Board Members 2023-24
KARINA MORALES | PRESIDENT '23-'24
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Hello! I'm Karina, a second-year Chemistry major, and my interest range from environmental restoration, botany, plant ecology, analytical chemistry, and more! SEED's has been such a useful source in providing experience for research and networking in the field of science. I am beyond excited to be involved with SEED's because of the inclusive, fun, like-minded individuals that make this club such a great time! I am grateful to be a part of a group that makes me feel sane while nerding out over a leaf.
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JOANNA FUERTE | RESEARCH COORDINATOR/VICE PRESIDENT '23-'24
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Hi! My name is Joanna and I’m a 2nd year Earth Science major. I’m also an undergraduate researcher in the Ostevik Lab. I love watching the worst rated horror movies, building puzzles and legos, and journaling. I’ve had the opportunity to grow my knowledge of ecology through research projects and field trips thanks to SEEDS. Whether you’re already interested in ecology/nature or just want to learn more, I encourage students of any major/year to join SEEDS. See y’all!
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GABY SHEN | SECRETARY/TREASURER '23-'24
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Hi everyone! My name is Gaby and I am currently a second-year Environmental Science major. In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis, reading, exploring nature, and watching TV. I also like learning about climate and ecology (especially how different things interact with/affect one another)! Taking part in SEEDS has allowed me to expand my knowledge and explore many options in different ecology-related fields. That being said, if anything we do sounds exciting or interesting, don't be afraid to reach out and join! We look forward to meeting you all :D
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LUIS ROUZAUD | OUTREACH COORDINATOR '23-'24
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Hi all! I'm Luis, and I'm a third-year Biology major, and I'll be the SEEDS Outreach Coordinator for 2023-24. I'm currently working in Dr. Nicole Rafferty's plant pollinator ecology lab. We study bee and flowering plant interactions and how they might be impacted by climate change. My research interests are mostly in wildlife ecology and conservation, so reach out if you want to talk about any of that :). In my spare time I enjoy drawing, watching movies, and trying out new foods. I'm looking forward to an awesome year with you all!
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PAOLA PALOMINO | EVENTS COORDINATOR '23-'24
Hello everyone! My name is Paola and I am a fourth-year biology major! I am an undergraduate researcher in the Rafferty lab where we focus on the ecology of plants and pollinators and how they are impacted by climate change. In my free time I enjoy drawing, playing video games, and watching anime!
Being a part of SEEDS has not only expanded my understanding in the scientific realm of ecology but has also deepened my passion and love for the subject. With that, I am thankful for being a part of this friendly and welcoming community of students and I look forward to meeting you all and future seedlings! Let's have a great year together! (*´꒳`*)
Being a part of SEEDS has not only expanded my understanding in the scientific realm of ecology but has also deepened my passion and love for the subject. With that, I am thankful for being a part of this friendly and welcoming community of students and I look forward to meeting you all and future seedlings! Let's have a great year together! (*´꒳`*)
Faculty Advisers
Dr. KURT ANDERSON | FACULTY ADVISOR
Dr. DARREL JENERETTE | FACULTY ADVISOR
General Members
ADAM HUYNH | MEMBER '22-'23
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Hey! My name is Adam Huynh, and I’m a first-year Environmental Science major who's interested in conservation and outside of academics I enjoy tricking (doing flips) and martial arts. SEEDS has allowed me to further explore my passions and connect with people whose interests mirror my own. More importantly, SEEDS has introduced me to topics and ideas that I would have never considered else wise, widening my horizon of the scientific world. Jumping into this welcoming and exciting community was undoubtedly the best decision I’ve made here in UC Riverside and I encourage anyone remotely interested to do the same!
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Alumni
CARYN IWANAGA | PRESIDENT '22-'23
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Hey everyone! I'm Caryn! I am a 4th year Biology major (and CS minor). I am currently in the Rafferty Lab studying moth pollinators as they interact with the Boyd Deep Canyon elevational gradient. Along with my obsession with moths, I love to spend my free time doing art and going on adventures with my dog, Lisa. SEEDS has connected me with my lab, research opportunities, fieldwork, and great friends with similar interests! If you are also passionate about nature and conservation, we'd love to meet you and we can nerd out together!
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AMY DO | SECRETARY '22-'23
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Hey! I’m Amy and I’m a 4th-year bioengineering major. I enjoy gymming, watching anime, and playing games. I spend much of my time in the Genomics building as an administrative office assistant and as an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Stajich’s lab. I also served as a BCOE Senator in ASUCR last year. I love learning about fungi, lichens, and am a hobby mushroom grower! SEEDS has given me the opportunity to gain field experience and learn about ecology/plant biology, helping me become a well-rounded scientist. California has beautiful and diverse ecosystems, and SEEDS is a great way to learn about them. I encourage all majors and backgrounds to check out our club!
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ADVYTH RAMACHANDRAN | RESEARCH COORDINATOR '22-'23
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Hi all! I'm Advyth and I am a fourth-year Biology major. I'm an undergraduate assistant in the Spasojevic Ecology Lab here at UCR. I'm interested in plant ecology, herpetology, climate science, and fire ecology. I'm also a vivarium hobbyist, herper, and an avid gardener in my free time, and I enjoy nature photography as well. I'm very excited to make SEEDS a vibrant and welcoming place for students with shared interests to grow professionally. I'm also excited about our restoration research project, CHRRP, and I hope that our work will inform biodiversity conservation in our amazing Riverside area. Follow me on iNaturalist!
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CAMERON DALEY | OUTREACH COORDINATOR '22-'23
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Hey y'all! My name is Cameron Daley, I'm your new Outreach Coordinator for SEEDS 2022-2023. Currently, I'm pursuing a degree in Environmental Sciences with an emphasis on soil remediation and restoration. Hope to see you all for this year of SEEDS!
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GABRIEL CHAVEZ | MEMBER '21-'23
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Hi I am Gabriel Chavez, a fourth-year Biology major at UC Riverside. In my free time, I enjoy taking care of my numerous houseplants and my horsfieldii tortoise Vladamir along with finding new tasty places to eat in Riverside County. I am currently in the Bailey-Serres Group studying Sugar Transporter Proteins in rice plants and investigating their response to environmental stressors like drought and submergence. I am also interested in using molecular techniques to monitor population dynamics and aid conservation efforts for plants and animals. Growing up in Riverside County I have always been curious of the local coastal sage scrub and desert ecosystems and being a member of SEEDS has exposed me to various ecological research methods to study these habitats. Overall, SEEDS has expanded my overall knowledge and love of the natural world.
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RHEA AMATYA | PRESIDENT '21-'22
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My name is Rhea and I am a fourth year student at UCR majoring in Biology and minoring in Applied Statistics. Some fun facts about me are that I have a dog named Tootsie and 4 parakeets all named after various food such as Tofu and Blue Cheese. I have a whole stack of unfinished books, tv shows, and paintings that I have slowly been completing. During my free time, I tend to paint or draw while listening to music or watching streamers. I am also interested in trying to use plant-pollinator and plant-herbivore networks to push for more conservation efforts. I am currently working remotely on a project to understand how plant-pollinator and plant-herbivore networks are connected under the Rafferty Lab.
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TEJAS NAIR | SECRETARY '21-'22
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My name is Tejas and I am a fourth-year student pursuing a degree in Biology here at UCR. Some fun facts about me are that I have 2 dogs, 6 aquariums, and hold a strong passion for aquafarming corals. Growing up around aquariums, I have always had a passion for marine ecology and have made it my goal to be closely involved with coral reef conservation efforts. I am currently in the Reznick Lab studying placental evolution within the genus Poecilia, investigating certain mating and developmental behaviors within lab specimens, and raising successful livestock for further analysis in the wet lab. As the '21-'22 Secretary of SEEDS, I enjoyed assisting in club planning, sending out club emails, documenting our newest members, and partaking in the various research projects that we organized during the school year. Joining SEEDS has provided me with an amazing opportunity to find a group of like-minded students and a platform to discuss ecology with people who are passionate about understanding the world around us.
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JERRY CHEUNG | OUTREACH COORDINATOR '21-'22
Hello! My name is Jerry Cheung and I'm a 3rd year majoring in Plant Biology. I'm also an undergraduate researcher for the Julia-Bailey Serres lab. In my free time, I love dancing, swimming, or really anything that involves being active. In addition, I love learning French and watching short films. Something I'm really excited about, is that I'm going to spend Fall 2022 researching in France! I was initially a mechanical engineering major and joining SEEDS gave me a network where I could participate in ecological conservation research.
