Undergraduate Research

Opportunities Center

N e w s l e t t e r | M A Y / J U N E 2 0 2 3

May the Research

Be With You

2023 Graduating Class

UROC Researchers

UROC is proud to play a role in the development of education ownership, intellectual vibrancy, and scholarly identity in our CSUMB students. This growth allows students to not only move into the next phase of their academic careers, but also better prepare for the intellectual challenges they will encounter. We congratulate the following UROC students who will embark on a whole new academic journey around the country this coming fall.

Hannah Kim

UROC Researcher

Master of Science in Biology

Eastern Washington University



Angelica May Amita

McNair Scholar

Master’s in Marketing

University of Houston



Kiki Iden

UROC Researcher

Master’s in Education, Teaching Education Program

UC Santa Barbara

Devon McCauley

Koret Scholar

Master of Library and Information Science

San José State University

Spencer Winter

UROC Scholar

Ph.D. in Bioengineering

California Institute of Technology

Nevan Bell

UROC Scholar

Master’s in Higher Education Counseling & Student Affairs

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Caitlyn Morgan

UROC Researcher

Master’s in Horticulture and Agronomy

UC Davis

Monica Urias

UROC Researcher,

Koret Scholar

Ph.D. in Ecology

UC Davis

Matt Mondragon

LSAMP Member

Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program

Medical University of South Carolina

Monica Gutierrez

Koret Scholar

Master’s in School Psychology

CSU Monterey Bay

Leta Dawson

LSAMP Rising Researcher

Master of Science in Marine Biology 

CSU Northridge

Yoshio Clemente-Astudillo

UROC Researcher

Master’s in Human Factors and Ergonomics

San José State University



Grace Hardy

UROC Scholar

Ph.D. in Botany and

Plant Pathology

Oregon State University

Nikole Babcock

UROC Scholar

Ph.D. in Human Development and

Family Science

University of Connecticut

Jocelyn Chavez-Diaz

McNair Scholar

Master of Arts in Teaching 

San José State University

Taylor Trivino

UROC Scholar

Master of Science in Aquatic and Fishery Sciences

University of Washington

Annie Jones

UROC Researcher

Masters in Urban Planning

San José State University

Melissa McGinnis

UROC Researcher

Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology

Alliant International University

Cristian Martinez

UROC Researcher

Master’s in Marine Science

Moss Landing Marine Labs

Elise Vasquez

UROC Researcher

Masters in Environmental Science

CSU Monterey Bay

And a Round of Applause Goes to...

Berenice Lemus, Apple Scholar, received the Hilda Holl Memorial Scholarship, presented by Michael Holl, husband of the late Hilda Holl. This yearly scholarship is focused on, but not limited to, Hispanic women business students. Learn more about it on the CSUMB News Page.

• • •

Baldock and Butler Scholars Awarded

Congratulations to Emily Donahue, Environmental Science Technology & Policy (Statistics minor) and Ingrid Martinson, Marine Science (Environmental Health Policy minor) on being named B&B Scholars for 2023! 

Ingrid aims to earn a Ph.D. in marine science and pursue a research career in the non-profit sector as a marine conservation biologist focusing on sustainability and social justice for marginalized communities.

Emily aims to earn Ph.D. in ecology to focus on protecting the intricate and productive ecosystems found in nature while also establishing a baseline for environmental outreach efforts to lead in the areas of science and communication. 

Both Emily and Ingrid will be applying to doctoral programs this fall. 

Dr. Phil Butler and Ms. Barbara Baldock have been supporting UROC Scholars every year since 2011. 

The Barbara Baldock and Phillip Butler Scholarship (aka The B&B Scholarship) awards UROC Scholars $5000 to support their undergraduate research and graduate school application endeavors. Award based on academic achievement, undergraduate research interests, financial need, graduate school aspirations, and a commitment to serve the community through research, outreach, and service.

Emily Donahue

Ingrid Martinson

• • •

2023 Graduate School and Professional Degree

Prep Conference

The 2nd annual Graduate School and Professional Degree Prep Conference was a huge success! Funded by the CSUMB METAS grant and hosted by UROC, the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center in partnership with the CLC, Cooperative Learning Center; Center for Advising, Career, and Student Success; and MAESTROs, students learned about the factors involved in applying to graduate school and credential programs–and most importantly, had dedicated workshop time to work on, and get feedback on various parts of their application.

Thank you to everyone who helped make these three days a success!

• • •

McNair Scholar Highlights

A dedicated section for everything McNair Scholars, both current and alum!

CSU Pre-Doctoral Sally Casanova Award Recipients



UROC McNair Scholars Rosa Acevedo Duran, Psychology, and Kimberly Smith, Collaborative Health and Human Services, have been named as 2023-2024 Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholars. Duran and Smith will each receive an award of $5,000 to support graduate school and professional development activities for the upcoming school year. Congratulations, Rosa and Kimmy!

The CSU PreDoctoral program is designed to increase the pool of potential faculty by supporting the doctoral aspirations of California State University students. The program places a special emphasis on increasing the number of CSU students who enter doctoral programs at one of the University of California institutions. For the 2023-24 year, 77 scholars, both undergraduate and graduate students, were selected from 156 applicants across the CSU.

Interested in learning more about this scholarship? Pop into an information session this fall; check out MyRaft to sign up. The 2024-25 scholarship application cycle will open in December 2023.​

Research Poster Award!

Congratulations to McNair Scholar alum, Wendy Feng (class of 2022), whose research poster won the award for “Best Engagement with Environmental Justice” at the Annual Environmental Joint Campus Conference. 

The Joint Campus Conference (JCC) is an annual event that brings together graduate students and faculty to present research from three programs: the Environmental Sciences Program at Oregon State University, the Environmental Sciences and Management Program at Portland State University, and the Environmental Studies Program at the University of Oregon. 



Congratulations, Wendy!

Looks Who's Graduating!

Congratulations to McNair Scholar alum, Jada Carter (class of 2021), who has graduated from Norwegian University of Life Sciences and Wageningen University and Research (WUR) in the Netherlands! Jada now holds a Master of Science in Organic Agriculture and will be applying to PhD programs in the fall. Jada is currently in Sweden completing her internship.

Congratulations, Jada!

• • •

Summer Research Fun!

Every year, students in the UROC Scholars and McNair Scholars program are encouraged and supported to apply to summer research experiences outside of the UROC Summer Researchers Program. Participating in these experiences can help students clarify career interests and post-graduation plans while strengthening written and oral communication, critical thinking, and technical skills. It also provides exposure to other branches within one’s discipline that students may never have even thought about and increases networking opportunities as well. 

Check out some of the programs and places some of our Scholars are participating in.

Alyssa Walter, UROC Scholar and Ernest F. Hollings Scholar, spent 4 days at the NOAA Orientation in Maryland before starting the COAST Ocean Exploration Internship working with the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary In Santa Barbara.

Damaris Ispache, McNair Scholar, is participating in the Sustainability Opportunities for Agricultural Research Summer Program at the University of Minnesota.

Kattie Padilla, UROC Scholar, is at Emory University for the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience program in Atlanta, Georgia.

Levi Mahler, McNair Scholar, spent three weeks in Japan with the CSUMB Tyler Fellows. They toured various sites along with Dr. Dustin Wright and two other fellows all while collecting data that they will analyze upon returning home. Alo Wilson, Koret Scholar, was also part of the trip.

Oscar Murillo-Espinoza, McNair Scholar, is in Occidental College in Los Angeles for an REU focusing on coding theory, number theory, and related topics.

Karla Buitrago-Yepes, left, and Emily Donahue, right, UROC Scholars, are back in their hometown of San Diego working on the Spiny Lobster Fisheries Conservation Project with California Fish and Wildlife.

• • •

Mark Your Calendars

The 10th Annual Summer Research Symposium will take place on Friday, August 11th, 2023 at the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Science Building and the Tanimura and Antle Family Memorial Library where we will celebrate the research, scholarship, and creative activities of the undergraduate students in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center & Monterey Regional Ocean Sciences Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program. 

Stay tuned for more details!

• • •

Pictures Galore

Enjoy some pictures of our undergraduate researchers from our Year End Celebration and Commencement!

Mia Lepe is excited for the Year End Celebration!

Buck places the UROC stole on Devynn Gately.

Dr. Danielle Burchett with her mentees: Monica Gutierrez, Melissa McGinnis, and Ingrid Romero.

Dr. Alison Haupt is presented with the Mentor of the Year Award.

Nia Howard with her mentor Dr. Steven Machek and labmate Rene Aguilera.

Buck places the UROC stole on Jocelyn Chavez-Diaz. Dr. Alison Haupt is presented with the Mentor of the Year Award.

Gabriel Morales can't wait to start commencement!

A super group of research mentors! Dr. De Miguel, Dr. Penalver, Dr. Matthews, and Dr. Burchett

Monica Urias and Mario Coronado Cartmell pose for a quick picture.

Annie Jones and Michelle Cone are all smiles.

Sarah Kuykendall shows off her graduation stoles.

The Marine Science Crew! Eva Scriver, Emily Vidusic, Paige Siegel, and Cristian Martinez.