UROC Ambassadors
UROC Scholars and Researchers are encouraged to go beyond research and get out into the community to connect their research to broader impacts.
UROC Ambassadors is designed to encourage UROC Scholars and Researchers to serve as liaisons to develop and maintain strong ties between UROC, CSUMB, and the local tri-county areas. UROC Ambassadors span the academic disciplines-- marine science, psychology, humanities-- and work to enhance their professional development, leadership, and communication skills, as well as become a part of a growing professional network of community leaders.
- Promote UROC through class presentations and campus tabling events.
- Promote UROC and undergraduate research at community outreach events and invited presentations.
- Aid in UROC Events (Undergraduate Research Week, Research Showcases, UROC Workshops).
- Serve as a peer mentor for incoming UROC students.
- Serve as a peer mentor for other student success programs partnered with UROC.
November 2017: Two UROC Ambassadors presented their research to a group of 7th graders at Los Arboles Middle School in Marina, CA. Char'Mane Robinson (current UROC Scholar, Environmental Science) facilitated an activity on bioaccumulation in Cocos Lagoon, Guam. Char'Mane used her summer research as a NOAA EPP Scholar as inspiration for this lesson and activity.
UROC Scholar Alum and future Auburn University graduate student, Alison Aceves, led an activity on parasitology based on research completed at Oregon State University. Alison was excited to teach the students about the many types of parasites and their interactions with salmonids--- the students even built and named their own parasites out of play-dough!
The culminating activity engaged students reflecting on what it means to do research, explore parasites and bioaccumulation-- and to never stop asking questions about our world.
Char'Mane Robinson explaining her bioaccumulation activity.
Alison Aceves, Char'Mane Robinson, and Bill Lueken (Los Arboles Middle School) leading the wrap-up discussion with students.
Char'Mane's bioaccumulation activity.
Jada Carter
My name is Jada Carter and I am a senior majoring in molecular biology with a minor in chemistry. My current research takes place in Goeltz Lab of Applied Electrochemistry as well as a position in the NYU Purugannan plant lab. In the Goeltz lab, I work to outfit batteries with powerful, long-lasting materials. In the Purugganan Lab, I am searching for a gene responsible for salt tolerance mechanisms in African rice. My research interests include biochemistry, plant chemistry, and evolutionary biology. Outside of research I’m an artist and working on my roller skating skills.
Ahtziri Carranza Medrano
Hi everyone, my name is Ahtziri Carranza and I am currently a fourth year Environmental Studies major with a minor in Environmental Health Policy. I am a UROC Scholar, who was also a UROC Researcher over the summer. My research project was analyzing surveys taken by community members in the agricultural town of Watsonville to have a better understanding on how climate change has been affecting them and what they would like to see done to better adapt. This school year I’ll be doing an internship with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) focused on creating a comprehensive report of farmworker communities nationwide that in turn will help improve outreach related to pesticides. For my free time I enjoy playing video games and doing art! I look forward to being a UROC Ambassador and hope to help many students get involved with UROC.
Hannah Carrell
Hi! I’m Hannah. I’m a senior here at CSUMB majoring in ecology, evolution, and organismal biology. I have been working with my mentor, Dr. Jennifer Duggan, for the last 2 years on several projects focused on different facets of bat activity. This semester I will be comparing bat species richness between urban and natural habitat - I’m super stoked! Being a part of UROC has allowed me to gain invaluable experience in fieldwork and has given me the opportunity to study what I really love - bats! More than that, UROC has helped me to create lasting relationships with my mentor, graduate students, and fellow peers. I know it can be hard to get a head start on fieldwork when you have no experience, so if you ever have any questions on how to get your foot in the door, please don’t hesitate to ask me! And if you’re interested in getting involved in bat research - I’m your girl. When I’m not studying for my classes or in the field doing research, you can find me drawing, listening to music, or playing with my cat - Suki. I’m never too busy to answer questions, so please feel free to reach out!
Danielle Layne
I am a rising senior undergraduate researcher in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center (UROC) Scholars Program. I’ve been researching in UROC with my mentor, Dr. Beckham, since my first summer at CSUMB. As a researcher, I'm interested in studying strength and conditioning. My experiences in research have mainly been focused on projects with the rugby team, collecting data on force output in different physical activities used for training or in rugby practice. I’m also a UROC Ambassador. I love talking about my experiences in research with others so this is a fun position for me.
Major: Kinesiology
Contact: dlayne@csumb.edu
Jada Carter
My name is Jada Carter and I am a senior majoring in molecular biology with a minor in chemistry. My current research takes place in Goeltz Lab of Applied Electrochemistry as well as a position in the NYU Purugannan plant lab. In the Goeltz lab, I work to outfit batteries with powerful, long-lasting materials. In the Purugganan Lab, I am searching for a gene responsible for salt tolerance mechanisms in African rice. My research interests include biochemistry, plant chemistry, and evolutionary biology. Outside of research I’m an artist and working on my roller skating skills.
Major: Molecular Biology Minor: Chemistry
Contact: jcarter@csumb.edu
Brandon Garcia
Hi! My name is Brandon Garcia. I am a third year college student who transferred from West Valley College near San Jose, CA. For my research, I have been working with my mentor, Dr. Dyer-Seymour, on a developmental psychology project focused on parent-child interactions in a children’s museum setting. Outside of the lab, I am the Vice President of the Psi Chi International Honor’s Society club here on campus and enjoy live music, trail running, and the outdoors. Being both a transfer student and a first-generation college student, I understand how overwhelming it can feel trying to prep for grad school without much guidance, so feel free to ask me what resources are available to help you get ahead!
Major: Psychology
Contact: bragarcia@csumb.edu
Yazmin Macias
Hi all, my name is Yazmin and I am a third year Humanities & Communication major with a concentration in Journalism and Media Studies. This past summer I worked as a UROC Researcher on the project “Stories from the Border” under the mentorship of Dr. Kelly Medina-Lopez and Dr. Shantel Martinez. My research interests and passions include analyzing how the political climate surrounding a community can influence the art that is produced in that area as a result and how that art can reflect the realities of the community despite the public’s perception of it. Aside from being a UROC Researcher, I am also involved on campus as a member of TRiO SSS and the In the Ords Literary Arts Journal Club.
Major: Humanities & Communication w/a concentration in Journalism & Media Studies
Contact: yamacias@csumb.edu
Erin Valentina Mansel
Hi! My name is Erin Valentina Mansel and I am a fourth-year Cinematic Arts and Technology student with a minor in Journalism and Media Studies. My research interests involve producing and screenwriting for television and this last summer for my research I was at Columbia University developing an original pilot script and a spec script for an already existing show. I have a passion for storytelling and creating new content. On top of filmmaking, I also love traveling, learning new languages, and creating new adventures which is why I studied abroad my sophomore year to fulfill my journalism minor. I love being a UROC and McNair Scholar and a UROC Ambassador because this program allows me to explore my research interests even as an arts major! I also participate in other areas across campus such as being VP of the Cine Arts Club, a member of the international club, advocate and volunteer for the international study abroad office, and producing and working on student capstone films.
Major: Cinematic Arts and Technology, minor in Journalism and Media Studies
Contact: emansel@csumb.edu
Interested in becoming a UROC Ambassador? Contact UROC: uroc@csumb.edu for more information.