2024-25 CEB Interns

Amani Aberra — 4th year UCI student, Major: Earth System Science

I’ve always loved the ocean, my dream as a child was to be a waterbender and studying oceanography is as close as I could get! I started out at UCI studying chemistry. I enjoyed working in a chemistry laboratory, but the subject overall wasn’t applied enough, and I wanted to learn more about my environment. I happened to hear about ESS in one of my GE classes and I knew that was the major I wanted to study. I loved the courses, I mean learning about dirt, wind, and ocean currents, nothing could be more interesting! I realized I didn’t have much experience working out in the field, so I decided to join CEB. Getting field work experience has been extremely rewarding. I get to apply what I’ve learned in my classes in nature and learn about our own local habitat, the coastal sage scrub. It’s amazing to work with intelligent motivated individuals, supporting each other and sharing our knowledge. Now I am beginning to understand the hardships and fulfillment of working out in the field.

 

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Ashlyn Villarreal — 3rd year UC Irvine Student, Major: Environmental Science & Policy; Minor: Global Sustainability 

Throughout my life, nature has always been at the heart of my experiences, whether it was witnessing my childhood park being demolished or seeing the rapid urbanization happening outside my home. These moments shaped my perspective from childhood to adolescence, and now as an adult, I hope to help reverse the impact of human development on natural spaces. As an undergraduate student in Environmental Sciences and Policy, I am deeply fascinated by the innovative and interdisciplinary nature of the field. Its influence extends across policy, science, and research, making it a powerful tool for change. While I gained the necessary knowledge throughout my courses, it was through CEB where I truly got to immerse myself in ecology, gain hands-on fieldwork experience, and educational outreach. One of the most rewarding aspects of my experience has been witnessing the growth and success of our conservation efforts firsthand. Project Grow, in particular, pushed me to spend more time outdoors, engage in physical conservation work, and develop plant identification skills. Meanwhile, Project Crystal solidified my passion for education and outreach by allowing me to teach elementary students about the importance of environmental conservation and the effects of urban development. These experiences have only solidified my desire to protect our natural world for future generations which I plan to continue pursuing.

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Brandon Ng – 3rd year UC Irvine Student, Major: Earth System Science; Minor: Urban Studies

I had a fascination for nature ever since I watched the original Planet Earth documentary as a little kid. As I got older, my passion and desire to pursue a career in the Environmental Sciences grew, particularly as I learned more about climate change and conservation. Coming into UCI, I knew I was interested in fieldwork but I wasn’t sure what opportunities were out there. Fortunately, I learned about the CEB internship from friends who had participated in the program, and it seemed like a perfect fit for my interest I applied in the spring of my sophomore year. So far, I’ve had a wonderful CEB experience. I’ve been able to get my hands dirty in collecting data on oak monitoring trips and pulling invasive plants with Project Grow. Additionally, I’ve also furthered my interest in science education as I’ve realized how impactful educating and involving the public in research or conservation efforts can be. Working with students from the Delhi Center or volunteers with the Crystal Cove Conservancy has opened my eyes to how helpful engaging the public in science can be. Furthermore, I’ve also been able to meet so many wonderful people through this program, whether it’s the teaching team, my fellow interns, MCRS students, or program partners. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting to know everyone and I’ve had a great time learning and taking care of our environment with so many like-minded people. Overall, I am grateful for the experience CEB has provided. To conclude, I hope to use the experiences and skills I’ve gained to pursue a career where I can conduct fieldwork but also engage with the public!

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Chris Guo – 4th year UC Irvine Student, Major: Environmental Science & Policy 

I have always wandered, taking the road less traveled by. I studied animation design and geology at Pasadena City College before transferring to UCI for Environmental Science. In some ways this has given me more perspective outside of my major, and in some ways I have regrets about the opportunities I lost out on by not committing to a single major early on. The internship at CEB has allowed me to bridge the gap of knowledge and experience, providing ample opportunities to apply what we learn in the classroom to real work in the field. As someone who does not have aspirations of graduate school and academic research, I thought my career choices would be limited to office jobs in policy. However, the CEB internship has taught me much about career prospects in restoration and conservation. I have learned that I love the hands-on work of habitat restoration and learning to identify species by name using all five senses. One thing that has surprised me is that my affinity for science education and communication has grown. Moving forward, I know that informal science education will be a big part of my future, as spreading awareness of the natural world around us is key to promoting better sustainable practices! 

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Jade Dunaway– 4th year UC Irvine Student, Major: Earth System Science; Environmental Science and Policy

The great outdoors has always been my sanctuary. Whether camping under the stars, hiking through scenic trails, or swimming in the ocean, nature has inspired me in countless ways. My journey in science, driven by a deep passion for biogeochemistry and the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems, has fueled my fascination with the ocean’s mysteries. However, seeing how human activities continue to disrupt its delicate balance is disheartening. I envision a world where ecosystems thrive, and I am committed to advocating for sustainable practices and fostering a solutions-oriented mindset within my community. Becoming a CEB intern has been an incredible opportunity to engage in hands-on environmental research and outreach. Through this experience, I have gained extensive fieldwork expertise and have been deeply rewarded by witnessing the meaningful impact of our hard work. Moreover, connecting with my peers has been impactful; collaborating with like-minded individuals has strengthened my passion for conservation and natural resource management. I am eager to continue learning, educating others, and making a lasting impact in environmental advocacy.

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Jake Buffenbarger – 3rd year UC Irvine Student, Major: 

Bio coming soon.

 

 

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Jazmín “Jaz” Romero — 4th year UC Irvine Student, Major: Environmental Science & Policy Minors: Urban Studies and Global Sustainability 

As an Environmental Science & Policy major at UCI, I have always anticipated gaining hands-on field and lab experience, expecting my studies to take me beyond the classroom. From a young age, I’ve been deeply drawn to the natural world and have always envisioned a career that allows me to work closely with Earth’s ecosystems, climate change, and environmental science. My passion for plant ecology and science communication has only grown stronger throughout my academic journey. During my time at UCI, I’ve developed a keen interest in decarbonization and climate action planning, particularly how these efforts intersect with the diverse subfields I am exploring through my CEB internship experience. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity, as it has allowed me to collaborate with my amazing cohort, network with peers and professionals, and learn from my field supervisors about potential career paths. This experience has also enabled me to apply the skills I’ve acquired in the classroom to real-world experiments, further strengthening my research, field, and laboratory skills. I’m excited to continue developing these competencies while contributing to sustainable solutions for our planet’s future.

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Jessica Verduzco – 5th Year UC Irvine Student, Major: Psychological Science; Minor: Global Sustainability

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I found a strong source of inspiration in Jane Goodall. Her ability to connect human behavior to broader environmental challenges opened my eyes to the urgent need for sustainability. This sparked a deep curiosity that grew even further when I took a writing class on Animal Ethics in my third year at UCI. That class became a turning point, showing me that a more compassionate way of living wasn’t just possible, but necessary. From that moment on, I committed to aligning my life and studies with these values.

Initially, my undergraduate studies focused on Psychology, but over time, I recognized that my true passion was in wildlife conservation. This realization led me to immerse myself in conservation and restoration biology, seeking out classes and hands-on experiences that strengthened my connection to the field. Working with CEB has provided valuable field experience and allowed me to develop essential data collection strategies. Working alongside experts in plant ecology and wildlife research has been the highlight of my undergraduate career—and along the way, I even discovered a love for birding. 

Helping animals and promoting environments where all living beings can thrive is a core principle of mine. This internship has been the perfect conclusion to my undergraduate journey, preparing me for a career as a wildlife conservationist and ethologist. I am excited to continue exploring, learning, and advocating for the natural world.

 

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Michelle Tran – 3rd Year UC Irvine Student, Major: Environmental Engineering

I love being in nature and learning about how all of Earth’s systems are intertwined. That is what led me to my major in environmental engineering. I enjoy my degree’s curriculum but found it is mostly focused on water resources. As someone who plans to attend graduate school, I wanted to diversify my exposure to environmental topics and try field research to see what I want to research in the future. CEB has been great in providing me with these experiences through a broad range of fieldwork and data analysis. I have especially enjoyed doing oak tree monitoring at Whiting Ranch, learning different data analysis methods, and getting project design experience. Exploring the various CEB sites has also educated me about local native species and been a great break from being on campus. Moreover, the CEB coordinators and affiliates are also so kind and open to interns’ questions and learning. Working with them and my fellow interns and seeing their commitment to the environment has further inspired my love for nature.

 

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Quincy Loyola – 3rd Year UC Irvine Student, Major: Earth System Science

I was initially undeclared in the school of physical science, and a series of factors encouraged me to study environmental science: it is interdisciplinary, so it would allow me to branch out into specific areas as I developed as a scientist, I thought the field had a lot of room to grow and was promising, and I was enthusiastic about the environment. I have bounced between an ambient air analysis lab, a hydrology job, and various on-campus programs trying to find a specific area to focus on, and the CEB internship helped me narrow it down to focusing on research. I applied to this program after I became tired of working on a machine and being limited to indoor projects, and CEB has delivered. I have enjoyed immersing myself in local research and becoming more familiar with the California landscape. I especially enjoyed the off-campus projects that allowed me to work with the community and get out in the field, like Project Grow and working at the San Joaquin marsh. The main benefit to CEB for me was the opportunity to meet experienced people in ecological conservation and restoration, and the CEB staff have been very accommodating, allowing me to schedule appropriately and prioritize the projects that I enjoy. CEB helped me determine my pathway and highlighted the necessary skills for success in my career.

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Rizelle Mae Mazon – 4th Year UC Irvine Student, Major: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

While I love all the work I do in the wide field of biology, it wasn’t where I envisioned myself growing up. For a long time, I just considered biology my favorite subject for documentaries. In fact, I spent a good portion of my life thinking I would end up in engineering. Upon entering college, that all changed. After one year of engineering, I switched majors into biology and never looked back. I’ve since been enjoying my time in aquatic research labs across campus, and the research I do now nurtures my recently discovered interest in fish, all while gaining valuable insights on climate change. My work in research labs has taught me a lot about ecology and the research side of science. Now as a CEB intern, I’m getting to do more fieldwork outdoors, push myself physically, and learn about conservation biology outside of my comfort zone. It’s been very fulfilling to meet and work alongside the people doing all the groundwork required to make the change our ecosystems need. I’m really enjoying all of the connections I’m making with everyone, both with my peers and with people in industry, and it’s really been helping me consider where I want to be beyond university.

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Samantha Mendonca – 4th Year UC Irvine Student, Major: Earth System Science

I’ve loved being outside as long as I can remember. I grew up chasing birds and ladybugs, collecting rocks, and visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I joined the Center for Environmental Biology internship program in the fall of 2024, and I’ve had so many amazing experiences and opportunities. Whether it’s removing invasive plants with Project Grow, analyzing trail camera photos, or chaperoning field trips at Crystal Cove, there’s never a dull moment! One of the best parts of working with the CEB is being able to see and feel the difference you’re making. I’m currently working on a research thesis regarding observational analysis on White-Tailed Kite hunting habits in managed versus unmanaged scrubland using data gathered by Reserves Manager Julie Coffey and her team. After graduation, I plan to pursue a career in research, conservation, and environmental outreach.