Current Undergraduate Researchers (Updated Spring 2023)
Sarah Caso, Research Assistant & Lab Manager (she/her)
Sarah is a senior studying Environmental Science, focusing on bee ecology. She joined the Urban Bee Lab because of a desire to work with the conservation of helpful native insects and plants after having previously worked with the management of invasive plants and insects. She is passionate about environmental education, and loves to give presentations for the lab on bee diversity and conservation. When she's not in the lab, Sarah can be found out on a hike (looking for bees), bouldering, or baking crumbles and cobblers.
Sarah co-manages the lab alongside Amanda Niemela, and can be reached at sccaso(at)berkeley.edu
Sarah is a senior studying Environmental Science, focusing on bee ecology. She joined the Urban Bee Lab because of a desire to work with the conservation of helpful native insects and plants after having previously worked with the management of invasive plants and insects. She is passionate about environmental education, and loves to give presentations for the lab on bee diversity and conservation. When she's not in the lab, Sarah can be found out on a hike (looking for bees), bouldering, or baking crumbles and cobblers.
Sarah co-manages the lab alongside Amanda Niemela, and can be reached at sccaso(at)berkeley.edu
Amanda Niemela, Research Assistant & Lab Manager (she/her)
Amanda is a senior studying Genetics and Plant Biology in the College of Natural Resources. Amanda joined the UC Berkeley Urban Bee Lab because of her passion for conservation biology, interest in plant-pollinator interactions, and because of her enthusiasm for science advocacy. In her free time, she teaches debate and public speaking to high school students and enjoys exploring nature with her friends and family.
Amanda co-manages the lab alongside Sarah Caso, and can be reach at aniemela(at)berkeley.edu
Amanda is a senior studying Genetics and Plant Biology in the College of Natural Resources. Amanda joined the UC Berkeley Urban Bee Lab because of her passion for conservation biology, interest in plant-pollinator interactions, and because of her enthusiasm for science advocacy. In her free time, she teaches debate and public speaking to high school students and enjoys exploring nature with her friends and family.
Amanda co-manages the lab alongside Sarah Caso, and can be reach at aniemela(at)berkeley.edu
Jerid Vega, Undergraduate Research Assistant (he/him)
Jerid is a senior studying Molecular Environmental Biology. He loves spending time outside in the field and working with plants. He can most often be found outside, tending to the lab garden and running his own field experiments.
Jerid is a senior studying Molecular Environmental Biology. He loves spending time outside in the field and working with plants. He can most often be found outside, tending to the lab garden and running his own field experiments.
Tiena Elias, Undergraduate Research Assistant (she/her)
Tiena is a junior studying Environmental Science in the College of Natural Resources. She joined the lab in the spring of 2021 because she is fascinated by entomology and sustainable agriculture. She is also involved in Berkeley Student Farms on campus and likes to read, bike, and play music in her free time.
Tiena is a junior studying Environmental Science in the College of Natural Resources. She joined the lab in the spring of 2021 because she is fascinated by entomology and sustainable agriculture. She is also involved in Berkeley Student Farms on campus and likes to read, bike, and play music in her free time.
Zaynab Jawaid, Undergraduate Research Assistant (she/her)
Zaynab Jawaid is a junior pursuing a degree in Conservation and Resource Studies. She hopes to focus on wildlife conservation and agro-ecology. Zaynab joined the Urban Bee Lab because she finds the research to be a perfect intersection between her interest in agriculture and her love for bees. Bee-lieve it or not, Zaynab can often be found outdoors (armed with a camera) taking in all that nature has to offer. If she's not outside enjoying the clouds or sun, she'll be in her kitchen baking tasty treats for her friends and family.
Zaynab can be contacted at hellozaynab(at)berkeley.edu
Zaynab Jawaid is a junior pursuing a degree in Conservation and Resource Studies. She hopes to focus on wildlife conservation and agro-ecology. Zaynab joined the Urban Bee Lab because she finds the research to be a perfect intersection between her interest in agriculture and her love for bees. Bee-lieve it or not, Zaynab can often be found outdoors (armed with a camera) taking in all that nature has to offer. If she's not outside enjoying the clouds or sun, she'll be in her kitchen baking tasty treats for her friends and family.
Zaynab can be contacted at hellozaynab(at)berkeley.edu
Kai Wu, Undergraduate Research Assistant (he/they)
Kai is a junior studying Molecular Environmental Biology in the College of Natural Resources. Kai joined the the Urban Bee Lab from an interest in California native bees and plants. In his free time, he can be found playing Dance Dance Revolution.
Kai is a junior studying Molecular Environmental Biology in the College of Natural Resources. Kai joined the the Urban Bee Lab from an interest in California native bees and plants. In his free time, he can be found playing Dance Dance Revolution.
Leilani Renda, Undergraduate Research Assistant & Lab Artist (she/her)
Leilani is a sophomore studying Ecosystem Management in forestry. Leilani is passionate about regenerative agriculture and ecosystem stewardship and in her free time, she enjoys drawing, hiking, gardening, and laying in the sunshine. Leilani hopes to one day work deep in the jungle and own a small piece of land with a couple goats and runner ducks.
Leilani is a sophomore studying Ecosystem Management in forestry. Leilani is passionate about regenerative agriculture and ecosystem stewardship and in her free time, she enjoys drawing, hiking, gardening, and laying in the sunshine. Leilani hopes to one day work deep in the jungle and own a small piece of land with a couple goats and runner ducks.
Kathy Liang, Undergraduate Research Assistant (she/her)
Kathy is a sophomore majoring in Society and Environment.
Kathy is a sophomore majoring in Society and Environment.
Joanna Luna, Experimental Garden Volunteer (she/her)
Joanna is a sophomore with a planned major in Molecular Cell Biology, focusing on biotechnology and genetics. She joined the Urban Bee Lab as a volunteer due to her love for honey in her food and teas which turned into an appreciation for bees and sparked an interest in knowing more about them and their variety. She became aware of the Bee Lab through UC Berkeley Save the Bees Decal when they went on a field trip becoming intrigued from the start. She likes to read, draw, binge-watch shows, and hang out with friends and family in her free time.
Joanna is a sophomore with a planned major in Molecular Cell Biology, focusing on biotechnology and genetics. She joined the Urban Bee Lab as a volunteer due to her love for honey in her food and teas which turned into an appreciation for bees and sparked an interest in knowing more about them and their variety. She became aware of the Bee Lab through UC Berkeley Save the Bees Decal when they went on a field trip becoming intrigued from the start. She likes to read, draw, binge-watch shows, and hang out with friends and family in her free time.
Previous Volunteer Undergraduate Researchers (Updated Fall 2022)
Daisy Friedman, Undergraduate Research Assistant & Lab Journalist (Sociology & Journalism '23)
Theo Chen, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Ivan Yun, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Madeline Rohner, Undergraduate Research Assistant (Society & Environment '22)
Miranda Monge, Undergraduate Research Assistant (Society & Environment '22)
Erica Varon Rodriguez, Undergraduate Research Assistant (Conservation & Resource Studies '22)
Jose Rodriguez, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Jasmin Elenes, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Ava Currie, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Jackie Singer, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Annabelle Baldwin, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Amanda Harmon, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Nasim Jahangard-Mahboob, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Kavya Niranjan, Undergraduate Research Assistant (Environmental Sciences)
Adele Wallrich, Undergraduate Research Assistant (Conservation & Resource Studies)
Kipper Berven, Undergraduate Research Assistant (Environmental Science & Environmental Economics)
Theo Chen, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Ivan Yun, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Madeline Rohner, Undergraduate Research Assistant (Society & Environment '22)
Miranda Monge, Undergraduate Research Assistant (Society & Environment '22)
Erica Varon Rodriguez, Undergraduate Research Assistant (Conservation & Resource Studies '22)
Jose Rodriguez, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Jasmin Elenes, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Ava Currie, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Jackie Singer, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Annabelle Baldwin, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Amanda Harmon, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Nasim Jahangard-Mahboob, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Kavya Niranjan, Undergraduate Research Assistant (Environmental Sciences)
Adele Wallrich, Undergraduate Research Assistant (Conservation & Resource Studies)
Kipper Berven, Undergraduate Research Assistant (Environmental Science & Environmental Economics)
