ROADS Cohort
Welcome to UTEP ROADS Cohort 2024!
The NSF RaMP Program, UTEP ROADS, is pleased to announce that our 2024-2025 cohort has been selected! Congratulations to all the incoming ROADS post-baccalaureates.
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Priscilla Castañeda: I am a recent graduate from The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), with a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I had the opportunity to work alongside Dr. McLaren and Dr. Collins on an LTER research project in central New Mexico. Our project examines the future effects of precipitation patterns on biogeochemical processes dryland ecosystems. I am now thrilled to be part of the UTEP ROADS post-baccalaureate program. I have a strong interest in drylands and am excited to expand my skills and deepen my knowledge in Landscape Ecology and Remote Sensing. Beyond my academic pursuits, I enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, climbing, bird watching, and photography. I am passionate about my field of research and am eager to continue learning and advancing my work in this area. | |||
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Maxwell Grensted: I majored in Environmental Management and Protection at California Polytechnic State University. As a transfer student, I tried to make the best use of my limited time as an undergraduate. I got to travel to the Yukon Delta in Alaska last summer, studying the impacts of wildfire on a subsistence plant called the Cloudberry. I am currently working on publishing that work, and am looking forward to get started on another project in the north. I am very excited and grateful to be a part of the UTEP ROADS program! | |||
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Matthew Kalman: I recently graduated from The University of Texas at El Paso with a Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. I am excited to continue working with Dr. Michael G. Harvey on Phyllomyias, a genus of tyrant flycatchers. My research interests include phylogenetics, evolution, and speciation. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, wildlife photography, and cooking. | |||
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Kimberly Loya: I graduated from UTEP with a B.S in Biology and I am thrilled to be able to continue my education at UTEP with the ROADS program. I had the wonderful opportunity to work in the Han lab where we use Drosophila as a model organism to study brain and behavioral plasticity. I am very excited to make the transition from biomedical to conservation research, which I am especially passionate about! | |||
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Asher Marvy: I recently graduated from Reed College in May 2024 with a B.A. in Biology. During my undergraduate I was lucky enough to do phytoplankton research with the Gulf of Alaska LTER team and am excited to build on this experience working under Dr. Vanessa Lougheed at the Beaufort Lagoon LTER. In my free time I enjoy playing soccer, frisbee, reading, and all forms of outdoor recreation. | |||
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Michael Matthews: After receiving my B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Texas at El Paso, I aspire to have fruitful careers in field ecology and education. Promoting ecological awareness and helping to facilitate the overall success of students are two of my primary objectives. I am thrilled to have been chosen as a ROADS post-baccalaureate. I'm excited about getting the opportunity to deepen my knowledge and passion for invertebrate biology in Dr. Walsh's lab. In my free time, I thoroughly enjoy lifting weights, playing the guitar, and discovering new music. | |||
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Hashel Orquiz: I majored in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Texas at El Paso. Throughout my undergraduate career, I have worked on research projects involving phylogenetics of rare desert plants, hybridization in Arctic willows, newly discovered ghost shrimp populations, and Spanish moss abundance in barrier island habitats. My career path has helped me bridge my cultural values and academic interests to study how organisms adapt to their environment. | |||
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Daniel Wilson: I recently graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S. in Earth and Environmental Science and Asian Studies, with a Chinese concentration. I am very excited to join the UTEP ROADS team and meet everyone! My prior research was about Mercenaria clams from the Pleistocene Florida. Outside of research I enjoy reading, cooking, and playing video games. I also would like to get more into hiking. I hope to pursue a career in Earth research and potentially Environmental law. | |||
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Sadé Taylor: I recently graduated from Sam Houston State University with a B.S. in Environmental Science with a sustainability concentration! I am super excited to be a part of the UTEP ROADS program. My interests lie in mycology, plant and soil science, sustainable agriculture, and climate change solutions. Outside of academics, I enjoy spending time outdoors, exploring my creative side through dancing, anime, video games, and attending concerts. In the future, I hope to pursue a career in mycology or ecology, develop sustainable solutions for underrepresented communities, and potentially attend law school to focus on environmental law. | |||
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Braulio Sanchez: I majored in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology with a minor In Studio Drawing at the University of Texas at El Paso. My research as an undergraduate focused on finding what factors, such as life stage and light pollution, affected the predation rates on Hyles lineata. I have also been able to exhibit my wildlife and macro photography as well as my illustrations in local galleries in El Paso. I am excited to be part of the ROAD's program and continue on in academia. |
Funding Acknowledgment
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Number BIO DBI 2319855.
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
