Hi! My name is Ari Berrios (she/her), and I am a rising senior at Davidson College. I am a Biology major and Environmental Social Sciences minor interested in animal behavior and evolutionary ecology. Previously, I've studied sexual selection in monarch butterflies. This summer, I'm excited to continue this work with Pipefish in the Wilson Lab! In my free time, I enjoy crocheting and hanging out with my three-legged cat, Soup.

Hello! I'm Tiasha Dey. I am a lower senior at Brooklyn College and am currently majoring in Earth and Environmental Sciences. I greatly enjoy learning about different aspects of the environment, and how it is linked to all parts of life. As part of the BUEE Program, I will be working with Dr. Branco to study shoreline features and assess coastal resistance in Jamaica Bay. In my free time, I love drawing, reading, and listening to music. I hope that BUEE will give an amazing experience in lab and fieldwork!

Hello I’m Nya Gasowski (they/them)! I’m a rising junior at American University in Washington, D.C., majoring in environmental science, although I will be spending the next year abroad at Queen Mary University of London. I am a Brooklyn native and love spending time walking around the city and going to prospect park. I also really love art and visiting the wide array of museums and galleries here and in DC. During the BUEE program I will be working within Dr. Cheng’s lab, evaluating the impact of leaf mulching on urban soil health on NYC housing authority grounds and assessing the effects of biochar on the mobility of Pb and As in two soils. I am very excited to be apart of this research project as this is my first urban ecology opportunity independent from my university. I am very passionate about urban environmental health and its connection to environmental racism and justice and hope to do more research within this scope looking into the future!

My name is Jazmyn Gutierrez, and I am currently a senior at Northern New Mexico College in the Espanola Valley. I am working towards a bachelor's degree in biology as well as an associate degree in chemistry, with the aim of pursuing a master's degree in ecology in the future. Throughout my college journey, I have devoted a substantial amount of time to conducting research in our school’s Behavioral Ecology lab, where our focus has been on studying Bahamian pupfish. This involved behavioral, molecular, and fieldwork, and I even had the opportunity to travel to the Bahamas with my lab mentor for research purposes. My deep passion lies in comprehending the diversity in speciation and the variety of factors influencing it. Ultimately, my career aspiration is to become a wildlife biologist dedicated to safeguarding local animal species from human impacts. This upcoming summer, I am excited to be working in the Wilson Lab on pipefish. Besides my enthusiasm for working with animals, I also enjoy traveling, reading, dancing, and spending quality time with my family and dog.

My name is Ella Hook (she/her), I am a rising senior at the University of Michigan where I am studying Environmental Science and Statistics. I am very interested in Sustainable Agriculture, specifically increasing equity for the various stakeholders involved. In my free time I like to play tennis, paint, and make kombucha! 

My name is Kirsten Ivins. I am a rising senior at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County majoring in Environmental Science and Geography (BS). I will be part of the Branco Lab this summer. I am interested in the earth science aspect of environmental science, with a specific interest in groundwater sciences, coastal sciences, and geomorphology in general. I am particularly interested in the anthropogenic influence on water systems in an urban setting. One specific question I hope to investigate one day is how the overuse of water in coastal cities can increase the vulnerability of depleted aquifers to saltwater intrusion. Participating in the Branco Lab this summer assessing shorelines in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge will be an invaluable opportunity for me to explore and understand how urbanization can affect coastlines. As a requirement for my major, I also have a solid understanding of and a deep interest in GIS which I hope to apply to my future research. Outside of school, I love to read, go for walks, walk my cats, and bake.

My name is Linh Le; I am a rising junior at The Ohio State University majoring in Environmental Science. I am interested in studying the association between historically redlined areas and heavy metal soil contamination. I am also interested in novel soil treatments with organic matter like biochar. This summer, I will be working in Dr. Cheng's Urban Soils lab. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, playing piano, reading, and doing jigsaw puzzles. At Ohio State, I am a member of the Evolution and Ecology club and a Research Assistant in the Soil Chemistry lab.

Hi, I'm Desiree McGriff, an upcoming senior studying Environmental Science at Oklahoma State University. I am passionate about environmental policy advocacy and scientific analysis, striving to ensure everyone has access to a safe environment amidst the climate crisis. Currently, I work as a lab technician at the Soil, Water, and Forage Analytical Laboratory on OSU's campus. In my spare time, I am either at a club meeting with the Environmental Science Club or Oklahoma State Queers and Allies, or I am collecting and testing water samples with Blue Thumb, a local volunteer organization. My hobbies include hiking, gaming, art, and listening to music. This summer, I am excited to work in Dr. Muth's lab, contributing to research on urban microbial communities in Brooklyn. I look forward to further exploring the intersection of urban environments and ecological health through the BUEE program.

My name is Sophie Neiblum, and I am a rising junior studying Biology and Environmental Studies at Wesleyan University. I am especially passionate about marine and aquatic ecology, and I have past experience with seabird ecology and oceanography research. In my free time, I enjoy birding, rock climbing, nature writing, and playing guitar. I am excited for the opportunity to study northern pipefish with Dr. Wilson through the BUEE program this summer!

Hello, my name is Solveig Olson and I am a rising senior at Grinnell College, Iowa where I am a double major studying biology and gender studies. I grew up in rural Minnesota which fostered my interest in the natural world and its systems. So far, one of the ways I have followed this interest is by studying abroad in Kimana, Kenya for a semester, during which I focused on the ecology and conservation of endangered species. While there I had the chance to work closely with local communities and gain a more nuanced understanding of how humans and ecosystems interact and affect each other long-term. I am especially passionate about conservation and making scientific information more accessible to local communities. This summer I will be working with Dr Muth in his lab during the BUEE program. I have never been to New York so I am excited to experience the city. In my spare time I enjoy fiber crafts, spending time with friends, and cooking.

Charlotte is a rising junior at Mount Holyoke College, where she is pursuing a double major in Biology and Environmental Studies, with a certificate in Marine and Coastal Science. She grew up in New York City and has always been curious about the natural world. At Mount Holyoke, Charlotte is an active member of the Varsity Hunt Seat Equestrian team and works as an Admissions Fellow. This summer, she is excited to be researching natural and nature-based shoreline features in Jamaica Bay with the Branco Lab. Prior to BUEE, she was an Environmental Support intern at the Sea Life Bray Aquarium where she worked on multiple marine conservation initiatives. She also gained experience with wildlife conservation volunteering on a wildlife reserve in South Africa. In her free time, Charlotte enjoys hiking, reading, and SCUBA diving.