, I want to try and make the world of science a more inclusive and engaging space, that celebrates and encourages all forms of diversity!
Sean O'Fallon
President, CCBFA @ UCLA
Hello! My name is Sean, and I’m a graduate student in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology program at UCLA. My research focuses on nest architecture and collective behavior in social insects, so my fieldwork usually involves finding harvester ant colonies and following their workers around! Getting involved in lab-based and field research as an undergraduate opened my eyes to the possibilities of a career in research, so I’m passionate about facilitating hands-on research experiences for early-career scientists. I know from experience that a good mentor can help provide the confidence and encouragement needed to start a scientific career, and it’s my goal to demystify the research process to help inspire the next generation of scientists!
President, CCBFA @ UCLA
Hello! My name is Sean, and I’m a graduate student in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology program at UCLA. My research focuses on nest architecture and collective behavior in social insects, so my fieldwork usually involves finding harvester ant colonies and following their workers around! Getting involved in lab-based and field research as an undergraduate opened my eyes to the possibilities of a career in research, so I’m passionate about facilitating hands-on research experiences for early-career scientists. I know from experience that a good mentor can help provide the confidence and encouragement needed to start a scientific career, and it’s my goal to demystify the research process to help inspire the next generation of scientists!
Amanda Klingler
Education Director
Hi, I am the other Amanda! I am a PhD student in the Biology Department at the University of Denver. I started my PhD at DU after earning my MS from the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UCLA in 2022. I am interested in understanding how animal personality (individual variation in animal behavior) may allow new animal communication strategies to evolve and how animals with different behavioral strategies cope with human-caused environmental change. I am also incredibly interested in the intersection of science and society, how our identities shape the way we understand and engage with science, and strategies for improving science education and science literacy. I got my start in science working at Brookfield Zoo in a college readiness and science education volunteer program. As a first-generation disabled student who had no idea how to go to college or that careers in science were possible, I owe my entire career to this program and the mentorship and guidance it provided me. I later went back to work as an administrator for that program, and have dedicated my entire career since to mentoring other students like me. I owe my success and persistence in the sciences entirely to those who took the time to invest in and mentor me as a whole person, and I hope to be able to do the same for others.
Carissa DeRanek
Graduate Mentor & Organizing Committee Member
Hi! My name is Carissa, and I’m a PhD student in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department at UCLA. I study the impacts of fire and drought on California ecosystems over time. The opportunity to contribute to field work sparked my early interest in ecology. But, I wouldn’t have stayed in STEM if not for incredible mentors who helped me face challenges along the way and made me feel like I belonged in the scientific community. I hope to provide that same mentorship and support for students as a CCFBA mentor this year!
Frank Santana
Organizing Committee Member
Hi, my name is Frank and I joined the team because I am passionate about environmental education and outdoor student research. I grew up in Southern California where I was lucky to have an uncle who introduced me to camping, nature, and wildlife. These formative outdoor experiences led me to a Masters Degree in Ecology from SDSU where I studied amphibian conservation. During my college years I conducted field research for the first time and really enjoyed the experience of asking research questions and collecting data. During my career I also taught community college students and I enjoy working with diverse groups of students. I am looking forward to learning together with student leaders like yourself to improve our understanding of nature.
2022 Cohort: Julia Alcala, Melissa Bravo, Joy Cavazoas, Agnie Hernandez, Keven Huynh, Marisol Ibarra, Experanza Luna, Evelyn Medrano, Paul Vincent Pignotti, Guillermo Roque, Linette Tang, Violet Thompson, Cristopher Velazquez
2021 Cohort: Julia Alcala, Angie Hernandez, Brandan Herron, Esperanza Luna, Cindy Le, Cindy Lopez-Ordonez, Carol Moreno, Ahmad Rizwan, Martin Villa Ramos, Violet Thompson
2020 Cohort: Sahipa Akter, Katie Fein, Sean Granados, Manuel Hoguin, Alonso Lopez, Cynthia Sanchez, Sam Radcliffe, Linette Tank, Cristopher Velazquez, Sarah Williams
2019 Cohort: Dee Cappelli, Savannah Bertrand, Rikki Bertoldi, Ixchal Gonzalez, Marisol Ibarra, Matthew Serna