undergraduate researchers

sarah caso, lab manager She/her

Sarah is a senior studying Environmental Science, focusing on bee ecology.  Her thesis is on the impact of urbanization on the reproductive health of the native bee Osmia lignaria, also known as the blue orchard bee. She joined the Urban Bee Lab in the fall of 2020 out of a desire to help 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 can be reached at sccaso(at)berkeley(dot)edu

THE TEAM

Josie nadolny she/her
lab journalist

Josie is a senior studying Environmental Earth Science. She joined the lab in the spring of 2023 because she has a huge interest in insects and a passion for native plant and pollinator conservation. When she is not studying, she loves to read, write, bake, and go hiking.

tiena elias SHE/HER

Tiena is a senior 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.

emma coflin SHE/HER

​Emma is a third year pursuing a degree in Molecular Environmental Biology and joined the lab in the spring of 2023. She is passionate about restoring native plant habitats and conserving bee biodiversity. She became interested in pollinator-plant interactions after working to create a pollinator garden on Berkeley campus. In her free time, she teaches art classes to elementary school students and loves to be outside in the sunshine.

leilani renda SHE/HER
lab artist

Leilani is a junior 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.​

zaynab jawaid SHE/HER

Zaynab Jawaid is a senior pursuing a degree in Conservation and Resource Studies. She hopes to focus on wildlife conservation and agro-ecology. Zaynab joined the Urban Bee Lab in the fall of 2022 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. ​

val weinzweig HE/sHE

Val is a third year Math/Conservation Resource Studies double major. He joined the lab because his academic area of interest is very intertwined with agroecology, with a special love for insect populations and integrated pest management. Bees are also fascinating at every level, from anatomy to sociality. In her free time she likes to read, explore new places, and make increasingly niche playlists. Val joined the lab in the spring of 2023. ​

Maya Sestan
Summer lab VOLUNTEER

Maya is a visiting undergraduate research assistant from Yale University. She has worked with Hawk Moths at the Peabody Museum in New Haven, and has an interest in entomology broadly. 

ben bartlett HE/tHEy
social media manager

​Ben is a sophomore studying Molecular Environmental Biology. He joined the Urban Bee Lab in the spring of 2023 because he is interested in insect morphology, pollinator mechanisms, and wildlife conservation. In his free time, he performs in a community orchestra, writes poetry, learns Italian, reads his YA book list, and plays volleyball.

kathy liang SHE/HER

Kathy is a junior majoring in Society and Environment. ​

JOANNA LUNA SHE/HER
EXPERIMENTAL GARDEN VOLUNTEER

Joanna is a junior 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. ​​

former undergraduate research assistants

Belle Goines (Society & Environment and Conservation & Resource Studies '25)
Jerid Vega (Molecular Environmental Biology '23)
​Kai Wu (Molecular Environmental Biology '23)
Daisy Friedman (Sociology & Journalism '23)
Theo Chen
Ivan Yun 
​Madeline Rohner (Society & Environment '22)
Miranda Monge (Society & Environment '22)
​Erica Varon Rodriguez (Conservation & Resource Studies '22)
​Jose Rodriguez
​Jasmin Elenes
Ava Currie
​Jackie Singer
​Annabelle Baldwin
​Amanda Harmon
Nasim Jahangard-Mahboob (Environmental Science)
Kavya Niranjan (Environmental Science)
Adele Wallrich (Conservation & Resource Studies)
​Kipper Berven (Environmental Science & Environmental Economics)