Meet the Team

Karina Sanchez (Lab PI)

Assistant Professor

I am a first-generation college student and a proud Latina. I joined the Biology Department faculty at CSUDH in Fall of 2024 after completing a Postdoc at the University of New Hampshire. My research interests include studying wildlife behavioral responses to urbanization and biological education research to create inclusive higher education ecosystems. I teach Intro to Ecology and Evolution, Ecology, and Undergraduate student seminar.

kasanchez@csudh.edu

Graduate Students

Brianna Baeza

she/her/ella

I am a first-generation Mexicana and I earned my Bachelor of Science in biology at the University of California, Riverside. I am now in my first year of my MS in the biology program at CSUDH. I am interested in understanding the complexity between urbanization and acclimatization in urban, suburban, and rural birds. My current research focuses on investigating the effects of light and noise pollution on antipredator responses in killdeer of Southern California. I am passionate about teaching and creating equitable access for future STEM Latine students pursuing higher education. In the future, I hope to use my positionality to increase equitable access to local conservation knowledge and efforts within marginalized communities.

Bio coming soon

Olivia Rodriguez

Bio coming soon

Abigail Simpson

Veronica Barrera

Bio coming soon

Undergraduate Students

I’m currently a senior undergraduate student at CSUDH, majoring in Cellular and Molecular Biology, while pursuing a minor in Women’s Studies. My research project investigates the prevalence of Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) amongst Los Angeles county’s community cats, and the ecological factors contributing to its spread. My interests consist of ecology, veterinary medicine, public health, ethology, and pathology; thus I’ve decided to pursue research that encompasses an aspect of each via an interdisciplinary approach. My overall goals are to obtain a PhD in Animal Behavior and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree; subsequently pursuing a career in academia or ethological research.

Project: Ecological factors in the prevalence of Feline Leukemia virus in Los Angeles city cats.

Nyla Henry

(she/her)

McNair Scholar and Undergraduate Researcher

I am a first generation Latina pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology with an emphasis in Ecology and the Environment and a minor in Women’s Studies. My college journey began at community college, where my Biology professor inspired me to pursue a career in education. My research interest is in biology education, with the goal of creating more inclusive spaces in higher education and increasing the representation of minority students in STEM. Outside of academics, I enjoy treating myself to an iced chai latte and browsing the fantasy and romance sections at Barnes & Noble. On weekends, I love attending bookish events and spending time with my boyfriend and our dogs. During longer school breaks, I enjoy traveling and exploring new places. I have visited more than 12 countries, with Greece, Japan, and Costa Rica among my favorite trips.

Angelica Chavez

she/her

U-RISE Scholar and Undergraduate Researcher

I am a current undergraduate research student at CSUDH pursuing a degree in ecology and environmental biology. My love for science stems from childhood trips to museums, zoos and botanical gardens. I would love to inspire others to be curious about the world around them and to ask questions. My main interest is in all things entomology! More specifically I am fascinated by ants and their complex social systems as well as their long standing survival over millions of years. I am currently studying the abiotic effects on the near infrared reflectivity of ant species at various elevations. My career goal is to manage, study and collect insect specimens and participate in public outreach and engagement in an informal educational setting.