People

Principal investigator

Benjamin Blonder
Assistant professor
I am an ecologist focusing on plant response to climate change. I received my PhD at the University of Arizona and was a Natural Environment Research Council independent research fellow at the Environmental Change Institute at the University of Oxford (England). I am an assistant professor at the University of California at Berkeley in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management and previously was assistant professor at Arizona State University’s School of Life Sciences. I am also interested in improving science education through experiential approaches. I co-founded the University of Arizona Sky School, a program that provides inquiry-based outdoor science education to K-12 students throughout the southwest. Current curriculum vitae (CV)
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Current postdoctoral researchers

Roxanne Cruz de Hoyos
Postdoctoral researcher
I am a NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellow working with both Dr. Ben Blonder and Dr. Maggi Kelly and to study widespread tree mortality, specifically in quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), the most broadly distributed tree species in North America. I am a plant physiological ecologist, with a specialized background in plant-water relations, plant response to climate change-induced drought, cloud forest ecology, and stable isotope biogeochemistry. As a Postdoctoral Scholar, I am working to broaden my skill set and apply my ecophysiological background to genetics, remote sensing, and geospatial science to combat widespread tree die-off. I have a deep commitment to broadening the participation of underrepresented and historically marginalized groups in the sciences and providing opportunities for others to cross exclusionary boundaries the way that my journey has allowed me to do. Originally from East Los Angeles (Tovaangar, unceded Tongva lands) and now based in the East Bay (unceded Huichin Ohlone land), I completed my bachelor’s degree from Pitzer College, CA in Environmental Science and my Ph.D. from UC Berkeley in the Dept. of Integrative Biology with Dr. Todd Dawson. I love to climb trees, both for my research and for fun.
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Ilaíne Matos
Postdoctoral researcher
Why some plants persist while other perish in response to global changes? I am a botanist (JBRJ/Brazil) and plant ecologist (UERJ/Brazil) that is particularly interested in deciphering the mechanisms underlying the differential stability (resilience, recovery and resistance) of plant communities to climate change. During my PhD I used meta-analytical and functional approaches to investigate grasslands stability in response to droughts, focusing on the role of two main factors: functional diversity and species’ ability to use atmospheric sources of water. Now, I am excited to expand my research line through evaluating the linkages between leaf venation architecture and leaf venation functions. Specifically, I will focus upon resistance and resilience to damage, mechanical support and transport efficiency. By quantifying both ecophysiological traits and multi-scale vein network traits, on a phylogenetically diverse set of species, I aim to elucidate how venation traits can be used to predict species functioning and distribution. Besides research on plants, I also adore teaching on plant topics and even painting plants (botanical illustrations)!
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Bradley Posch
Postdoctoral researcher
I am a plant ecophysiologist who is interested in understanding the mechanisms that allow plants to tolerate environmental stress, particularly heat and drought. Under the guidance of PI’s Dr. Ben Blonder, Dr. Luiza Aparecido, and Dr. Kevin Hultine, I am leading an NSF-funded project to identify adaptive water use strategies to cope with extreme thermal stress across a wide range of plant functional types. During this project I will be working primarily at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, AZ. I previously completed my PhD at the Australian National University with Prof. Owen Atkin, where I studied the acclimation of photosynthesis and respiration to high temperature in wheat. I then worked as a postdoc in Dr. Nick Smith’s plant ecophysiology lab at Texas Tech University, where I continued my research on photosynthetic thermal acclimation. While most of my research has focused on leaf-level gas-exchange, I am also interested in identifying the biochemical processes that underpin physiological responses to warming. Outside of research I enjoy hiking, cooking, crosswords, and discovering new music.
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Current graduate students

Mickey Boakye
PhD student
I focus mostly on forests and their interaction with climate change. My key interest is in ecophysiology and functional ecology. To date, my research has been centered in the African tropics, where I have been studying carbon allocation and cycling of forests (Ghana and Gabon), as part of the Global Ecosystem Monitoring (GEM) Network. My current research looks at linking tree functional traits to drought resilience across wet-dry gradient in Ghana, typically investigating variations in leaf gas exchange and plant water stress. Looking to expand my research interests/boundaries, I seek to develop ideas to incorporate community ecology/macroecology and also overlap my research into other non-tropical ecosystems.
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Erin Carroll
PhD student
I am broadly interested in leveraging remote sensing and geospatial technologies to improve public land management. As a plant ecologist, I focus on studying how climate and land use drive variation in plant communities across landscapes and time. My research combines field and greenhouse experiments with landscape-level studies in order to untangle the mechanisms driving the observed relationships, including community interactions, plant-soil feedbacks, and ecophysiology. I am currently particularly interested in the potential to use remote sensing and machine learning to predict intraspecific variation at broad scales, and for results, when paired with understanding of the ecological implications of the observed variation, to improve land management practices. My previous research includes studying the impact of drought on plant-soil feedbacks in Missouri tallgrass prairies, and the impact of land use change on the distribution of native orchid diversity in northwestern Virginia.
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Courtenay Ray
PhD student
I am a plant community ecologist and study how species interactions, dispersal, and functional traits influence demography and community assembly. I work in alpine and tundra plant communities, as well as with quaking aspen. I completed a master’s with Ingrid Parker at UC Santa Cruz where I measured invasion impacts and compared management methods for the invasive grass, Ehrharta erecta.
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Current technical team

Aunnesha Bhowmick
Assistant plant technician
Hi! My name is Aunnesha (aw-nay-sha) and I use she/her pronouns. I am an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley studying Molecular Environmental Biology. In this lab, I am the assistant plant technician for the Quaking Aspen Forest Mortality project, and spend most of my time in the greenhouse! My research interests lie at the intersection of plant ecology, climate change science, and environmental justice. In my free time I enjoy farming and gardening, hiking, reading, and eating good food.
Sonoma Carlos
Research assistant
I am a first-year at UC Berkeley from Denver, intending to major in Molecular and Cell Biology and ecstatic to be a member of the Blonder Lab! I am intrigued and inspired by interdisciplinary research that tackles the complex relationships between ecology, society, and biology to find tangible solutions for pressing issues related to climate change and medicine. I also enjoy tree-climbing, playing cello, journaling, and making smoothies.
Kaitlyn Chen
Research assistant

I am Kaitlyn Chen (she/her), a second-year undergraduate student studying Environmental Science at UC Berkeley. Studying quaking aspen tree mortality is a project that I am excited to be engaging with to learn more about the complex, inner workings of plants. Additionally, the intersection between culture and the environment is one that I’m looking forward to investigating through connecting with my own identity and collaborating with others while tackling environmental issues. As a Chinese American woman from Oakland, California, I’ve grown up with interests in gardening, playing piano/violin, and all things food!

Ashley Chu
Research assistant
I am a third year Taiwanese American studying Genetics & Plant Biology. I am interested in learning about how we can modify plant genes to engineer a more sustainable, climate-resistant future. In my free time, I love hiking, listening to music, and learning new languages.
Andrea Echevarria
Research assistant
I am a third-year undergraduate student at UC Berkeley studying Molecular and Cell Biology with an emphasis in Neurobiology. I am hoping to attend medical school after graduating from Berkeley and my academic interests are primarily in neuroscience, disability studies, and social and environmental determinants of health. Outside of academics, I enjoy various sports including rock climbing, skiing, and weightlifting. I also have a large collection of house plants and enjoy hiking and exploring new places with my service dog, Charlie. I hope to build my lab and research skills while connecting with and learning from other members of the lab.
Adrian Fontao
Research assistant
I am an undergraduate student intending on majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology at UC Berkeley. Joining the Macrosystems Ecology Lab for me is an exciting and empowering opportunity to channel my energy during my undergraduate career to create positive change through research. I am interested in how the history, fossils, and evolutionary biology of plants can combine to contextualize the present and future, allowing us to better prepare for a changing climate. Outside of school, I am often found at the beach surfing, fishing, or enjoying the company of friends.
Leilani Hsiao
Research assistant

 I am an undergraduate at UC Berkeley majoring in Environmental Sciences and German. I'm originally from the Bay Area and have been passionate about the natural sciences for my entire life. Eventually I hope to pursue a graduate degree and study wildlife populations and their interactions with the physical environment. In my free time, I like to read, swim, and go on walks.

Joseph Mann
Research assistant
Hi! My name is Joey(he/him) and I am a senior undergraduate student. I transferred from UC San Diego to UC Berkeley, and am getting my degree in Genetics and Plant Biology, with a special interest in fungal biology and workers’ rights. I am very academically interested and personally fascinated by the amazing biochemistry and physiology of plants and fungi, and hope to one day cultivate, and teach people to cultivate, mushrooms and plants on a community-wide scale. I am also interested in pursuing science education in the future, specifically teaching middle and high school level biology and chemistry. UC Berkeley, this lab, and myself reside on the unceded Lisjan Ohlone land in the village of Huichin, and we continue to benefit from the legacy and structures of settler colonialism; please consider paying towards the Sogorea Te Land Trust and the Shuumi Land Tax to support indigenous communities and efforts to decolonize, liberate, and attain justice.
Izzi Niewiadomski
Staff research associate
I’m Izzi (they/them) and I function as the leading leaf histology technician at the MEL; I recently graduated from UC Berkeley (Fall 2020) where I studied molecular environmental biology with a concentration in entomology/arthropod science. Additionally, I got an individualized minor in conservation and resource studies, with an emphasis in environmental ethics of agroecology. I’m fascinated by plants, insects, fungi, and the coevolved interrelationships between these groups. In the future, I plan on pursuing my PhD, which will be focusing on these ecological connections and interactions. I’m also passionate about biodiversity and habitat conservation, accessible science education, environmental ethics/philosophy, agroecology, food sovereignty, and environmental justice. In my free time I enjoy gardening, creating various mediums of visual art, and have recently started playing the drums!
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James Rohde
Research assistant
I’m a first-generation, low-income 2nd year undergraduate at UC Berkeley studying Integrative Biology and with an external interest in Astrobiology! I have a background in microgravity research as I was the Co-PI in an ISS experiment along with experience in biotechnology competitions sponsored by NASA. I am very interested in the developmental morphology of organisms in a variety of environments along with the intersection between astrobiology and the medical field as I hope to delve into the mysteries that are waiting to be uncovered. Outside of my academic interests, I really enjoy hiking, camping, and spending time with friends no matter the activity! I also enjoy searching for new types of music to add to my playlists.
Nicole Yokota
Research assistant
I am in my fourth year at UC Berkeley completing simultaneous degrees in Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology with an emphasis in Toxicology as well as Molecular & Cell Biology with an emphasis in Neurobiology. My academic interests include furthering our understanding of neural pathways and neurodegenerative diseases, and I plan to pursue a career in the medical field, where I hope to expand on my academic interests while being able to interact closely with patients. As a peer counselor at UC Berkeley and a trained health coach, I am passionate about offering support and fostering relationships at the individual and community level. I also love music, dancing (badly), laughing, hiking, trying new things, and spending time with friends.

Current artists in residence

Juniper Harrower
Artist in residence
Specializing in species interactions under climate change, Dr. Juniper Harrower works at the intersection of ecology and art. She uses rigorous science methods and a multimedia art practice to investigate human influence on ecological systems while seeking solutions that protect at-risk species and promote environmental justice. A founding member of the international arts collective The Algae Society Bioart Design Lab, she also founded and directs the environmental arts production company SymbioArtlab which contracts with national parks, universities, and the private sector. Her work is exhibited nationally and abroad and her research and artistic products have received wide exposure in popular media such as National Geographic, the associated press, podcasts, music festivals and conferences. Harrower is the director of the art+science initiative at UC Santa Cruz where she also teaches art.
Marcus Norris
Artist in residence
Marcus Norris' first foray into making music came in the form of producing rap beats on pirated software, installed on a Windows 98 computer that he Macgyvered together from spare parts while laying on the floor of his childhood bedroom. Though he came to composing concert music later, he transferred that same imagination and ingenuity to writing music of all kinds. Marcus has been called a "New Musical Talent in our Midst" by Chicago’s N'digo Magazine, and has made a number of achievements, including being awarded the prestigious Cota-Robles fellowship for pursuing his PhD at UCLA, being chosen in 2020 for the LA Philharmonic's National Composers Intensive, and in 2017 winning 1st prize in the Southeastern Composers League Competition. His violin concerto "GLORY" opened to three sold-out performances when premiered by the Jackson Symphony Orchestra in 2019, and then was subsequently performed in Guangzhou, China later that year. His Dance Suite "I Tried So Hard for You" premiered in Havana in 2018, closely following the Russian String Orchestra premiere of "My Idols Are Dead" in Moscow. In 2020 he founded South Side Symphony – the only orchestra that would perform "Back That Thang Up" on the same concert as Beethoven.

Current K-12 teachers

Nguyên Huynh
Middle school teacher
My name is Nguyen Huynh (He/They). I am originally from Seattle, WA and moved down to the Bay Area in 2017 to start teaching as part of Teach for America. Now, I am a 4th Year Middle School Science Teacher. My teaching interests are: anti-racist teaching, social emotional learning (SEL), transformative justice (TJ), and culturally responsive teaching. Outside of work, I enjoy learning how to do drag makeup, learning Spanish, playing video games, watching horror movies.

Current undergraduate researchers

Monica Antonio
Undergraduate researcher
I am a sophomore student at UC Berkeley studying Genetics and Plant Biology. I am eager to become more involved in research and will possibly pursue the pre-medical track. My interests include learning as much as I can about plants, sustainability, and exploring possible career paths. My hope in joining the Macrosystems Ecology Laboratory is to develop my laboratory skills and learn more about how research is accomplished. In my free time, I like to learn new hobbies like crocheting and knitting.
Alysha Batada
Undergraduate researcher
Hello! I’m a second-year student at UC Berkeley studying Molecular Environmental Biology and Data Science, and I am very excited to be a part of the Blonder Lab! I’m interested in understanding how to apply data science techniques to study climate change’s effects on marine ecosystems and food systems. In my free time I love drawing, hiking, and making clay figurines.
Lexi Caruthers
Undergraduate researcher
I am a junior entering my final year at UC Berkeley, double majoring Sustainable Environmental Design and Conservation and Resource Studies and am beyond excited to join the Blonder lab! I spend most of my spare time in nature backpacking, climbing trees, hiking, and farming. I have a deep appreciation for the natural world and would love to develop a stronger understanding in order to preserve it. I am particularly fascinated by the effect of human presence on the natural environment and am hopeful that research like this will help us to form creative solutions for the future.
Jessica Chan
Undergraduate researcher

I am a third year studying Environmental Science with a minor in Environmental Economics and Policy at UC Berkeley. My interests include conservation ecology and research management. In my free time I enjoy traveling, swimming, listening to music, and thrifting. 

Daniel Chen
Undergraduate researcher
I am an undergrad at UC Berkeley studying statistics and computer science. I am interested in understanding the applications of statistical and computational methods in environmental research and conservation efforts. I enjoy running, skiing, and concerts.
Beatrice Cundiff
Undergraduate researcher
I’m a second year undergraduate student at UC Berkeley studying Environmental Science and Genetics & Plant Biology. I’m interested in the intersection between plants and climate change. In my free time I enjoy reading, hiking, and growing way too many houseplants.
Lisa Garcia
Undergraduate researcher
I am the summer REU student from the University of New Mexico (UNM). I am doing an independent project which will focus on the response of species with contrasting vein patterns to different herbivory simulations. It aims to show how embolisms spread throughout leaf veins when a hole is punched through the midrib and off the midrib. I am excited to learn new methods, how to develop/execute a project, and to work in the field. I am honored to work side by side and learn from a very intelligent team of people. Some background about me: I earned a bachelor’s in business administration from UNM and pursued a career in marketing. I returned to school to pursue a degree in biology because I’ve always been passionate about nature and am interested in the effects of climate change. I joined Dr. Felisa Smith’s paleoecology lab at UNM to understand how organisms reacted to past climate changes, to make better predictions of how organisms may respond to future climate changes. Outside of school and work I am a motorcycle enthusiast. I also love to run and hike.
Haley Grimmer
Undergraduate researcher
Carlos Jackson
Undergraduate researcher
My name is Carlos Jackson, I’m a rising junior from Houston, TX, and am an Environmental Science Major with a concentration in natural resources management. I attend at Tuskegee University. My love for plants and agriculture comes from my upbringing of working on my grandparent’s farm during the summer. Having said that, when I was informed about the experiment that Ben and Roxy were conducting with the Quaking Aspen Tree, I had no choice but to follow my passion. During my free time, I enjoy fishing and photography.
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Diana Kalantar
Undergraduate researcher
Hi! I am an undergraduate at UC Berkeley pursuing Molecular Environmental Biology. One of my strongest passions is organismal biology- whether it is observing plants at the botanical gardens, teaching wildlife biology classes to K-8 students, or educating guests about ocean life and conservation back home at the Aquarium of the Pacific. I'm also interested in how niche adaptations of plants and animals can contribute to the future of public health and medicine. In my free time, I love to paint, run through scenic trails, and play jazz on the alto saxophone. I'm excited to be working with Dr. Ilaine Matos, studying how leaf anatomy and hydraulic function change in response to climate change.
Seenu Madhavan
Undergraduate researcher
I am an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley studying Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. I am interested in computer vision, biomimicry, and the applications of biological mechanisms to engineering disciplines.
Samantha McDonough
Undergraduate researcher
I am recent undergraduate transfer student to UC Berkeley, studying microbial biology. I hope to gain the knowledge and experience to understand how microbial biology connects to environmental resilience. In my free time I play tennis, sew and rock out to country music.
Maria Regina De Los Angeles Ortiz
Undergraduate researcher
I am a third year undergraduate student at UC Berkeley studying Ecosystem Management and Forestry with a focus on soil and plant interactions. I am really interested in how plants in arid environments adapt to and work with the limited natural resources present with a particular focus on chaparral ecosystems. I am also interested in studying benthic marine invertebrates. Outside of the lab, I love to read, thrift, watch movies, listen to music, and go to concerts.
Roshni Sahu
Undergraduate researcher
Hi, I'm Roshni! I am an undergraduate at UC Berkeley, majoring in Environmental Science and intending to declare Molecular Environmental Biology with a concentration in Global Change Biology as well. I am also pursuing a minor in Geospatial Information Science and Technology since I believe that scientific visualization is one of the best ways to not only analyze data but also convey scientific ideas to the general public. In environmental science, one of the many topics I am currently interested in is climate science specifically how different climates and their changes interact with the numerous and diverse ecosystems around the world. I also am interested in looking at changes in the distributions of various species, leading me to conduct research on bird distributions in Berkeley and Orinda in fall of 2021 where I specifically looked to see if there was a difference in bird species distributions based on varying levels of urbanization. I am excited to learn more about research and science while being part of the Macrosystems Ecology Lab! Outside of academia, I like to travel, draw, play video games, and bike.
Jose Tomas Sales
Undergraduate researcher
Rish Sanghavi
Undergraduate researcher
I am an incoming senior at UC Berkeley majoring in Microbial Biology and am excited to be a part of the Blonder Lab! I love learning about the different pathogens present in the environment and how the ongoing evolutionary arms race shapes various ecosystems around the world. In my free time I like to practice for powerlifting competitions and play the piano.
Satvik Sharma
Undergraduate researcher
I am a sophomore from New Jersey majoring in Computer Science. I love playing basketball, traveling, and practicing Kung Fu. I am very interested in pursuing research in the future.
Meg S.
Undergraduate researcher
Hello everyone, my name is Meg, and I am thrilled to be a part of this lab. I am a current undergraduate student majoring in conservation resources studies with a concentration in wildlife biology and minoring in geographic information systems. I'm particularly interested in how deep learning and geographic information systems can aid in wildlife conservation and animal behavior research. Plant biology, horticulture, and sustainable gardening are also areas of interest for me. My goal is to one day have a garden where I can grow 70% of the food I eat. Making friends, going to live shows, camping, yoga, outdoor gardening, and reading a lot, are all things I enjoy doing in my spare time. Excited to work with you all. 🙂
Jason To
Undergraduate researcher
Bradley Vu
Undergraduate researcher
Joyce Wang
Undergraduate researcher

Hi! I'm a third-year undergraduate studying Molecular Environmental Biology and Data Science. My academic interests include restoration and aquatic ecology, evolutionary ecology, biogeography, marine biology, and learning more about data analysis in general. I am a strong proponent for environmental justice and am also interested in urban planning, relating to how urban agriculture and other urban ecological restoration methods can catalyze the revitalization of disused lands or redlined communities. I enjoy making jewelry, cooking new recipes, and roller skating in my free time.

Lan Wei
Undergraduate researcher
I’m an undergrad majoring in Genetics and Plant Biology, joining the Quaking Aspen Forest Mortality project in my 4th year at UC Berkeley. I’m primarily interested in the “macro” questions of plant evolution: how did developmental processes leading to diverse morphologies evolve, and what does evolutionary rate variation across plant lineages imply, as well as how the uses of phylogenetic methods can impact our understanding of these questions. I also enjoy drawing, gaming, taking photos of nature, and learning botanical stuff. Some of my favorite plants are Crassulaceae, ANA-grade, Himalayan Ericaceae, and anything that naturally grows above 4000m.
Britney Wu
Undergraduate researcher
I am a second-year student at UC Berkeley studying Environmental Sciences on a biological track. I’m very involved in the Cal environmental community, and my interests lay in research, climate change, sustainability, and environmental justice. In joining the Macrosystems Ecology Laboratory, I hope to learn more about the intricate world we live in. In my free time, you can probably find me browsing in one of Berkeley’s many bookstores.
Megan Wu
Undergraduate researcher

Hello! I'm a third-year international student from Taiwan studying Molecular Environmental Biology and Ecosystem Management and Forestry. I have a wide array of research interests from agroecology to wildlife behavioral ecology, forest ecology, and marine biology. While diverse, my passions are ultimately humancentric and I aspire to advance environmental justice and equity through my work. In my spare time, I enjoy bouldering, baking, watching anime, and swimming!


Alumni postdoctoral researchers

Luiza Aparecido
Postdoctoral researcher
I am a Brazilian tropical forest ecologist aiming to answer and unveil the functional biology traits that determines the survival of plants (mainly trees) in a changing climate and environment. As a forest engineer (UFPR-Brazil) with a MS in Tropical Forest Science (INPA-Brazil) and PhD in Ecosystem Science and Management (Texas A&M), I hope to apply my skills and knowledge of forest inventory, ecophysiology and plant hydraulics to my current and future research. I am also interested in expanding my tropical forest ecology experience to other ecosystems, such as savannas and temperate forests; and enhance my experience with outreach programs for children and adults outside the academic field.
Pierre Gaüzère
Postdoctoral researcher
I am an ecologist interested in macroecology, community ecology and biogeography. My general topics investigate whether and how the structure, composition and dynamics of natural communities are shaped by abiotic and biotic processes. I seek to integrate functional ecology, evolutionary ecology and biogeography to describe and explain how several facets of biodiversity are responding to global changes through space and time. I plead for integrative approaches and connections between theoretical and empirical ecology as well as conservation biology.
Lars Iversen
Postdoctoral researcher
I am an early career environmental scientist interested in landscape level responses to global change, studied through landform types as well as ecological communities. I am trained partly as a freshwater ecologist and partly as a landscape geographer at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, from which I received my Ph.D. degree in 2017. Currently, I am working on interactions between land use and climate on species community assembly processes as a Carlsberg foundation research fellow hosted by the Macrosystems Ecology lab at ASU in collaboration with the Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate at the Natural History Museum of Denmark.

Alumni graduate students

Jarome Ali
Masters student
Jarome is from Trinidad and was based at Imperial College London in England where he was co-supervised by Joseph Tobias. He is now a PhD student at Princeton University.
Andréa Davrinche
Masters student
Andréa is from Reunion Island and was based at the Université Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris, France. She was co-supervised by Yadvinder Malhi.
Carolyn Flower
Masters student
I am interested in large scale and local scale geographic distributions of plant species, and how past distributions of humans have potentially influenced these distributions. I am also interested in researching plant functional traits and phenotypic integration, the linkages between useful plant diversity and overall biodiversity, and the factors that can predispose a species to being useful (both for ethnobotanical use and for restoration purposes). I would potentially like to research how contemporary use diversity of plant species (such as Sonoran desert species) can be expanded.
Clarke Knight
Masters student
I work in California’s mixed​-​conifer forests where disturbance regimes, especially wildfire, drive community composition and ecosystem function. Currently, I am focused on leveraging reconstruction techniques from paleo-ecology to compare modern forests to those from the late-Holocene and early California settlement. My field sites are located in the Six Rivers National Forest, CA. I am also convinced that scientific research should not remain abstract and unsullied by real-world problems, which has led to my interest in the application of science to recalcitrant environmental challenges. I am currently part of a team of scientists working on California’s 4th Climate Assessment Report to be published in summer 2018. Before starting a PhD at UC Berkeley in 2016, I received two masters degrees — an MSc in Water Policy and an MSc in Biodiversity Conservation — from the University of Oxford where I studied as a Rhodes Scholar, and a BA in Chemistry from Smith College.
Jolanta Rieksta
Masters student
Jolanta is a Latvian student who finished her degree at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology where she was co-supervised by Bente Graae and Rick Strimbeck. She is now a PhD student at the University of Copenhagen.
Kevin Sartori
Masters student
Kevin is a student at the Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive in Montpellier, France. He is primarily supervised by Cyrille Violle and visits the lab regularly.

Alumni technical team

Rozália Kapás
Technician
Rozi is a Hungarian scientist based at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. She has an interest in alpine ecology and worked as a lab technician from 2015-2017. She is now a Ph.D. student at Stockholm University.

Alumni K-12 teachers

Caroline Pechuzal
Middle school teacher
I am a high school biology teacher in Tucson, Arizona. I have a BS in biology from the University of Arizona and an M.Ed in secondary education from Northern Arizona University. Before I was a classroom teacher, I worked in conservation and outdoor education. As a teacher, I implement project-based learning and try to get my students outdoors as much as possible, whether through planning and installing a rain garden with native vegetation on campus or heading up the mountain for 4 days of inquiry-based learning with the University of Arizona’s Sky School program. I hope to inspire students to pursue post secondary education STEM opportunities by actively involving them in data collection and analysis and connecting them to a diverse group of people working in the field of life sciences.

Alumni undergraduate researchers

Liam Atkins
High school volunteer
Erin Azuma
Undergraduate researcher
I am a sophomore honors student studying Biological Sciences with a focus in Conservation Biology and Ecology. I am interested in the relationships between people and the environment, and how we can improve this relationship to further sustain our planet.
Cecina Babich Morrow
Undergraduate researcher
Cecina recently graduated from Kenyon College and was supervised by Drew Kerkhoff.
Bella Banks
Undergraduate researcher
I will be working with Blonder lab this summer as an REU student at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory. This will be my first experience being a part of a research team and an exciting step forward in my scientific career. I am currently a farmer on a local, certified naturally grown vegetable farm in Florida, where I have grown to love the outdoors in a new way every day. I’m extremely interested in the interconnectedness of the world and learning more about the worlds of nature all around us. The dream is to someday be able to combine my love of agriculture and ecology to better serve my community. I look forward to meeting everyone this summer and forging new friendships, as well as deepening my own personal relationship with the forests I love. Outside of my academic focus, I also spend a lot of my time swimming and riding my bicycle as much as I can.
Gavin Belfry
Undergraduate researcher
As an Undergrad at the University of Tennessee, I am studying Ecology and Evolutionary Biology with a focus on plant/pathogen interactions. I am interested in how plants respond to extremes and how this knowledge can be applied to agriculture and ecology in a rapidly changing world. I worked with the Blonder lab during the summer of 2019 at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, conducting soil seedbank surveys and working as a lab assistant. In my free time, I enjoy rowing, backpacking, and gardening.
Giovanni Bermudez
Undergraduate researcher
I am Giovanni Bermudez, a senior majoring in Biomedical Sciences. I am currently conducting research with Mickey on physiological responses of plants to varying dehydration conditions. My interests include learning about plants’ effects on the body, specifically how they can heal. I aim to continue doing research after graduation, hopefully in the cancer field. I love listening to music, traveling, hiking to find places to hammock, camping, and training in Muay Thai boxing.
Ivanna Caspeta
Undergraduate researcher
I am a bilingual honors sophomore student studying Conservation Biology & Ecology with a minor in Spanish. My interests include desert plants (especially cacti and succulents) and ocean conservation. I enjoy music, food, and ninjitsu.
Marco Castaneda
Undergraduate researcher
Marco worked at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in 2017, 2018, and 2019, and is studying at University of Redlands after transferring from East Los Angeles College.
Michael Otis Clyne
Undergraduate researcher
Michael Otis Clyne is a senior in conservation biology and ecology whose current interests are plant physiology and migratory bird phenology. This past summer he was a biological field technician for NAU working with the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher and Yellow-billed Cuckoo, on the Gila River around Safford, Arizona. He also has a pending natural history paper on Black Bear diets and their consumption of cicadas along the Gila River. He is moving to Washington DC in January and is looking to land a position as a biological field technician in the spring. Otis is hoping to continue to explore the dynamics of plant-soil interactions and feedbacks and gain more experience working with plants and birds to develop questions for a return to academia in spring 2020.
Lake Crawford
Undergraduate researcher
Lake worked at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in 2015 and recently graduated from the University of Kansas.
Eliana Danowski-Underiner
Undergraduate researcher
I am an undergrad in Arts Education at ASU. I enjoy drawing, painting, sculpting, and printmaking. My goal is to learn as much as I can in other disciplines right now, so I can later apply that knowledge to my art teaching.
Miguel Duarte
Undergraduate researcher
I am a biological sciences undergraduate at ASU. I am currently working with Luiza Aparecido on one of here projects investigating “Desert Plant Leaf Venation Resilience Strategies Against Leaf Wounding.” I haven’t decided yet whether in the near future I’d like to attend dental school or continue research and begin a masters program. Aside from school I enjoy coffee, music, and have been playing mariachi music for the past 11 years.
Sabastian Escobar
Undergraduate researcher
Sabastian worked at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in 2016 and has recently transferred to Montana State University from San Bernardino Valley College after serving in the United States Army for several years.
Jacob Gerber
Undergraduate researcher
Jacob worked at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in 2018 and is studying at Furman University.
Michael Hensley
Undergraduate researcher
Brigitte Jaramillo
Undergraduate researcher
I am a junior majoring in Sustainable Environmental Design as well as minoring in City & Regional Planning and Forestry & Natural Resources. I am interested in gaining understanding through experience in fields such as conversation of wildlife, food systems, and relationships between humans and nature. My career goal is to be able to design spaces that provides human comfort without compromising the health of the natural environment.
Thomas Jenkins
Undergraduate researcher
Thomas is an undergraduate student at Pembroke College at the University of Oxford. He worked at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in summer 2019.
Deidra Johnson
Undergraduate researcher
Deidra Johnson is a junior majoring in Conservation Biology and Ecology. She is interested in environmental policy and wildlife management.
Madison Lusk
Undergraduate researcher
Madison Lusk is a sophomore studying Conservation Biology and Ecology with a minor in Spanish. She is interested in the relationship between humans and ecological communities, specifically in how different cultures can affect community dynamics.
Sydney Myers
Undergraduate researcher
I am a sophomore at Arizona State University. I am currently studying Biomedical Sciences on a pre-medical track. In my free time I enjoy playing intramural sports and traveling.
Hailey Jiyoon Park
Undergraduate researcher
I am a second-year at the University of California-Berkeley studying Data Science and Public Health. My current interests include computational epidemiology and global environmental health. I am fascinated by utilizing data modeling tools to understand the nature of infectious diseases and to evaluate the efficacy of public health interventions, especially as these network models become complicated by urbanization, climate change, poverty, etc. I am excited to be a part of the Blonder laboratory, where I will be working on a project that investigates the multiscale trade-offs between form, function and cost in leaf vein networks. Aside from my academic interests, I enjoy listening to music, crafting, and being in the outdoors!
Nathan Nguyen
Undergraduate researcher
I am currently studying Physics and Mathematics, but I don’t intend on making them a part of my long-term career. At first, my goal was to enroll in the Aerospace Engineering program aiming for the 4+1 route. That didn’t go as planned, as I changed my majors four times already. After I graduate, I will go on to serve in the United States Navy, but I haven’t decided what career in the Navy I want to pursue yet. It will probably either be in the Surface Warfare community or the Naval Intelligence community. In high school, I joined the Navy and was supposed to leave a couple of Septembers ago, but I decided to go to college first. I really regret that. After my time, I plan on attending law school with aspirations to do some work in Constitutional law, prosecution of federal and or state appointed and elected officials, or immigration law. This is where I believe I can contribute the most because protecting our rights, the opportunities of others, and making sure officials follow the law and Constitution are important to me. We’ll see what happens.
Abby Pezelj
Undergraduate researcher
I am a junior studying Chemical Engineering and am interested in finding a balance between technological innovation and truly sustainable design. I love traveling abroad, new experiences, and being surrounded by nature.
Orlando Rios Cortes
Undergraduate researcher
I am an undergraduate summer REU interested in aquatic ecosystems and hydrology. People find me to be an optimistic, self-motivated team member with an excellent attitude to learn new things. I am highly passionate about helping others and supporting my fellow scientists to archive their greatest potential. My goals are to contribute to making science more inclusive, including those who feel science is not a career option. I live in Puerto Rico, so I like to spend most of my free time around family and visiting the beach with the companionship of my dog.
Jasen Rodriguez
Undergraduate researcher
I am currently a fourth-year at UC Berkeley majoring in Forestry. My main area of interest is in studying the interactions between climate change and forest disturbances through using emerging remote sensing technologies such as low-elevation drones and terrestrial LiDAR. I am also interested in developing novel educational platforms for science communication in primary and secondary schools by using LEGO’s and other engaging mediums such as coloring books and short films to increase the eco-literacy of future generations.
Martha Ryan
Undergraduate researcher
I am a non-binary, latinx undergraduate student at ASU majoring in Microbiology and minoring in Math. I hope to tie my interests in microbiology and ecology in the future to create sustainable farming practices.
LeeDar Sneor
Undergraduate researcher
I am a student at UC-Berkeley majoring in Integrative Biology, continuing on to Veterinary School after I complete my undergraduate studies. I hope to one day engage in Conservation Biology all around the world, focussing specifically on large animals. Outside of school, my interests include soccer, music, and traveling.
Kristen Sobschak
Undergraduate researcher
I am a third year student at the University of California, Berkeley studying Nutritional Sciences- Physiology and Metabolism. My interests include pathophysiology, environmental and medical toxicology, and evolutionary biology. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, track and field, soccer, and trying new foods.
Jordan Stark
Undergraduate researcher
Jordan worked at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in 2015 (primarily supervised by Brian Enquist) and is now based at El Verde Field Station in Puerto Rico.
Crystal Suazo
Undergraduate researcher
I am a junior studying medical microbiology and am interested in how different forms of life affect one another. I like traveling, nature and video games. Curiosity and new experiences are what drive me.
Dillon Sapena
Undergraduate researcher
Dillon worked at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in 2017 and is studying at Montana State University.
Natalie Vuong
Undergraduate researcher
I am a senior at the University of Waterloo (in Ontario, Canada) studying Environmental Sciences with a specialization in Ecology. My main interests are functional ecology, evolutionary biology, and biostatistics. When I’m not pretending to know what I’m doing with R, you can find me climbing, attempting to identify wildlife, and thinking about chicken nuggets.
Noah Weakly
Undergraduate researcher
Noah Weakly is a senior studying Biological Sciences, emplasis in Conservation Biology and Ecology with a minor in Sustainability. He is interested in the interaction between humans and the environment, specifically how humans can affect evolutionary biology throughout different ecosystems.
Aidan Wells
High school volunteer
Sabrina Woo
Undergraduate researcher
I am an honors sophomore studying Conservation Biology and Ecology at Arizona State University. I am interested in wildlife conservation, desert plant ecology, music performance, and computer programming.