10:00 AM Student Experience Panel: Student Bios

Yaeko Long - Genetics and Plant Biology

Hi everyone! My name is Yaeko Long and I use they/them pronouns. I'm a sophomore in RCNR and I'm majoring in Genetics and Plant Biology, although when I entered UC Berkeley I was declared in Microbial Biology. When I'm not studying, you can find me with Cal Band, at Mosaic Boulders, or on a hike. I'm from the Bay Area, so if you have any questions about it, let me know! I'm excited to meet you all!

Medha Madhav - Nutritional Sciences

Hi everyone! I’m Medha, and I’m currently a second year at Cal majoring in Nutritional Sciences. I’m from San Jose, and grew up in the Bay Area. I enjoy learning new things every day, and hope to use what I learn to contribute to the community positively. On campus, I’m involved with the Berkeley Scientific Journal(BSJ),and UCB SNAC, which stands for UC Berkeley Student Nutrition Advocacy Club. I also have experience being a Learning Assistant for MCB 32 (a human physiology course offered at Cal) and Golden Bear Orientation(GBO) Leader. In my free time, I enjoy going on long walks, playing music, and painting.

Arza Tasneem - Nutritional Sciences

Hey! I’m Azra Tasneem, and I’m a second-year double majoring in Nutritional Sciences (Physiology and Metabolism) and Molecular Environmental Biology (Environment and Human Health). I am also pursuing the Pre-Optometry Track and hope to become an optometrist in private practice one day. I am passionate about the intersection of preventative healthcare and optometry, specifically focusing on the nutritional and biological factors behind these processes.

I was born and raised in the Bay Area, specifically in Fremont, CA. In my free time, you can catch me hanging out with friends and family, trying out new restaurants and cafes, or going on sunset drives. On campus, I’m currently the BIPOC+ Mental Health Lead in ASUC Senator Sultan’s office. I am also a part of the Foresight Pre-Optometry Club and UCB MSA. When I’m not at school, you can probably find me working as an Optician Assistant in my hometown or volunteering. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions about Berkeley, CNR, Pre-Optometry, or anything else!

Ari Goldberg - Nutritional Sciences

Hi there! My name’s Ari, and I’m a second year studying Nutritional Sciences, with an emphasis in Toxicology. Around campus, you can find me pipetting in the Hellerstein Lab, playing in the UC Berkeley Symphony, or tossing a frisbee. Off campus, you can find me at UCSF researching food insecurity, reading a book, or exploring a new trail. I’m excited to tell you about the best major on campus!

Louis Cimmino - Ecosystem Management and Forestry

Hello, my name is Louis! I’m an Ecosystem Management and Forestry student here at Berkeley, and I’m excited to share my experiences and perspective with you on Cal Day! In my time here at school so far, I’ve pursued some pretty amazing opportunities: I’ve joined eco-clubs and student organizations unique to Cal, holding numerous leadership positions along the way. I’ve taken upper-division and graduate-level courses on subjects across environmentalism, including Berkeley’s 8-week field course in the Sierra Nevada. I’ve worked a summer field job collecting data for Berkeley Forests, gaining hands-on experience that’ll become the foundation for my career. I’ve even taken part in various research projects—both under professors and independently—on topics including Indigenous archaeology, agroforestry for environmental and community resilience, and post-wildfire ecosystem dynamics. I love the Ecosystem Management and Forestry major because it accelerates my path towards earning professional licensure, has an incredibly supportive and widespread alumni network, and allows me to make a career helping people and our planet in tangible ways. Striving to foster healthier ecosystems in the long-term, I dream of one day becoming a California Registered Professional Forester and taking an active role in solving the state’s ongoing wildfire crisis by engaging communities with their local forests.

Leigh Ambrose - Ecosystem Management and Forestry

Leigh Ambrose (she/her) is a second-year student majoring in Ecosystem Management and

Forestry, and is pursuing a minor is GIST. Her interests lie in leveraging conservation and

management strategies within urban landscape environments and urban forestry. Leigh also is

passionate in environmental education on campus as she currently has been teaching the Tree

Identification and Ecology decal (TreeCal) as a co-facilitator for two semesters.

At Cal, Leigh is involved in clubs and organizations on campus such as the Cal Forestry Club

holding the position of Treasurer, Epsilon Eta, a professional environmental service fraternity,

and works at the International House. In her free time, she enjoys participating in Logging

Sports practice on the weekends, relaxing on the glade, cooking at home, and spending quality

time with friends.

Claire Sauter - Molecular Environmental Biology

Claire is a graduating senior pursuing simultaneous degrees in Molecular Environmental Biology and English with a minor in Forestry and Natural Resources. For the past three years, she has been a research apprentice in the Ruhi Freshwater Ecology and Brashares Wildlife Ecology labs; she works with GIS to assess potential beaver habitat in the Sierra Nevada mountains and assists with field work projects in Pinnacles National Park and the Klamath River. She attended the UC Forestry Camp in 2022 and is an Art of Environmental Science Writing Science Fellow. Committed to an interdisciplinary approach to understanding people’s relationship to ecosystems, Claire is currently writing a thesis in English about how narrative theory can be used to study local place and geography. Aside from academics, Claire has served as the editor-in-chief of Perennial: The Undergraduate Environmental Journal of Berkeley and is involved in SEEDS (Strategies for Environment, Education, Diversity, and Sustainability), CHAOS (Cal Hiking and Outdoors Society), and the Cal Women’s Rugby team. 

Nicholas Sims - Molecular Environmental Biology

Nicholas is a senior studying Molecular Environmental Biology with interests in human biology, ecology, and medicine. He chose MEB because he loves studying biology, the natural world, and wanted a small, tight-knit college community like CNR. His favorite classes have included Insect Behavior, Human Physiology, and Biology 1B. He is involved in the Department of Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology, where he conducts research on stem cells and combating mitochondrial aging. Outside of the lab, Nicholas volunteers with Alzheimer’s patients and works as an EMT. In his free time, he is involved with his fraternity, Swim Club at Berkeley, and likes to play guitar. After graduation, Nicholas plans to work as a lab technician and study for the MCAT. He has truly loved his time at Berkeley and he is thankful for all the opportunities the Rausser College of Natural Resources has provided.

Connor Tseng - Molecular Environmental Biology

Hello, my name is Connor Tseng. I am a 4th year at UC Berkeley majoring in Molecular Environmental Biology and minoring in BioEngineering. I was born and raised in Southern California. Throughout my undergraduate career, I have been involved in research both at the UC Berkeley School of Optometry and UCSF, studying the molecular mechanisms of myopia and age-related macular degeneration. I have also participated in several student-run organizations on campus and even started my own club, which aims to provide clinical volunteering opportunities around the East Bay. In my free time, I enjoy playing basketball, binge-watching shows, and exploring new restaurants with friends around the Bay Area.

Aaliyah Chavez - Society and Environment Major, Public Policy Minor

Aaliyah is a third year pursuing a degree in Society and Environment with a minor in Public Policy. She is passionate about pursuing a career in environmental justice, and wants to specifically focus on the disparities in disaster response and hazardous waste disposal of marginalized communities throughout the world. During her time at UC Berkeley, she has been involved in numerous clubs on campus like Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law fraternity, and is currently the Co-President of Hermanas Unidas and Ballet Folklórico Reflejos del Sol de UCB. She is also a part of a Sponsored Project for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) focused on desire based research in environmental justice, and has been lucky to work alongside ESPM chair Michael Mascarenhas throughout the semester. Aaliyah will be spending the summer at Princeton attending the Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute, where she will get the chance to attend graduate public policy classes, connect with public policy professionals, and be further prepared for a career in public service. She is from Southern California, and in her free time likes to read, paint, listen to music, and rate movies on Letterboxd!

Ellinor Arzbaecher - Conservation & Resource Studies

Ellinor (she/her) is a fourth-year Conservation & Resource Studies major with a minor in Geospatial Information Science & Technology (GIS). Her primary interests are in environmental justice, grassroots movement organizing, and marine conservation. She has taught close to a thousand students through the DeCal program, leading the climate crash course "Solutions for a Sustainable & Just Future." Besides the DeCal, Ellinor researched and mapped social movements in response to hydropower development as part of SPUR and also worked within the student government (ASUC) in the Environmental Justice & Sustainability department. Last year, she studied abroad on the Island Sustainability Program in Mo'orea, French Polynesia, where she conducted fieldwork on coral reef resilience and biodiversity. Outside of UC Berkeley, she works as the Director of Curriculum for the environmental education nonprofit Sustainable & Just Future. Post-graduation, she hopes to pursue higher SCUBA certifications through a science diving program while continuing her work in climate education.

Alex Boren - Environmental Sciences

Alex is a junior majoring in Environmental Sciences with an emphasis in biological sciences. She formerly worked as a research assistant in the Rosenblum lab, using genetic techniques to study the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. She is currently working as a research assistant in the EvoLab, where she will be pursuing an honors thesis studying the invasive beetles associated with the spread of the fungal disease Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death. She has enjoyed her research experience at Berkeley and plans to pursue a PhD in disease ecology. Alex is also minoring in Creative Writing and enjoys the different types of classes this minor has prompted her to pursue, especially courses in short fiction writing. Outside of academics, Alex has participated in a variety of student organizations. These include helping lead the Student Association of Environmental Justice and Health Equity, rock climbing with the club Cal Climbing, performing in the student run theater group Our Monologues, and being involved in a few different reading and writing clubs. In her free time, Alex enjoys running, finding cool frogs while hiking, making jewelry, and perfecting her unicycling skills.

Shreya Chaudhuri - Environmental Sciences

Shreya Chaudhuri is a third-year undergraduate student at UC Berkeley, majoring in Environmental Science and Geography and minoring in Global Poverty & Practice and Data Science. She's passionate about supporting Indigenous sovereignty across the world, studying the revival of Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and building equitable climate solutions. She runs a 501c(3) non-profit called Project Planet that is about creating decolonial environmental content. One of their main projects is a course called Decolonizing Environmentalism, which is offered to students at Berkeley. She also works part-time as a Climate Action Fellow at the Student Environmental Resource Center, where she builds projects on student engagement and equity within UC Climate Policy. On campus, she's involved with the Students of Color Environmental Collective and a Conservation+Tech Fellowship; she's previously worked at an environmental engineering lab and at the student farms. Her experience and current work lies in the intersection of scientific research, policy, education, and advocacy to approach climate solutions.

Sarina Gokel - Environmental Sciences

Sarina Gokel is a third year student pursuing a degree in Environmental Sciences. Her academic pursuits are deeply rooted in her passions for animal welfare and conservation, as well as the intersection between human activities and wildlife dynamics. She maintains a strong background in veterinary clinical settings and an active engagement in sustainable initiatives. However, more recently her interests have pivoted towards conservation work. This summer, Sarina will begin an internship in London, collaborating with a conservation center to assist with research, public education, and the general preservation of local ecosystems. At the same time, she is preparing to begin her senior thesis, focusing on human-wildlife conflicts and the need for coexistence. Aside from her academic pursuits, Sarina assumes a leading role on the board of Aurum Cosmetics highlighting the sustainability/cruelty free principles within the beauty industry. Sarina loves traveling and in her free time she enjoys trying new cafes and spending time with her friends. Upon graduating next year, she envisions spending a few months in either Africa or Australia to assist with various animal conservation initiatives.

Nathan Lapp - Conservation & Resource Studies, and Molecular Environmental Biology

Nathan is a third year double majoring in MEB and CRS with an emphasis on Ecology and Botany. He is interested in plant physiology and fungal biology. He began his time at Berkeley as a CRS student interested in fungal biology but unsure where to find academic direction in a larger school. By his second year he declared MEB to explore the world of microbiology. Since, he has been working in the Glass lab under a DoE grant for defining rhizosphere interactions between plants, bacteria and fungi for agricultural applications. He also works at the Flow Cytometry Core, a growing and heavily used core facility, as lab technician and teaching assistant. He found a balance between academic studies and a practical approach to learning through direct contact with researchers and his own experimentation. Recently, he has been looking into internships that delve into applications of genetically engineered fungi in food, fashion, and structure. Aside from the career work, he was in Cal Band, intramurals, student government through the Sustainability commission, is an officer in the Mycology Club on campus, cooks for friends and starts passion projects during free time.

Trinity Reimer - Microbial Biology

Trinity is a graduating senior majoring in Microbial Biology. Trinity is an undergraduate research assistant at the Cecilia Martinez-Gomez (CMG) lab. At CMG, she and her colleagues engineer methylotrophs to develop a sustainable system for Rare Earth mining. From her research at CMG, she became a Bakar Ignite Scholar this past summer, where she was able to further her knowledge and skills in genetic engineering and the manipulation of Methylobacterium extorquens to better acquire lanthanides from waste.

Outside of the lab, Trinity is currently involved with the Biology Scholars Program, leads the PreMed 101 DeCal, and is Co-President of MEDLIFE, emphasizing healthcare accessibility and mentorship. During her time at Berkeley, she had the privilege of teaching over 600 students. As a first-generation college student from the rural Central Valley, her extracurriculars have helped her develop in her undergraduate career through mentorship and strengthened her collaborative and technical skills, as she came in with no experience but lots of enthusiasm and a growth mindset.

After graduation, she’ll be working as a lab technician during her 2 gap years, as she prepares to apply to Microbio Ph.D. programs.

Isabelle Marguerite Winstead - Environmental Economics & Policy

Isabelle is a senior studying environmental economics and policy, specializing in energy. She is currently an undergraduate research assistant through SPUR, where she studies renewable energy investment politics in middle-income countries. Additionally, she is writing a senior thesis that examines her hometown, Bolinas, CA, as a case study in overcoming challenges California faces in achieving its emissions reduction goals on a local level. After completing her undergraduate studies, she hopes to decarbonize the economy while sharing lots of laughs with her family and friends along the way.

Malena Buffagni - Environmental Economics & Policy and Society & Environment

Hi everyone! My name is Malena Buffagni, and I'm a graduating senior here at Cal, double majoring in Environmental Economics & Policy and Society & Environment within RCNR. Throughout my time here, I have been a part of several organizations, such as The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF), the Student Environmental Resource Center (SERC), and the Latin American Leadership Society (LLS). My parents are from Argentina, but I grew up in the United States and am incredibly proud to be bicultural. My four years at UC Berkeley and RCNR have been some of the most insightful and joyful, and although I am sad for it to end, I am also excited for what is to come. I will start a new adventure as a Sustainability Consultant in Boulder, Colorado, in July. I'm looking forward to meeting you all at the panel!