Meet Erika - UTEP Biodiversity Collections Current Work Study

Erika (with Opheodrys aestivus )

Hello! I am Erika and I am currently a Junior at The University of Texas at El Paso, working on completing my Bachelor of Science in Biology with a concentration in Biomedical Science and a minor in Biomedical Engineering. Soon, I plan to add a second concentration in Ecology/Evolution. My goal is to move on to graduate school and conduct research. In particular, I am interested in conducting wildlife conservation fieldwork . My work at the UTEP Biodiversity Collections as an assistant to Collections Manager Teresa Mayfield is presently focused on cataloging the teaching collections and ensuring specimen preservation. I am also working on biology education projects with Dr. Jeffrey Olimpo’s Biology Education Research Group. Immediately after I graduate, I plan to become a Peace Corps volunteer and apply the knowledge I gain from my work in both the UTEP Biodiversity Collections and Biology Education Research Group to assist with humanitarian education projects focused on the natural world.